A24 is gearing up to release a chilling new horror film titled “Backrooms.” Curious about the studio’s latest foray into the world of horror and the intricate lore that surrounds it? Watch the video above for all the spine-tingling details.
“Backrooms” is inspired by an urban legend that has been a staple of meme culture since 2019. It originally gained traction as a live-action horror short crafted by Kane Parsons, also known as Kane Pixels. This creepypasta phenomenon has now transitioned into a viral sensation and is set to become a major motion picture. Directed by Parsons himself, the film boasts a budget of approximately $10 million and is poised to be a horror flagship for A24 as the summer box office season kicks into high gear.
The full-length adaptation enriches the narrative of the unsettling experience of being trapped in a series of unused or unexplored rooms hidden within a public building. The story follows two characters: Clark, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, a furniture store owner who mysteriously vanishes, and his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline, played by Renate Reinsve. Dr. Kline ventures into the store to find Clark, only to find herself ensnared in the foreboding backrooms, struggling to find an escape and return to reality.
However, “Backrooms” will face fierce competition at the box office. Its release is slated for May 29, 2026, just three weeks after “Mortal Kombat II” and merely a week after “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Depending on the staying power of these blockbuster films, the relatively modest horror flick could face significant challenges.
Moreover, May is shaping up to be a hectic month for horror releases. On May 1, “Hokum,” a Neon release from indie horror talent Damian McCarthy, will hit theaters. Following that, Curry Barker’s eagerly awaited sophomore film, “Obsession,” will premiere on May 15. Paramount Pictures will also enter the horror fray with “Passenger” on May 22, directed by André Øvredal, known for the cult favorite “The Autopsy of Jane Doe.”
The feature-length take on the concept gives further narrative backbone to the eerie feeling of being caught and lost in a set of disused or never touched rooms located at the back of a public establishment. It centers on two people — Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner who disappears randomly one day, and his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), who comes to the store to search for him after he vanishes. Unfortunately for Mary, she becomes as lost in the backrooms as he is, searching for a way out and a way back to reality.Â
Can Backrooms beat out the competition?
A24
“Backrooms” is facing some stiff competition at the box office. it’s set to drop on May 29, 2026, three weeks after “Mortal Kombat II” and one week after “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Depending on what sort of legs those two movies happen to have, things could be quite tricky for the considerably more modest genre flick.Â
Adding to that challenge, May is also a busy month for horror: May 1 will see the release of “Hokum,” a Neon release from indie horror sensation Damian McCarthy, while May 15 will bring the highly-anticipated second film from Curry Barker, “Obsession.” And on May 22, Paramount Pictures will hit the road with “Passenger,” from André Øvredal, director of the cult horror hit “The Autopsy of Jane Doe.”
Four other mid-budget affairs are opening against “Backrooms”: “The Breadwinner,” in which Nate Bargatze becomes a stay-at-home dad when his wife hits it big on “Shark Tank.” The other films are “The Furious,” a crime thriller; “Pressure,” a historical drama that chronicles the last 72 hours before D-Day; and the dark drama “The Currents.” One week later, they’ll all have major competition from the latest edition of “Scary Movie.” Want to know more about the history of “Backrooms” before hitting the theater? Click our article above and take a deep dive into its storied history.