Scooby-Doo Crashes Horror’s Biggest Year With Hilarious ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ Parody Posters
It’s been a monster year for horror at the box office, and few franchises understand spooky season quite like ‘Scooby-Doo’. As October gets underway, Mystery Inc. is celebrating the genre’s big moment in the most Scooby way possible.
Two of 2026’s biggest breakouts have been ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’, both of which turned modest budgets into massive hits. Those runaway successes made them prime targets for some playful ribbing.
Now the official ‘Scooby-Doo’ Instagram account has shared a series of parody posters spoofing hit horror films under the hashtag #scoobtober. Among them are ‘Snackrooms’, a riff on ‘Backrooms’, and ‘Obsessed’, a playful take on ‘Obsession’, and the images have been spreading fast online.
The ‘Backrooms’ spoof keeps the film’s eerie, liminal vibe while swapping in a very Scooby twist. It shows a terrified Scooby leaning against a wall stacked with boxes of Scooby Snax, recreating the endless, claustrophobic corridors of the original in snack form.
It’s a clever nod to a film that became a genuine phenomenon. Directed by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons, ‘Backrooms’ opened to $81 million domestically and $118 million worldwide, the biggest debut in A24’s history.
The film went on to cross $400 million globally, becoming A24’s highest-grossing movie ever. A24 and Chernin Entertainment co-financed it for roughly $10 million, making it one of the most profitable releases of the year, and Parsons also became the youngest filmmaker with a No. 1 film at the box office.
The ‘Obsession’ parody puts Velma in the spotlight. Set against a bold red backdrop, she clutches a stack of books, her glasses glowing, with the poster joking that she’s read them all and she’ll do it again.
That spoof targets another of the year’s horror success stories. Curry Barker’s ‘Obsession’ was made for just $750,000 and grossed $519 million worldwide, becoming Focus Features’ highest-grossing release ever.
Official promo for Cartoon Network’s Halloween event ‘Scoobtober.’ Airing all month long on the channel. https://t.co/EibMEch7s8
— ToonHive (@ToonHive) October 1, 2026
The fun didn’t stop with this year’s hits. The campaign also spoofed ‘The Craft’ as ‘The Hex’, featuring the gothic rock band known as the Hex Girls, and ‘The Shining’ as ‘The Whining’, with Shaggy’s face poking through a broken door.
Interestingly, there was no spoof of ‘Scream’ or ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, both of which feature Shaggy actor Matthew Lillard. Fans may be hoping those get their turn before Halloween arrives.
The parody posters arrive as ‘Scooby-Doo’ enjoys renewed attention. The 2002 live-action film is currently ranked among the top 10 movies on HBO Max in the US. It’s sharing that list with some familiar company. Both ‘Backrooms’ and ‘The Shining’ also appear in HBO Max’s top 10, making the spoofs feel especially timely.
SCOOBY IS FINALLY REAL!!! Meet the goodest boy in Scooby-Doo: Origins, coming to Netflix in 2027 https://t.co/0FjfVAw4Bt
— Netflix (@netflix) June 8, 2026
Between the massive horror box office and the nostalgia surrounding Mystery Inc., the #scoobtober campaign has struck a chord. It’s a reminder that even after decades of chasing monsters, Scooby and the gang still know how to have fun with whatever scares audiences next.
Which ‘Scooby-Doo’ horror parody poster is your favorite?
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