Catégorie oBox : OBOXMA

Backroom has delivered one of the most shocking box office debuts in modern Hollywood history, setting a new A24 opening weekend record with $81.4 million domestically and $118 million worldwide. Produced for a reported budget of just $10 million, the film not only surpassed Alex Garland’s Civil War to become the studio’s biggest debut ever, but also established the largest opening weekend ever recorded for an original horror movie. The remarkable performance instantly transformed a modestly budgeted horror project into one of the most profitable theatrical launches of 2026. For A24, a studio long associated with prestige dramas and critically acclaimed independent films, the success represents a defining commercial milestone that few industry analysts predicted even a few months ago.

The scale of the achievement becomes even more impressive when compared with A24’s previous record holder. Before Backroom, Civil War stood as the studio’s most successful opening weekend after launching with $25.7 million domestically in April 2024. Backroom more than tripled that figure, generating over eight times its entire production budget from domestic ticket sales alone during its first three days in theaters. The worldwide opening of $118 million means the film earned nearly twelve times its reported budget before completing its first weekend. Such performances are typically reserved for major franchise films carrying production budgets exceeding $150 million. Instead, Backroom accomplished the feat with a budget that would be considered modest even by independent horror standards, further cementing its status as one of the year’s biggest surprises.

The film’s origins make its success even more extraordinary. The Backrooms began as an internet urban legend and creepypasta centered around a disturbing concept: an endless maze of empty office rooms illuminated by flickering fluorescent lights, covered in damp yellow carpeting and seemingly disconnected from reality. The unsettling imagery spread rapidly online and inspired countless theories, stories and fan creations. The phenomenon reached a new level of popularity when YouTube creator Kane Parsons, known online as Kane Pixels, released a series of highly realistic found-footage short films based on the concept. Presented through a retro VHS-style aesthetic, the videos accumulated tens of millions of views and convinced many viewers that the footage felt unnervingly authentic. The combination of liminal spaces, analog horror and mysterious lore transformed The Backrooms from an internet curiosity into one of the most recognizable horror properties born entirely online.

The viral phenomenon

The franchise’s popularity continued expanding through video games, fan films and online communities before eventually attracting Hollywood’s attention. Unlike many modern blockbusters based on established literary or comic book franchises, Backroom was built almost entirely through grassroots internet culture. That online following appears to have translated directly into ticket sales. Younger audiences familiar with the mythology turned out in large numbers, while mainstream moviegoers were drawn by curiosity surrounding the viral phenomenon. The film’s release demonstrates the growing power of internet-native intellectual property in the theatrical marketplace. Studios have increasingly searched for ways to adapt successful online concepts, but few projects have achieved the level of commercial success that Backroom delivered during its opening weekend. The film’s performance may encourage further investments in digital-born stories and creators.

The record-breaking debut also places Backroom among the biggest box office launches of 2026. Universal’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie remains the year’s largest domestic opener with $131.7 million, while Lionsgate’s Michael stunned the industry with a $97.2 million debut. Disney’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opened with $81.6 million, barely edging out Backroom’s $81.4 million domestic launch. Meanwhile, The Devil Wears Prada 2 generated $76.7 million during its opening frame. The fact that Backroom is competing with globally recognized brands such as Mario and Star Wars highlights the magnitude of its accomplishment. Unlike those franchises, the horror film entered theaters without decades of mainstream brand recognition, relying instead on internet fandom, strong marketing and word-of-mouth enthusiasm to fuel its success.

Beyond rewriting A24’s record books, Backroom may also reshape how studios evaluate risk and profitability. Hollywood has increasingly relied on expensive franchise films to guarantee box office returns, yet Backroom demonstrates that original concepts can still break through when supported by passionate audiences. Produced for only $10 million, the movie generated nearly twelve times its production budget worldwide during its opening weekend alone, making it one of the most profitable launches relative to cost in recent memory. Industry analysts will now be watching closely to see whether the film can sustain momentum throughout its theatrical run and potentially challenge additional A24 records. Regardless of where its final box office total lands, Backroom has already secured a place in film history by transforming a bizarre internet legend into a global theatrical sensation and delivering the biggest opening weekend A24 has ever seen.

Donald Trump unleashed a furious response on Truth Social after a growing number of musicians withdrew from the Freedom 250 celebration and its Great American State Fair concert series in Washington, D.C. The president lashed out at performers who backed away from the event after learning about its political connections, writing: «We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers,» before adding that they were artists «who nobody wants to hear,» whose music is «boring,» and «who do nothing but complain.» Trump then called for the concert series to be scrapped altogether, writing: «Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center.» His comments came as the event’s lineup continued to collapse amid controversy surrounding Freedom 250’s ties to his administration.

