Backrooms Earns $81.5M North American Opening Weekend

U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates released Sunday. The film cost $10 million to produce and was directed and co-written by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons.

It has now grossed $118 million worldwide. 5 million set by Civil War in 2024. Parsons is the youngest director to reach number one globally, A24 said.

Exit polls showed 86 percent of the audience was under 35, more than half under 25, and 44 percent under 21. 4 million, up 10 percent from its prior weekend. 7 million in North America.

Both Backrooms and Obsession were produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster. 6 million globally.

9 million domestically. 5 million for fifth place. 8 million.

6 million, and Mortal Kombat II earned $2 million. 7 million. Backrooms received a B- CinemaScore.

Some theaters posted staff outside screens to ensure viewers under 21 were accompanied by an adult. Abhijay Prakash, president of Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, said the weekend validates the company’s focus on original horror films that appeal to younger viewers. The company has generated over $10 billion at the box office.

Prakash said the studio has sought emerging talent on YouTube and that this weekend will likely prompt copycat projects. Luis Olloqui, CEO of Cinépolis USA, which operates 26 dine-in theaters, said the two horror films did not split the same audience as feared. He said the results show that people of all ages will attend theaters when the content is right.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, said the performances answer questions about what can bring audiences back to theaters. Backrooms began as an internet creepypasta before Parsons adapted it into a viral web series using Blender software. James Wan and Shawn Levy’s production companies later developed it into a feature starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve.