Backrooms Opens to $81.4 Million Domestically for A24

Backrooms opened in U.S. theaters on May 29 and grossed $81.4 million domestically and $118 million worldwide over the weekend. The film was produced for $10 million and co-financed by A24 and Chernin Entertainment. Thursday night previews alone brought in $10.4 million, which covered the entire production budget before Friday.

Friday the film had reached $38.4 million including previews. The final domestic total exceeded earlier industry estimates that ranged from $20 million to $50 million. The $81.4 million domestic opening is the largest in A24’s 14-year history and more than three times the previous record of $25.5 million set by Civil War.

It is also the biggest debut for an original horror film and the largest opening for a first-time director on a non-franchise project.

Kane Parsons, age 20, directed the film after creating the source material as a YouTube series that has accumulated 80 million views. He is the youngest director to reach number one at the domestic box office. Deadline reported that 88 percent of the opening weekend audience was under 35 and more than half was under 25.

Half of attendees said they came because it was an A24 release. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve and runs 105 minutes. It is currently playing in U.S. theaters.