The backlash erupted almost immediately after the lineup for the Great American State Fair was announced. While performers had reportedly been told they were joining a nonpartisan patriotic celebration tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, major media reports quickly revealed that Freedom 250 was a private initiative backed by the Trump administration rather than the official congressionally chartered America250 organization. The revelations sparked intense criticism across social media, where fans accused artists of participating in what many viewed as a political rally disguised as a national celebration. Several performers soon claimed they had not been informed about the event’s political affiliations when agreeing to appear. The controversy rapidly transformed what organizers envisioned as a major anniversary festival into a public relations crisis that overshadowed the event itself.

Among the first artists to publicly withdraw was Young MC, who announced on Facebook: «I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed». He added: «I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.» Country star Martina McBride released an even longer statement explaining that she had repeatedly asked organizers whether the event was political before agreeing to participate. «I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,» she wrote. McBride said she believed the concert was intended to celebrate «ALL 50 states» and bring Americans together through music, but concluded that «what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.»

«I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT. The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed».

-Young MC on Facebook

Poison frontman Bret Michaels echoed those concerns in a lengthy Instagram message announcing his departure. Michaels explained that the event had originally been presented as «a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life.» The rocker stressed that his performances have never been political, writing: «My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together.» Michaels said he became increasingly uncomfortable after learning more about the event and cited safety concerns after receiving threats. «Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,» he wrote. The Commodores also announced their withdrawal, stating: «Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.» Meanwhile, Morris Day and The Time released a brief statement saying: «Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at ‘The Great American State Fair.’»

The mass departures left organizers scrambling to preserve the lineup. Despite the growing controversy, several artists have publicly defended their decision to remain involved. Vanilla Ice dismissed criticism during an interview with TMZ, arguing: «Music is not political, man. It’s universal… I’m here to party with America.» Fab Morvan, the surviving face of Milli Vanilli, also stood by his appearance and told the Associated Press: «I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them. Let’s celebrate life & music.» Freedom Williams of C+C Music Factory took perhaps the most controversial approach, posting a lengthy Instagram video in which he insisted he personally disapproved of Trump while defending his right to perform. Williams argued that artists should not be pressured into canceling appearances based on political assumptions and said public outrage would not dictate his decisions.

« We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain. Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center.»

-U.S. President, Donald Trump, on Truth Social

Despite Trump’s demand that the concert series be canceled, Freedom 250 organizers continue to move forward with the event. The festival remains scheduled to run from June 25 through July 10 on Washington’s National Mall as part of broader celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. However, what was initially promoted as a unifying patriotic spectacle has become increasingly defined by political controversy, artist withdrawals and questions about transparency. Reports indicate that more than half of the original performers have now exited the lineup, leaving only a handful of major acts including Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida, Fab Morvan and Freedom Williams. Trump has since announced plans to headline the festivities himself with a major speech, further blurring the line between a national anniversary celebration and a political event.

Trump’s White House UFC spectacle is facing a new wave of controversy after details emerged about strict physical requirements being imposed on U.S. service members hoping to attend the highly publicized event on the South Lawn. According to Pentagon guidance reviewed by CNN, military personnel seeking one of the free invitations must meet the Department of Defense’s latest body composition standards, including a mandatory waist-to-height ratio below 0.55. For an average American man standing 5-foot-9, that effectively limits eligibility to a waist measurement of roughly 37 inches. The event, branded as UFC Freedom 250, has been heavily promoted by President Donald Trump as one of the signature celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary, with a massive arena already under construction outside the White House. The restrictions, however, have sparked immediate outrage among critics who argue that appearance is being prioritized over service.

The eligibility requirements reflect a broader push inside the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has repeatedly made physical appearance a central issue during his tenure. In a widely discussed speech delivered before senior military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in September 2025, Hegseth openly criticized what he described as declining standards within the armed forces. «Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,» he declared. He went even further by targeting military leadership, stating: «It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.» Hegseth also insisted that «It all starts with physical fitness and appearance,» language that critics say laid the groundwork for the controversial UFC attendance rules now drawing scrutiny.

According to guidance memos reviewed by CNN and other outlets, ticket recipients for UFC Freedom 250 must satisfy both standard military fitness requirements and the newly adopted waist-to-height ratio threshold. The Pentagon recently shifted toward using waist-to-height measurements as a key indicator of what it calls “warfighting readiness,” making the standard a major component of service evaluations. One defense official familiar with the process bluntly summarized the message being sent to troops interested in attending the event: «No fattys.» Another official reportedly said senior Pentagon leaders wanted military personnel attending the event to «look good» on television cameras during the nationally broadcast spectacle. The memos further specify that invitations should go to «genuine UFC fans» rather than being distributed according to rank or status, while selected service members will also be responsible for paying their own travel expenses despite receiving free admission.

