The Backrooms Have Finally Broken Into Theaters - And We’re Never Getting Out

Few internet phenomena survive the leap to the big screen. Leave it to A24 and Disney to crack the code. The Backrooms crashed into theaters yesterday like a fluorescent light flickering back to life. It brought chaos.

The Backrooms Finally Hits Theaters - And Breaks Records

A24/Disney’s $45M Gamble Pays Off on Opening Day

Yesterday’s global premiere wasn’t just a movie release. It was a cultural event. Directed by original YouTube mastermind Kane Parsons, starring Hunter Schafer, Winston Duke, and J.K. Simmons, the film pulled in $18.2 million on its first day alone - Thursday previews plus Friday. Early projections point to a $52 - 55 million opening weekend. That would make it the biggest debut in A24’s history. Bigger than Everything Everywhere All At Once. Bigger than Hereditary. Way bigger than whatever you did Friday night.

The budget sat at a tight $45 million. Disney’s 20th Century Studios banner is already grinning like a Faceling in a dimly lit corridor. (Read our breakdown of A24’s box office track record for context.)

Critics and Audiences Agree on the Dread

As of this morning, The Backrooms holds 84% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics (101 reviews) and a glistening 92% audience score. Reviewers call it “a terrifyingly immersive exploration of liminal dread.” Translation: you will never look at a beige hallway the same way again. The film tells a separate narrative from Kane Parsons’ original YouTube series - which wrapped last month with its 14th episode, “Synthesis,” hitting 47 million views in three weeks - but it keeps the same suffocating atmosphere of yellow wallpaper and infinite rooms. If you crave dread that feels like a hug from a stranger, this is your movie.

The Backrooms Universe Expands Beyond the Screen

Merchandise Hits Stores Today

Want to bring the nightmare home? Of course you do. Funko Pop! figures for The Backrooms dropped today at Target, Walmart, and online. Snag the 6-inch “Faceling” ($14.99) , the “Hazmat Citizen” ($12.99) , or the “Level 0 Wanderer” ($12.99) - all guaranteed to stare at you from your shelf like they know something you don’t. They’re already selling out in some stores. Go fast or prepare to pay triple on eBay. (We’ve got a full Funko Pop! release list here if you need help completing your collection.)

If plastic figures aren’t enough, the official video game The Backrooms: Level 0 from Frictional Games (the studio behind Amnesia) launched today on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S for $29.99. At launch, it pulled 68,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. That’s a lot of people lost in yellow-tiled purgatory.

The London Immersive Walkthrough Is Already Sold Out

In the UK and haven’t booked your ticket yet? Tough luck. The Backrooms: Immersive Walkthrough in London’s Bermondsey district opened July 1. It’s sold out through August 30. Admission runs £32.50 for adults, £24.50 for kids - assuming you can find a kid brave enough to step into a real-life liminal space. Photos and early reviews describe it as “suffocatingly accurate.” Flickering lights, endless corridors, actors playing Facelings that will follow you home in your dreams. Missed out? Keep an eye on our immersive experience calendar for potential extensions.

What’s Next for the Backrooms Franchise

Kane Parsons Signs First-Look Deal for a Sequel

Announced today: Kane Parsons has signed a first-look deal with 10th Planet Studios - the new production company formed by former Netflix execs - to develop a second Backrooms feature film. Target release window? Q4 2027. That gives them about 15 months to craft another descent into madness. Parsons’ original YouTube series may have ended last month with “Synthesis,” but the cinematic universe is just getting started. Expect more lore drops, more levels, maybe even a crossover with that Smile 2 energy. (We can dream.)

For now, go see The Backrooms. But maybe don’t go alone. And definitely don’t wander off if you see a door labeled “Level 1.” You’ve been warned.

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What do you think of the film? Did the yellow walls live up to the hype? Drop your hot takes in the comments - or just scream into the void. We’ll accept both.