‘Backrooms’ Just Shattered an A24 Box Office Record — And It’s Still Dominating Theaters

A24 has a new box office champion, and it comes from an unexpected place. Horror movie “Backrooms” continues to surprise audiences and has now become the highest-grossing film in the history of the studio.

The internet-inspired horror film added another $7.3 million during its fourth weekend in theaters, showing impressive staying power despite facing competition from major studio releases. According to box office data, “Backrooms” has now earned around $175 million in North America and more than $300 million worldwide.

The success makes “Backrooms” the biggest movie ever released by A24, passing the previous record holder “Marty Supreme,” which earned $191 million globally. The achievement is a major milestone for the independent studio, which has built a reputation around unique and original films.

The film’s continued performance is especially impressive because it is competing against some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. While Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” dominated the weekend with a massive opening, “Backrooms” managed to keep attracting viewers weeks after release.

The horror movie’s success also highlights a growing trend at the box office. Younger audiences have been showing strong support for films created by new-generation filmmakers, especially projects that started with online communities.

“Backrooms” is based on the popular internet horror concept that became a viral phenomenon. The movie was directed by Kane Parsons, who gained attention through his online videos before bringing the mysterious world to the big screen. Its connection to internet culture helped it build a strong fan base before its theatrical release.

The film’s performance has surprised many industry observers because it was made on a much smaller scale compared with major Hollywood blockbusters. Instead of relying on familiar characters or huge franchises, “Backrooms” connected with audiences through its strange atmosphere, mystery, and horror elements.

Box office analyst David A. Gross, who publishes the newsletter FranchiseRe, explained that audiences have been responding strongly to certain types of films, especially those that feel fresh.

“Family moviegoing has been leading the industry since it came roaring back from the pandemic in 2023. A lot of the genre’s success is coming from sequels and live-action remakes,” Gross said while discussing the current box office trends.

While Gross was mainly talking about family movies, “Backrooms” represents another side of the current theater recovery. Original ideas and unexpected hits are also finding success alongside major franchises.

The movie’s strong run comes during a busy summer season that has seen several big releases compete for attention. While some expensive productions have struggled to make their money back, “Backrooms” has become one of the year’s biggest success stories because of its strong audience interest and relatively smaller production costs.

The film is also part of a larger shift in Hollywood, where younger viewers are helping decide which movies become major hits. Projects connected to online communities, horror fandoms, and viral trends are proving they can compete with established brands.

With millions more dollars expected to come in before its theatrical run ends, “Backrooms” has already secured its place as a historic A24 success story. What started as an internet horror idea has now become one of the biggest independent movie achievements of recent years.

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