A24's Backrooms, directed by YouTube-originated filmmaker Kane Parsons, opened to $81 million domestically and $118 million worldwide on a reported $10 million budget , securing the largest opening in A24's history, according to the source article. the film's success exemplifies two intertwined 2026 horror trends: the growing commercial heft of directors who began on YouTube, and a wave of critical acclaim across the genre.

Kane Parsons' $81 million debut:From YouTube shorts to A24's biggest opener

The source reports that Backrooms earned $81 million domestically and $118 million worldwide in its opening weekend, surpassing all previous A24 releases. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a furniture store owner and Renate Reinsve as his therapist,who discover an endless labyrinth inside the store. Parsons originally built the concept through viral short films on his YouTube channel Kane Pixels, based on a creepypasta from 4chan . The $10 million production budget has already turned a profit before the end of its theatrical run.

A lineage of digital directors: Lights Out, Talk to Me, and the $150 million Obsession

Parsons joins a proven pipeline. The source notes David F. Sandberg's Lights Out (2016) earned $149.4 million globally on a $5 million budget; the Philippou Brothers' Talk to Me (2022) made $91.9 million on $4.25 million. More recently, Markiplier's self-funded Iron Lung grossed $51.2 million, and Curry Barker's Obsession — produced for under $1 million — became a sensation with $150.5 million worldwide. these figures illustrate the scalable economics of horror born from online platforms.

Why 89% on Rotten Tomatoes is the genre's new baseline

Critical reception in 2026 has been unusually strong. The source reports Backrooms earned an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, while Obsession leads at 96%. Other highly rated films include 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (92%), Sam Raimi's Send Help (92%), Hokum (89%), and We Bury the Dead (88%). This cluster of strong scores suggests a sustained quality streak, not just outlier hits.

What the next film from Kane Parsons must prove

While Backrooms is a triumph, the source does not disclose whether Parsons has committed to another feature or if A24 plans to expand the Backrooms universe.. The creepypasta formula — a low-budget, internet-born concept — has worked repeatedly, but the risk of diminishing returns or creative stagnation remains unaddressed. The performance of follow-ups from other YouTuber directors, such as the Philippous' Bring Her Back, which earned less than Talk to Me, hints that audience appetite may be finite.