A24’s “Backrooms”, a big-screen adaptation of the viral YouTube horror series, has opened with a record-breaking $81.5 million in North America, according to US media reports.
Directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, who originally created the series as a teenager, the film has achieved the biggest opening ever for an original horror movie and more than doubled A24’s previous domestic debut record. Parsons also becomes the youngest director ever to debut at number one with a feature film.
Starring Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, the film follows a furniture store owner who discovers a vast, mysterious labyrinth beneath his shop. When he disappears, his therapist enters the eerie “liminal space” in search of him.
The movie expands on the viral “Backrooms” online universe, which began in 2022 as a creepypasta phenomenon. The story grew through shared Internet posts, evolving with added monsters, alternate dimensions, and collaborative storytelling across the web.
In second place, Focus Features’ “Obsession” continued its strong performance, earning $26.4 million and bringing its global total close to $150 million on a budget of under $1 million. Directed by 26-year-old Curry Baker, the film has gained praise for both critical reception and audience response.
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” fell nearly 70 per cent in its second weekend, taking in $25 million and placing third. The film marks a return of the Star Wars franchise to theaters after 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker”, and serves as a continuation of the hit streaming series.
Lionsgate’s “Michael”, the Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, remained in the top five for a sixth week, adding $11.7 million. It has now earned $340 million domestically and over $845 million globally.
Sony’s comedy “The Breadwinner” debuted in fifth place with $7.5 million, starring Nate Bergatze as a father navigating childcare while his wife is away. The rest of the top 10 included “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Pressure,” “The Sheep Detective,” “Passenger,” and “Mortal Kombat II.”
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