A new psychological horror film, “The Backrooms,” adapted from a popular YouTube series, has already achieved record-breaking performance in its preview screenings for cult film studio A24. Industry projections suggest its opening weekend could potentially outperform the latest Star Wars release, marking a significant triumph for its 20-year-old director.
Key Facts
“The Backrooms,” a psychological horror feature derived from a well-known YouTube series of the same name, generated $10.4 million in box office previews on Thursday, according to Variety.
This figure surpasses the previous preview record for A24, which was held by “Civil War” with $2.9 million in its Thursday preview in 2024, and positions “The Backrooms” to potentially break the studio’s wider release records.
“The Backrooms” is now anticipated to exceed its initial opening weekend projections of $40 million to $50 million. This surge could lead it to surpass Disney’s Star Wars entry, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which is projected to earn approximately $40 million in its second weekend.
The commercial success of “The Backrooms,” the directorial debut for 20-year-old Kane Parsons, follows the unexpected strong performance of another horror film, which has become a breakout hit this summer.
“Obsession,” directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, has grossed over $68 million domestically, significantly exceeding its budget of $750,000 to $1 million. The film experienced a “virtually unprecedented” surge in its second weekend.
For its third weekend, “Obsession” is expected to generate an additional $15 million to $20 million.
Surprising Fact
While “Everything Everywhere All at Once” stands as A24’s most critically acclaimed and commercially successful film—garnering seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and ranking as the studio’s second-highest grossing movie ever—its unconventional distribution strategy created an opening for “The Backrooms” to set several studio benchmarks. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” debuted in limited release across only 10 theaters and did not have a traditional Thursday preview, thus not being a factor in the records now being set by “The Backrooms.”
Big Number
Over 220 million views. This is the total number of views generated across Parsons’ viral “Backrooms” horror series on YouTube, including the original breakout short film, “The Backrooms (Found Footage),” which alone has garnered more than 78 million views.
Key Background
Parsons first uploaded his short film, “The Backrooms (Found Footage),” four years ago. The narrative centers on a filmmaker who inadvertently discovers a labyrinth of hidden rooms while shooting his low-budget project. The concept drew heavily from an internet meme that gained traction on platforms like Reddit and 4chan, leading to the film’s rapid virality and tens of millions of views within weeks.
Parsons, who was 16 at the time of the short film’s release, shared with Vanity Fair that he was approached by studios almost immediately. He reportedly made his pitch to A24 in the same week his college applications were due. He officially signed with the studio at the age of 19, making him the youngest director in A24’s history.
Crucial Quote
“His work is so singular and evocative,” producer Kori Adelson, who was instrumental in bringing Parsons to A24, told Vanity Fair. “We will be in the Kane business as long as he allows it.”
Business Style Takeaway: The remarkable success of “The Backrooms” underscores the potent influence of online content virality and niche internet culture in shaping mainstream entertainment. A24’s strategic investment in emerging talent and unconventional storytelling demonstrates a forward-thinking approach that can yield significant box office returns and redefine studio records.
Source: : www.forbes.com