‘Backrooms’ Horror Film Shatters Box Office Records with $38 Million Opening Day
Key Takeaway
The low-budget horror film ‘Backrooms,’ based on a viral internet myth, earned $38 million on its first day, setting a new opening weekend record for A24 and proving YouTube creators can drive massive box office success.
Record-Breaking Box Office Debut
Kane Parsons’ feature film directorial debut, Backrooms, pulled in a staggering $38 million on its opening day alone. Industry analysts project the movie will earn between $80 million and $90 million over its first weekend. That figure would not only exceed initial expectations but also obliterate A24’s previous opening weekend record of $25.5 million set by Alex Garland’s Civil War in 2024. Backrooms also outperformed The Mandalorian & Grogu, which debuted with $33.7 million on its first day.
A Profitability Triumph
With a production budget estimated at just $10 million, Backrooms is already immensely profitable. By contrast, the last Star Wars film, which cost $165 million, was considered a financial disappointment. The film’s success underscores the growing trend of low-budget horror films generating outsized returns.
From 4chan Meme to Theatrical Blockbuster
The 20-year-old filmmaker Kane Parsons first explored the Backrooms concept in a nine-minute YouTube short in 2022. That video, inspired by a 2019 4chan post describing a nightmarish liminal space, went viral. The post depicted a sickly yellow hallway and warned of a creature that stalks those trapped inside. Parsons’ atmospheric adaptation on YouTube spawned a dedicated fan community, leading studios to approach him for a feature film.
The Film’s Plot and Critical Reception
Backrooms stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, a troubled furniture store owner who discovers a portal to an endless labyrinth of yellow rooms. His therapist, played by Renate Reinsve, is also haunted by her own past. The film, set in the 1990s, deliberately avoids explaining its mysteries, leaving viewers unsettled. Critics have praised its atmospheric dread and originality, though it hasn’t achieved the universal acclaim of another YouTube-driven horror hit, Obsession.
A New Era for Hollywood?
Parsons’ success adds to a growing wave of internet-native creators breaking into mainstream cinema. The film’s production team includes horror veterans Osgood Perkins and James Wan, as well as screenwriter Will Soodik (Homeland, Westworld). Reflecting on his rapid rise, Parsons told WIRED: “It’s been go, go, go… I never went into making that first short with the intention of proving to Hollywood that this is a viable engine.” With Backrooms, he has done exactly that.
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