Full Breakdown
Kane Parsons Directs A24’s “Backrooms”: From YouTube to the Big Screen
5/28/2026, 9:34:22 PM
Core Event
A24 released the horror-science-fiction feature *Backrooms* on May 29 2026, crediting 20-year-old Kane Parsons as director. The film adapts the internet creepypasta “The Backrooms,” which Parsons first visualized in a YouTube series launched in 2022 when he was 16.
Background & Key Figures
Parsons, a Northern-California native with arthritis, built the original nine-minute short on a kitchen table, amassing roughly 78 million views. A24 paired him with producers James Wan, Shawn Levy and Osgood Perkins and assembled a cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve and Mark Duplass. Production took place in Vancouver on a 30,000-sq-ft practical set.
Data & Impact
The YouTube series reached 78–79 million views; the film’s budget is reported between $10 million and $15–30 million. Early Rotten Tomatoes scores range from 78 % to 87 % and box-office forecasts project a $30–50 million opening weekend. Critics note the film’s restraint and atmospheric tension, and its success could validate studio investment in digital-native creators.
Official Statements
A24 said the partnership relied on Parsons’ deep familiarity with the source material. Parsons described his daily over-preparation and collaborative approach with cast and crew. Duplass publicly affirmed that Parsons exercised full directorial authority on set.
Criticism & Opposition
Some internet users argued that a teenager could not command a multi-million-dollar set and suggested producers such as Wan or Levy might have “ghost-directed” the film. The debate focused on Parsons’ age and YouTube background rather than documented production roles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list the budget as $10 million or $15–30 million and the Rotten Tomatoes rating as 78 % or 87 %. Genre is described as “sci-fi horror” by some outlets and “pure supernatural dread” by others. No post-release box-office data are yet available.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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, Actor
- “I think that definitive, unverified statements like 'we all know Kane Parsons didn't direct this movie' are the problem here,” — Mark Duplass
- “No hard feelings. I understand this platform is inherently flawed. Best to you, friend.” — Mark Duplass
- “He is “a little fatigued” by the conversation around his age.” — Kane Parsons, Interview
- “I wanted it to be a collaborative thing. I didn’t go in claiming to know everything there is to know about directing. I got this job. I make this thing online that we’ve talked about a bunch, and I know what this film needs to be, but you know, let’s have an open dialogue.” — Kane Parsons, Interview
What's Next
The film’s box-office results will shape A24’s willingness to back further creator-driven projects. Parsons has expressed interest in game-related storytelling and continues to expand the Backrooms mythology, hinting at possible sequels or transmedia extensions.
