‘Backrooms’ Sets New Records for A24 with Historic Opening Weekend

A24 has achieved its largest opening weekend ever, thanks to ‘Backrooms’, the new horror film directed by Kane Parsons.

According to box office reports, ‘Backrooms’ earned an impressive $81.5 million during its opening weekend in North America, totaling $118 million worldwide. With a production budget of just $10 million, this debut marks one of the most profitable starts for a studio release in recent years.

This success is also a significant milestone for Kane Parsons. At just 20 years old, he has become the youngest director to have the number one film at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. This achievement places Parsons in the record books and highlights his remarkable rise, having first gained attention through his online ‘Backrooms’ horror videos.

The opening figures have surpassed all previous A24 releases. The studio has built a strong reputation with critically acclaimed films, but ‘Backrooms’ has now delivered its largest debut by a significant margin. Industry observers note that the film has set a new record for the highest opening weekend ever achieved by an original movie directed by a first-time filmmaker.

A key factor in the film’s success seems to be its connection with younger audiences. Reports indicate that 86% of ticket buyers were under the age of 35, with 66% younger than 25 and 44% under 21. These numbers underscore the film’s strong appeal among Gen Z and Gen Alpha viewers.

The audience breakdown has drawn comparisons to the 2023 horror hit “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which also attracted a large number of younger moviegoers. However, ‘Backrooms’ appears to have reached even further into that demographic. Its online popularity, combined with years of fan interest in the ‘Backrooms’ internet phenomenon, helped generate significant excitement prior to its release.

Despite receiving audience scores that are positive but not exceptional, including a B- CinemaScore and a 74% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has already generated enough revenue to ensure a theatrical profit. Analysts expect it to continue climbing rapidly at the global box office and project it will soon surpass A24’s current highest-grossing film.

While ‘Backrooms’ dominated headlines, it wasn’t the only horror success story this weekend. Focus Features’ ‘Obsession’ continued its strong run, earning $26.4 million domestically in its third weekend, a 10% increase from the previous weekend.

The film has now reached $104.7 million in North America and $148 million worldwide, setting a new record for Focus Features. Unlike ‘Backrooms’, which benefited from years of online popularity, ‘Obsession’ built its audience through strong word of mouth following its midnight premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Many moviegoers have praised the film’s disturbing story and the performance of actress Inde Navarrette, helping the horror title attract new viewers week after week. Current projections suggest the movie could eventually surpass $200 million domestically.

An interesting connection links both of the weekend’s biggest horror hits. Jason Blum and James Wan’s merged horror company, Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, was involved in both productions. Atomic Monster co-produced ‘Backrooms’ alongside Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps, while Blumhouse served as a producer on ‘Obsession’.

With two horror films breaking records simultaneously, this weekend has become one of the strongest periods the genre has seen in years. For A24, Focus Features, and especially Kane Parsons, it is a moment that could have a lasting impact on the future of horror filmmaking.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!