They found a place: The unnerving horror of 'Backrooms' breaks records | Movie Releases & Trends – Weekend of May 29, 2026
A24's horror phenomenon Backrooms delivered a record-shattering opening weekend, generating $81.4 million domestically against a production budget of less than $10 million.
Nearly half of all tickets sold this weekend were for Backrooms. The film now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for an original horror movie, while 20-year-old director Kane Parsons became the youngest filmmaker in history to direct a No. 1 box office film.
Why did it work so well? First, the film remained remarkably faithful to the source material that made it a viral sensation on YouTube, allowing it to capitalize on a massive built-in fan base.
Despite its R rating, 19% of the audience was 17 or under, while another 38% fell within the coveted 18-24 demographic. Altogether that makes for one of the youngest audiences of a non-family-targeted major release this year, which is surprising given how genuinely strange and freaky this film is.
The film also benefited from strong critical reception and standout performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, both earned praise for grounding an intentionally surreal and unsettling concept with genuine emotional depth.
Critics love the film, reflected in its 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, applauding its atmospheric tension and successful leap from internet creepypasta to mainstream cinema.
“It takes a lot to unnerve me,” says one of our team members who’s a dedicated horror fan, “but ‘Backrooms’ is so immersive, singular, and disturbing that it’s going to be haunting my subconscious for a long time.”
Audience reactions, overall, have been more divided, with some casual moviegoers finding its slow pacing and abstract storytelling challenging — an expected response for a film that remains deeply rooted in its experimental online origins.
YouTube upstarts are crushing the box office overall
Also performing exceptionally well was Obsession, which continues to be one of the year's most remarkable box office stories.
In its third weekend, the film achieved something virtually unheard of for a wide-release horror title, following a 30% increase in its second weekend with another 14% gain in its 3rd week. Made for a mere $750,000, the film has now grossed $155 million worldwide, including an impressive $111 million domestically.
Like Backrooms, Obsession has YouTube roots. Director Curry Barker built his audience online before partnering with Blumhouse to bring the project to the big screen.
Conventional wisdom would suggest that two high-profile horror films targeting similar audiences would cannibalize one another's business. Instead, the opposite occurred.
The two films appear to have benefited from a "Barbenheimer"-style effect. (Sadly, there’s no catchy portmanteau to be had here.)
Rather than competing, Backrooms and Obsession created a shared cultural moment for horror fans, particularly among younger audiences and online communities. Social media conversations frequently paired the films together, a double-header that would certainly make for one dread-filled and entertaining afternoon.
The result was a rare weekend in which two unconventional horror titles not only coexisted, but amplified one another's success.
Divergent choices: A hapless dad, or the D-Day invasion?
Not to be overlooked, several other films also debuted this weekend.
The Breadwinner, a comedy starring stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze alongside Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy, Kumail Nanjiani, and Will Forte, opened to $7.3 million. While critics were largely unimpressed if not disdainful, audiences responded much more favorably, rewarding the film with a strong A- CinemaScore — an encouraging sign for its word-of-mouth potential in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, 2023 Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser returned to the big screen in Pressure, portraying Dwight D. Eisenhower during the tense 72 hours leading up to the Normandy invasion.
Released in fewer than 2,000 theaters, the film's $5.8 million opening is a respectable start for a historical war drama. It also served as effective counterprogramming for older moviegoers seeking an alternative to the weekend's bigger franchise and horror releases.
Both critics and audiences have embraced the film, with moviegoers awarding it a strong A CinemaScore, suggesting it could enjoy a steady run driven by positive word of mouth.
Jump scares and buff superheroes
Coming out this weekend are two very different titles targeting two very different audiences: Scary Movie and Masters of the Universe. This installment of Scary Movie, the franchise's sixth, is tracking for a $40M+ opening. The franchise has always performed best when it taps into the cultural conversation around current horror hits, and with horror enjoying one of its strongest periods in years, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
Meanwhile, Masters of the Universe is expected to bring in $30M+. The film is attempting to revive a well-known brand that spans multiple generations, appealing both to fans who grew up with the property and younger audiences discovering it for the first time.
The weekend should be another incredibly strong one. With horror, action, family, and comedy options all in the marketplace, moviegoers will have one of the most diverse slates of the summer to choose from.
How The People Platform's audience measurements can help drive insights
- How many tickets will be sold this coming weekend? Find out on our next Cinema Ranker for a box office forecast and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest cinema industry insights.
- To learn more about The People Platform and explore our audience measurement solutions designed to support box office forecasting and cinema audience insights, click here.
- Don't forget to also explore the broader suite from The Marketing Cloud to unlock AI-driven marketing solutions that help teams across market research, comms, creative, and media.