Trump has spent weeks building anticipation around what he describes as a historic event unlike anything ever staged at the White House. The president has repeatedly claimed demand for tickets is unprecedented and has promoted UFC Freedom 250 as one of the centerpiece attractions of the broader anniversary celebrations. Construction crews have already erected a large star-spangled open-air venue on the South Lawn, transforming part of the White House grounds into a temporary combat sports arena. UFC president Dana White, one of Trump’s closest allies in the sports world, has worked closely with organizers on the event. The planned fight card remains intact and includes several major matchups, including Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane. Unlike the musicians involved in other Freedom 250 festivities, UFC fighters have largely avoided public criticism of the event and remain committed to participating despite the growing controversy surrounding the celebration itself.

«Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops.»

-U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth

The military attendance policy is only one of several issues generating backlash around UFC Freedom 250. Ethics groups including Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington have criticized the use of White House grounds for what they view as a heavily commercialized private sporting event tied to one of Trump’s closest political supporters. Critics argue that transforming «the people’s house» into a promotional venue for Dana White and the UFC blurs the line between public office and private business interests. Others have pointed to the administration’s apparent obsession with optics, noting previous reports that military audiences attending Trump appearances were carefully selected according to appearance and presentation. The emphasis on physical image has become an increasingly visible theme throughout the administration, particularly under Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon, where grooming standards, fitness tests and body composition requirements have been aggressively tightened.

«It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.»

-U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth

The controversy surrounding the UFC event also mirrors the turmoil that recently engulfed the Freedom 250 concert celebrations. More than half of the artists originally scheduled to perform around the anniversary festivities ultimately withdrew after learning about the event’s political connections. Several performers publicly stated they had been led to believe they were participating in a nonpartisan patriotic celebration before discovering its close ties to Trump allies and administration officials. While the concert lineup largely collapsed, the UFC portion of the celebration has remained intact, creating an unusual contrast between the worlds of entertainment and combat sports. Critics have also pointed to another source of frustration for service members: although admission tickets are being provided free of charge, troops selected to attend must pay their own transportation, lodging and other travel expenses to Washington. The policy has generated additional criticism because Pentagon guidance reportedly prioritizes junior enlisted personnel and lower-ranking service members, who generally earn significantly less than senior officers. As debate over the physical eligibility requirements and financial burden continues, organizers are nevertheless pressing ahead with the June showcase, ensuring that UFC Freedom 250 remains one of the most controversial events of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Starbucks abandonne un important système de gestion des stocks basé sur l’intelligence artificielle dans l’ensemble de ses établissements nord-américains, après que les employés des magasins se sont plaints que cette technologie causait plus de problèmes qu’elle n’apportait de solutions. Selon les employés, ce système d’IA avait entraîné des ruptures de stock, des commandes erronées et un stress supplémentaire au travail dans des milliers de magasins Starbucks. La chaîne a confirmé qu’elle abandonnait ce programme de gestion des stocks alimenté par l’IA, connu en interne sous le nom de « Siren Craft System », après des mois de critiques. Selon les baristas et les responsables de magasin, le logiciel calculait souvent de manière erronée les besoins en approvisionnement. Cette décision représente un recul significatif pour les efforts concertés de Starbucks visant à utiliser l’automatisation et l’intelligence artificielle pour rationaliser ses opérations. Au cours de l’année écoulée, Starbucks a connu un ralentissement de ses ventes, des tensions sociales et une pression croissante de la part des investisseurs exigeant un service plus rapide et une réduction des coûts d’exploitation.

Le Siren Craft System

L’outil de gestion des stocks Siren Craft a été progressivement mis en place dans les établissements Starbucks d’Amérique du Nord à partir de 2025, dans le cadre de la stratégie plus large de modernisation numérique de l’entreprise. Ce système d’IA était conçu pour prédire automatiquement la demande de stocks, suivre l’utilisation des ingrédients et générer des commandes d’approvisionnement pour les magasins sans nécessiter de saisie manuelle de la part des employés. Les dirigeants de Starbucks avaient auparavant affirmé que cette technologie réduirait le gaspillage, améliorerait l’efficacité et libérerait les employés des tâches administratives. Au lieu de cela, de nombreux employés ont signalé à la direction que le logiciel produisait régulièrement des prévisions inexactes, entraînant des pénuries de lait, de sirops, de tasses et d’autres fournitures essentielles pendant les périodes de forte affluence, tout en commandant en excès des produits moins fréquemment utilisés qui restaient souvent inutilisés.

