The wait is almost over for fans of the viral online horror series. A24’s Backrooms movie is coming to theaters this Friday, May 29, 2026. The film brings the creepy yellow hallways and buzzing lights from the internet to the big screen.
20-year-old Kane Parsons, known as Kane Pixels on YouTube, directs this feature film. He made the original short videos as a teenager. Now he is working with big names like producer James Wan (The Conjuring) and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (Doctor Strange).
Industry tracking suggests the movie could earn $40 to $50 million in its first weekend in the United States. That would make it A24’s biggest opening ever, beating Civil War ($25.5 million). The movie cost only $10 million to make.
What Is ‘Backrooms’ About
The story starts in a normal place. Clark, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, runs a furniture store. His wife left him, and his business is failing. He goes to a therapist named Dr. Mary Kline, played by Renate Reinsve.
One day, Clark finds a strange crack in his store’s basement wall. Light comes out of it. When he looks closer, he discovers a door to another world. This world has endless empty rooms with yellow wallpaper. The lights buzz loudly. The space feels wrong and lonely.
Clark gets obsessed with this place. He brings his employee Kat (Lukita Maxwell) and her boyfriend Bobby (Finn Bennett) to explore it. Then all three vanish without a trace. Dr. Mary Kline must enter the Backrooms to find them. She risks getting lost forever in the maze.
The movie is 1 hour and 50 minutes long. It has an R rating.
Who Is in the Cast
The main cast includes several well-known actors:
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark
- Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline
- Mark Duplass in a supporting role
- Finn Bennett as Bobby
- Lukita Maxwell as Kat
- Avan Jogia
- Krista Kosonen
- Philip Granger
How a 20-Year-Old YouTuber Made a Studio Movie
Kane Parsons first posted his Backrooms short on YouTube in January 2022. He was only 16 years old. That nine-minute video now has over 78 million views. He released 23 more episodes in the next year.
Fans on Reddit and other sites talked about every detail of his series. The story grew into a popular internet legend. Parsons decided between going to college or making movies. Then A24 called and offered to finance his feature film.
Parsons is now the youngest director in A24’s history. He worked with horror experts like James Wan, Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things). The film shot in Vancouver during summer 2025.
Fake Director Rumors Shut Down by Cast Member
A false rumor spread online claiming Kane Parsons did not actually direct the movie. Mark Duplass, who stars in the film, responded directly on X.
“Hmmm, with all due respect I don’t remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100% in control. More so than many directors 3x his age.” – Mark Duplass
Duplass confirmed Parsons knew exactly what he wanted and ran the production fully.
Early Reviews Call It ‘Elevated Horror’
Critics who have seen Backrooms say it focuses on psychological terror, not jump scares. The movie takes time to show Clark’s broken life before he enters the other world. This makes the horror feel real and earned.
“The horror of Backrooms is rarely brutal, nor is it really characterised by jump scares. Instead, it presents a psychological terror: the feeling that something is amiss even though the surroundings seem perfectly normal.” – OutNow.ch review
Reviewers compare it to other A24 horror films like Hereditary. The movie builds fear through loneliness and empty spaces. The constant hum of the lights makes viewers feel uneasy throughout the film.
Where to Watch ‘Backrooms’ Right Now
Theaters only. No streaming date has been announced yet.
The movie opens in U.S. theaters on May 29, 2026. In Brazil, it hits cinemas on May 28, 2026. Other countries get the film starting this weekend.
For viewers in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India, check local theater listings. The movie will play in most major cinema chains.
When Will ‘Backrooms’ Come to Streaming
Fans waiting to watch at home need patience. HBO Max will likely get the movie first. Warner Bros. Discovery has a pay-one deal with A24. This means A24 movies go to HBO Max after their theatrical run.
In Brazil, experts suggest Prime Video or HBO Max as the most likely platforms. The digital rental window usually happens 2 to 3 months after theaters. So July or August 2026 is the earliest for rental. Streaming on subscription services could come between late 2026 and early 2027.
No official streaming date exists. Do not believe unconfirmed reports. The film will stay in theaters as long as it makes good money.
Also Read: Kevin Feige Confirms Spider-Man: Brand New Day Returns Peter Parker To Classic Comic Roots
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