Hit horror film Backrooms will arrive on streaming services HBO Max and Filmin on September 25 after earning more than $400 million at the worldwide box office. The feature film directed by Kane Parsons will launch simultaneously on both digital platforms following its successful theatrical run across international cinemas.
The movie has achieved major commercial milestones, attracting over one million theatergoers in Spain and becoming the highest-grossing release in the history of independent studio A24. In Spain, distributor Elastica recorded its biggest opening to date with the film, surpassing the previous record held by body horror feature The Substance.
A24 is an American entertainment studio renowned for producing indie horror hits and critically acclaimed films. Spanish distribution company Elastica handled the theatrical rollout in Spain, where the film drew record audiences to become a major commercial landmark.
From viral YouTube videos to Hollywood box office
Backrooms marks the feature film directorial debut for Kane Parsons, who originally created the digital universe on which the movie is based. Parsons began developing the concept as a teenager when he posted a series of short horror videos on YouTube.
Inspired by the viral Backrooms creepypasta internet phenomenon, his short films racked up millions of online views. The massive digital response caught the attention of A24, which agreed to fund a full-length cinematic adaptation while keeping Parsons in charge as director and preserving the core essence of his original online world.
Creepypastas are horror legends and uncanny media shared across online forums. The Backrooms lore originated as an internet myth centered around unsettling, infinite maze-like spaces that exist outside of normal physical reality.
A claustrophobic storyline set in 1990 California
The movie stars Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, with the storyline set in California during 1990. The narrative centers on Clark, a furniture store owner whose ordinary life changes dramatically when he finds a mysterious door hidden inside the basement of his business.
After stepping through the doorway, Clark becomes trapped inside a vast, endless labyrinth of rooms, hallways, and everyday spaces illuminated by flickering yellow fluorescent lights. The empty environment is entirely devoid of people, and the surrounding architecture ceases to obey normal physical laws, turning every room into an unpredictable danger.
Ejiofor is widely known for his starring role in 12 Years a Slave and his appearances in major Hollywood blockbusters. Reinsve gained international prominence after winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in The Worst Person in the World.
Practical sets and the dread of liminal spaces
A central element of Backrooms is its reliance on liminal spaces, which are recognizable and seemingly ordinary locations that evoke strong feelings of isolation, strangeness, and unease through subtle architectural changes.
To bring this unsettling atmosphere to life, the production team prioritized physical set construction over digital effects. Filmmakers built a massive soundstage measuring more than 2,500 square meters, allowing the cast to physically navigate through long stretches of the maze-like hallways seen on screen, while reserving CGI strictly for moments where it was essential.
Liminal spaces refer to transitional environments, such as empty corridors, deserted waiting rooms, or silent office buildings, that generate psychological tension when stripped of human activity.
Streaming release details and availability
What started as a homemade series of short visual effects projects uploaded to YouTube has transformed into one of the biggest horror film successes in recent years. Moviegoers in Spain and international audiences turned the low-concept internet legend into a box office powerhouse.
Following its theatrical success, Backrooms moves to home viewing with its dual streaming premiere on Friday, September 25. Subscribers to Filmin and HBO Max will be able to access the movie as it joins the film catalogues of both streaming services.
