Curry Barker

• Name — Curry Barker • Born — 22 September 1999 • Birthplace — Mobile, Alabama, U.S. • Occupation — * Director • producer • screenwriter • editor • actor • comedian • YouTuber • Years Active — 2017–present • Youtube Handle — @thats_a_bad_idea • Youtube Display Name — that's a bad idea • Youtube Genre — * Sketch comedy • cringe comedy • horror comedy • Youtube Subscribers — 1.62 million • Youtube Views — 827 million • Stats Update — August 8, 2026

• Illustration — Barker on a 2026 panel Barker was born on September 22, 1999, and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. His mother is a graphic designer, and his father was a psychiatric nurse practitioner who later became a professional screenwriter. He has two brothers named Riley and Jeffrey, both of whom have collaborated on his films. In a 2026 interview, he stated that he had an interest in horror from a young age, noting that his viewing of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) when he was 11 years old led him to want to chase the feeling of being shocked. A self-described "straight-C and -D student", Barker participated in the marching band, had his own rock band, and ran a YouTube channel with friends. He attended Baker High School.

Aspiring to be an actor, Barker left home at 18 to study at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) campus in Los Angeles. During his first week, he met fellow student Cooper Tomlinson, and they soon began making videos together on YouTube, which they described as "our film school outside of film school", forming the sketch comedy duo "that's a bad idea". Barker and Tomlinson soon dropped out, moved in together, and began publishing comedy sketches and short films on YouTube and TikTok, while Barker worked at Starbucks. Barker had occasional acting roles in other productions, including guest appearances in television series Dave and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2023. In 2023, Barker wrote and directed the horror short film The Chair and uploaded it to YouTube, where it was watched more than 10 million times. Film producer James Harris of Tea Shop Productions contacted Barker, suggesting he adapt it into a feature, but Barker instead pitched Obsession (2025), a horror film. Barker directed the $800 found footage horror film Milk & Serial (2024). After spending a year trying to get distribution, Barker ultimately decided to release the full film on YouTube. The film went viral, leading to a representation deal with United Talent Agency in early 2025. On September 3, 2025, in advance of Obsession TIFF premiere, it was announced that Barker would direct and co-write his third feature horror film, Anything but Ghosts, and co-star in it. The project is produced by Jason Blum, Roy Lee, and Steven Schneider through their Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Spooky Pictures banners, respectively, alongside Divide/Conquer. The film is set to be released by Focus Features. On a $750,000 budget, Obsession became a sensation, grossing over $500 million worldwide. TheWrap compared Barker and Kane Parsons—whose Backrooms (2026) was simultaneously very successful—to David F. Sandberg. All three began by creating YouTube videos before directing Hollywood feature films. In April 2026, it was announced that Barker would be writing and directing a reboot of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with A24. In June 2026, it was announced that Barker would be writing, directing, and producing an original horror film for Universal Pictures. Blum, James Wan, Lee, Schneider, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath will produce through their Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Spooky Pictures and Divide/Conquer banners, respectively.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 2017–present — That's a Bad Idea — Various, himself — Sketch comedy YouTube channel

Curry Barker is recorded as screenwriter, writer, film director and actor.

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Editor — Actor — Notes — Ref. • 2024 — Milk & Serial — Feature directorial debut • 2025 — Obsession — Theatrical debut, cameo as "Man on the phone" • Anything but Ghosts — Executive — Post-production, co-starring with Cooper Tomlinson

• Year — Title — Director — Writer — Producer — Editor — Actor — Notes — Ref. • 2019 — Real World • 2020 — Contemplation • We Don't Feel Pain!! (we tried a ritual) • Meanwhile Outside the Bank • 2021 — Drywall • 2022 — Heavy Eyes • 2023 — Warnings • The Chair • 2024 — That's a Bad Idea — Music video • Striking Gold • 2025 — Fly Me to the Earth • 2026 — C.E.O. — Music video