‘Backrooms’ Becomes A24’s First Movie to Cross $400 Million at the Box Office

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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A24 has established itself with prestige dramas and cult horror favorites, but nothing could have prepared the studio for the phenomenon that emerged from a YouTube horror short. What began as internet folklore about an endless and eerie liminal space has transformed into the studio’s most significant commercial success story.

Months after its debut on Memorial Day, the film’s momentum shows no signs of waning, continuing to achieve milestones well beyond its theatrical peak. A recent surge in international markets has propelled it into uncharted territory for A24.

‘Backrooms’ has officially crossed the $400 million mark at the global box office following a surprisingly strong late run in Asia, as reported by Global Box Office. This achievement makes it the first A24 film to reach this milestone, capping off a box office journey that has repeatedly rewritten the studio’s commercial history.

The film opened to $81.5 million domestically during its Memorial Day weekend release, eventually surpassing $197 million in the U.S. and now exceeding $400 million worldwide. Remarkably, this success came from a budget reportedly under $10 million, resulting in an extraordinary return on investment for a studio release of this magnitude.

This combination of a modest budget and blockbuster-level earnings has made ‘Backrooms’ A24’s highest-grossing release ever and one of the biggest horror films of the year. Critics have also responded positively, with the film achieving an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76 on Metacritic, numbers that have fueled strong word-of-mouth long after its opening weekend.

Screenshot 2026 05 31 at 09 43 19 Backrooms Rotten Tomatoes

‘Backrooms’ marked the feature debut of Kane Parsons, who was only 20 years old when the film premiered, making him the youngest filmmaker to achieve a No. 1 box office hit, breaking a record previously held by Josh Trank’s ‘Chronicle.’ Parsons began his career as a YouTube creator, with horror shorts that amassed over 200 million views before A24 brought him on board at 17 to develop the concept into a full feature.

This journey from online horror creator to record-breaking studio director provides a unique grassroots origin story compared to most contemporary blockbusters. A24’s decision to invest in a teenager with an internet following rather than an established filmmaker has yielded results that few anticipated.

Parsons is set to return for a sequel, which Global Box Office reports is expected to be released in 2028. This follow-up will be his next major project, taking precedence over another original film he had been developing with mentor Osgood Perkins.

A24 has also signed Parsons to a three-year deal worth approximately $65 million, including bonuses for delivering two completed features within that timeframe. This level of investment reflects the studio’s confidence in Parsons as a long-term creative partner rather than merely a one-hit wonder.

Reaching $400 million globally places ‘Backrooms’ in a category that A24 has never before encountered, marking a significant turning point for a studio historically known for smaller, award-focused releases rather than blockbuster horror. The film’s ongoing success in Asia indicates that international audiences are still discovering it well after its domestic box office run has concluded.

With a sequel confirmed and Parsons secured in a multi-year deal, ‘Backrooms’ appears to be more than just a one-off success; it could be the foundation of a new franchise for the studio. The film’s triumph has also surpassed ‘Marty Supreme’ to become A24’s highest-grossing release, a title that had only recently been established before ‘Backrooms’ arrived and quickly reshaped the record books.

For a studio that has built its identity on smaller, character-driven films, having a horror blockbuster now leading its all-time earnings list signifies a remarkable shift in A24’s commercial potential.

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