“Backrooms” opened at No. 1 at the US box office, giving A24 its biggest domestic opening weekend with about $81.4 million, according to entertainment trade reports.
The horror film, directed by 20-year-old internet filmmaker Kane Parsons, adapts the viral online myth of endless empty hallways and yellow-lit rooms.
A24 lists the film as a 2026 release written by Will Soodik. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett and Lukita Maxwell.
The story follows a strange doorway in the basement of a furniture showroom, according to A24. Trade listings describe Ejiofor’s character as Clark, a furniture store owner drawn into the eerie dimension.
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The Backrooms idea began online in 2019 with an image of a dull yellow room, fluorescent lights and damp carpet. Internet users later expanded it into a creepypasta about people slipping out of reality.
Parsons turned the concept into a viral YouTube found-footage series in 2022 under the Kane Pixels name. The feature film marks his first full-length directing role.
The movie leans on liminal-space horror rather than standard jump scares. Its success also points to Hollywood’s growing interest in creator-led projects from YouTube and other online platforms.
