‘The Backrooms’ Poised to Set a New A24 Box Office Record

Horror has a unique way of capturing audiences in unexpected places, and the genre’s latest cultural phenomenon is currently unfolding in theaters.

A24, the indie studio celebrated for its artistic films and innovative projects, has spent years establishing a reputation for quality over quantity. This reputation is now colliding with mainstream box office figures that have taken many by surprise.

At the heart of this buzz is ‘Backrooms’, a horror film that originated as a viral YouTube series and has since become one of the most discussed theatrical releases of the year. Audiences under 35 have flocked to theaters, and the excitement surrounding the film has only intensified with each passing week since its debut.

‘Backrooms’ is on track to become the first A24 film to surpass the 300 million dollar mark at the global box office. Achieving this would be a groundbreaking milestone for a studio that has typically focused on smaller, more intimate successes rather than blockbuster figures.

The numbers leading to this prediction are already impressive. The film grossed 144 million dollars globally just six days post-release, launching with 81 million domestically and 118 million worldwide during its opening weekend. It has since accumulated 212.6 million dollars globally, making it the highest-grossing film in A24’s history, surpassing ‘Marty Supreme’, which previously held the record with 191 million dollars worldwide.

What makes these figures even more astonishing is the film’s budget. ‘Backrooms’ was produced for a reported 10 million dollars, making its current box office performance remarkable for a film of this scale. According to traditional break-even calculations, the movie likely recouped its costs at around 25 million dollars, meaning everything beyond that is pure profit for A24 and its collaborators.

The film follows a familiar yet effective premise for horror enthusiasts. It centers on a therapist, portrayed by Renate Reinsve, who must navigate a chilling dimension beyond reality to rescue her patient, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. The narrative draws inspiration from the Backrooms creepypasta, a piece of internet folklore that has intrigued online communities for years.

Behind the scenes is Kane Parsons, whose journey to this moment has become a story of its own. Parsons gained fame on his KanePixels YouTube channel with found footage videos based on the Backrooms concept, amassing over 84 million views before securing the opportunity to direct the feature film for A24. At just 20 years old, he has become the youngest filmmaker to top the domestic box office, breaking a record previously held by Josh Trank, who was 27 when his film ‘Chronicle’ debuted at number one in 2012.

Critics have responded positively, with ‘Backrooms’ holding a strong 89 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience-driven Popcornmeter sits at a respectable 74 percent.

Parsons has openly discussed the challenges of adapting his beloved universe for a broader audience. In an interview with Film Shrine, he reflected on the importance of passion throughout the development process. He noted that the screenplay remained fluid during production and emphasized that dedication to the artistic vision often leads to exceptional results.

The second weekend’s numbers reveal interesting insights into the film’s staying power. Despite a significant 70 percent drop in its second weekend, ‘Backrooms’ still managed to earn 25.9 million dollars, a figure that, while down considerably, remains robust for a horror film at this stage of its release.

If ‘Backrooms’ ultimately crosses the 300 million dollar threshold globally, it would signify a pivotal moment for A24. The studio has spent over a decade cultivating a brand founded on artistic integrity, and achieving such a figure would demonstrate that prestige and mass appeal can coexist.

For now, the film continues to perform well in theaters as word spreads through social media, fan communities, and the kind of organic buzz that money cannot replicate. Whether it reaches the 300 million dollar milestone remains uncertain, but the current trajectory suggests it is well within reach.

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