« Le système ne fonctionnait pas comme prévu. »

– Un employé de Starbucks

Les baristas et les responsables de magasin auraient fait part de leurs inquiétudes pendant des mois avant que Starbucks ne décide de mettre fin au programme. Les employés interrogés ont décrit des situations où les magasins se retrouvaient à court d’ingrédients essentiels de manière inattendue pendant les heures de pointe, car le système d’IA sous-estimait la demande. D’autres ont déclaré que les responsables étaient constamment contraints de passer outre manuellement les recommandations d’inventaire automatisées pour assurer le bon fonctionnement des magasins. Les employés ont également fait valoir que la technologie ne tenait parfois pas compte des événements locaux, des conditions météorologiques ou des fluctuations saisonnières susceptibles d’affecter considérablement la fréquentation et la demande de produits dans chaque établissement. Plusieurs employés ont déclaré que le système générait davantage de travail au lieu de simplifier les opérations comme prévu.

Un nouvel échec pour Starbucks

L’échec du système de gestion des stocks survient à un moment difficile pour Starbucks. L’entreprise est confrontée à une baisse des ventes, à une intensification des efforts de syndicalisation et à des critiques concernant la hausse des prix des boissons. Starbucks a également vu de nombreuses régions d’Amérique du Nord boycotter ses cafés en raison des liens de l’entreprise avec Israël et de son traitement des employés et clients LGBTQ+. Plus tôt en 2025, l’entreprise a remplacé son directeur général de longue date, Laxman Narasimhan, par Brian Niccol. M. Niccol, ancien cadre chez Chipotle, a été chargé de redynamiser les opérations de l’entreprise et de restaurer la confiance des clients. Starbucks a de plus en plus mis l’accent sur la rapidité, l’efficacité et l’intégration numérique dans le cadre de sa stratégie de redressement, en particulier alors que la concurrence s’intensifie dans les secteurs du café et de la restauration rapide. Le système d’inventaire basé sur l’IA était considéré en interne comme un élément central de ces efforts de modernisation avant son annulation.

L’IA fait défaut à toutes les entreprises

L’abandon du système reflète également les défis plus généraux auxquels les entreprises sont confrontées lorsqu’elles tentent d’intégrer l’intelligence artificielle dans les secteurs de la vente au détail et des services. Au cours des deux dernières années, de grandes entreprises de nombreux secteurs, notamment l’alimentation, la logistique et la restauration rapide, ont investi massivement dans des systèmes de prévision basés sur l’IA, conçus pour automatiser la planification, les chaînes d’approvisionnement et la gestion des stocks. Cependant, de nombreux employés et analystes ont signalé que ces systèmes peinent à s’adapter à des environnements réels imprévisibles où le comportement des clients évolue rapidement. Les experts du commerce de détail ont noté que les systèmes d’IA fonctionnent souvent bien dans des conditions stables, mais peuvent échouer de manière spectaculaire lorsque des variables imprévues perturbent les schémas de demande habituels. L’échec de Siren Craft est un autre exemple illustrant à quel point le remplacement de la main-d’œuvre humaine par l’IA peut s’avérer coûteux pour les entreprises.

Starbucks a déclaré qu’elle allait revenir à une gestion des stocks combinant des systèmes manuels et des outils de prévision plus anciens, tout en évaluant des technologies alternatives en vue d’une utilisation future. Les responsables de l’entreprise ont souligné que cette décision ne concernait que la plateforme d’IA spécifique à la gestion des stocks et ne signifiait pas un abandon plus général des initiatives de l’entreprise en matière d’intelligence artificielle. Starbucks continue d’investir massivement dans l’automatisation, les systèmes de commande mobile et l’analyse numérique de la clientèle dans le cadre de sa stratégie à long terme. Les dirigeants continueraient de croire que la technologie restera essentielle pour améliorer l’efficacité et la rentabilité de l’ensemble des opérations mondiales de l’entreprise, malgré l’échec du système de gestion des stocks.

L’abandon du système d’IA intervient alors que le débat s’intensifie concernant le rôle croissant de l’intelligence artificielle sur le lieu de travail. Des entreprises de tous les secteurs ont promu l’IA comme un outil capable de réduire les coûts, d’améliorer l’efficacité et de rationaliser les opérations, tandis que les détracteurs affirment que de nombreux systèmes restent peu fiables, opaques ou déconnectés des conditions de travail réelles. Les chercheurs qui étudient l’automatisation du lieu de travail mettent de plus en plus en garde contre le fait que des systèmes d’IA mal mis en œuvre peuvent imposer des charges supplémentaires aux employés, contraints de compenser les erreurs technologiques. Le Siren Craft System pourrait bien devenir l’un des exemples les plus marquants à ce jour de la manière dont les stratégies axées sur l’IA peuvent avoir un impact négatif tant sur les travailleurs que sur les entreprises.