The Complete Guide to Horror Movies

#119 - Backrooms (2026)


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Backrooms has leaped from the internet to International cinemas with massive success. Today I'm breaking down all the highs and lows of the liminal space fever dream horror and why it deserves another chance from so-called horror lovers who dismissed this.


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Chapters

00:00 Backrooms' Record-Breaking Success

02:03 Spoiler Warning & Channel Intro

03:08 Opening Scene & Clark's Story Begins

06:05 Clark Enters the Backrooms

08:12 Exploring the Backrooms & First Death

10:41 Mary Investigates the Backrooms

13:11 Clark's Breakdown & The Still Life Reveal

16:30 Escape, Async & The Ending Explained

18:45 First Impressions & Why the Film Deserves Praise

21:10 Story Analysis & Character Development

25:00 Ending Criticism & Unanswered Questions

26:44 Hidden Meanings, Symbolism & Themes

34:40 Production Design, Sets & Cinematography

39:08 Is Backrooms Actually Scary?

41:24 Critical Reception & Final Rating

45:18 The Future of the Backrooms Franchise

47:42 Final Thoughts & Outro


Backrooms is a 2026 American science fiction psychological horror film directed and co-scored by Kane Parsons in his feature-length directorial debut, and written by Will Soodik. It is a theatrical addition to Parsons' web series and was inspired by the "Backrooms" creepypasta. In the film, Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner, and Mary (Renate Reinsve), his therapist, discover a dimension of seemingly endless liminal spaces accessed through the store's basement. Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell also star.


After uploading the web series in January 2022, Parsons was approached by several studios about potentially adapting his series into a feature film. In February 2023, it was officially announced that work had begun on a film adaptation of the Backrooms based on Parsons' videos, with him also directing. Roberto Patino was initially set to write the screenplay, but was replaced by Soodik. Filming began in the summer of 2025 and concluded in August 2025.


Backrooms premiered at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 7, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States by A24 on May 29. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $350 million worldwide, becoming A24's highest-grossing film to date and making Parsons the youngest filmmaker to reach number one at the United States box office. Backrooms is the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2026 and the second-highest-grossing horror film of 2026.

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The Complete Guide to Horror MoviesBy Justin Matters, Byron Peszko, Sean Coop