"Backrooms" Goes From YouTube to Hollywood, Shatters Box Office Records

From internet legend to Hollywood blockbuster, the horror film "Backrooms" is shattering box office records. In a mere six days since its release, the movie has grossed over $100 million in the United States, making it the highest-grossing film for the independent studio A24. This achievement surpasses the previous record of $96 million set by "Marty Supreme" last December.

Directed by 20-year-old influencer and YouTuber Kane Parsons, "Backrooms" has also claimed the title of A24's worldwide box office champion, currently standing at $191 million. With upcoming releases in major markets like Spain, Germany, and France, analysts anticipate this global total will climb even higher. The film is poised to overtake other A24 hits, including the Oscar-winning "Everything Everywhere All at Once," which grossed $148 million worldwide.

"Backrooms" is based on an internet urban legend about a parallel dimension that is difficult to escape. The film's success has defied expectations, especially considering its production budget was under $10 million. It achieved the biggest opening weekend ever for an original horror production, earning $81 million domestically and $118 million globally during its debut.

Parsons's directorial debut makes him the youngest person to have a number one box office film, surpassing the record previously held by Josh Trank at age 27 with "Chronicle" in 2012. The remarkable success of "Backrooms," alongside another internet-born hit "Obsession," suggests a growing trend in the film industry to invest in creators who have emerged from online platforms.