Story perspectives

A24’s “Backrooms” Nets $200 M on $10 M Budget

6/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

A24 released “Backrooms” in 2026, directed by Kane Parsons (Kane Pixels) and starring actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and actress Renate Reinsve.
The $10 million film has grossed $200 million, roughly twenty times its budget.
Parsons launched the “Backrooms” universe in 2022 with a YouTube short and expanded it into a 2026 film that follows salesman Clark trapped in a maze of liminal rooms, earning critics’ praise for its claustrophobic atmosphere and ambiguous ending.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez began outlining The Blair Witch Project, filming the improvised horror in eight days in 1997. After premiering at Sundance 1999, Artisan Entertainment released it on July 30 1999, and the grassroots campaign made it a massive commercial success. The hit proved low-budget, internet-driven marketing could launch blockbusters, leading studios to pursue online creators for new horror franchises.

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Story summary

A24 released “Backrooms” in 2026, directed by Kane Parsons (Kane Pixels) and starring actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and actress Renate Reinsve.
The $10 million film has grossed $200 million, roughly twenty times its budget.
Parsons launched the “Backrooms” universe in 2022 with a YouTube short and expanded it into a 2026 film that follows salesman Clark trapped in a maze of liminal rooms, earning critics’ praise for its claustrophobic atmosphere and ambiguous ending.

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