Backrooms is a 2026 American sci-fi horror film directed by Kane Parsons and distributed by A24. It runs 110 minutes and carries an R rating. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, a struggling furniture store owner, and Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, his therapist. The supporting cast includes Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia.
The story begins when Clark stumbles upon a hidden doorway in his store’s basement. That doorway leads into a dimension of endless, fluorescent-lit rooms with no exits in sight – a place known as the Backrooms. When Clark vanishes, Dr. Kline enters the Backrooms herself to find him. What she encounters twists her grip on reality.
The film is based on Kane Parsons’ viral YouTube web series of the same name, which itself was inspired by a 4chan creepypasta image posted in 2019. Parsons, born in 2005, began building the Backrooms universe on YouTube in January 2022 when he was just 16 years old. By the time A24 came calling, his channel had racked up tens of millions of views.
Backrooms opened in US theaters on May 29, 2026. Its opening weekend earned $81.4 million domestically and $117.9 million worldwide. That made it A24’s biggest opening ever, and it made Parsons the youngest filmmaker to hit number one at the US box office. The film holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
| Detail | Info |
| Director | Kane Parsons |
| Writer | Will Soodik |
| Distributor | A24 |
| Theatrical Release (US) | May 29, 2026 |
| Runtime | 110 minutes |
| Rating | R |
| Budget | ~$10 million |
| Worldwide Gross | $117.9 million |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 90% |
Where to watch Backrooms right now?
In Theaters
As of June 2026, the only way to watch Backrooms is in a movie theater. The film is playing nationwide across the US and in cinemas across the UK. No streaming release has been announced yet.
If you want to catch it in theaters, you can find showtimes and buy tickets through:
| Platform | What It Offers |
| Fandango | US showtimes and ticket booking |
| AMC Theatres | Tickets for AMC locations |
| Regal Cinemas | Tickets for Regal locations |
| Cinemark | Tickets for Cinemark locations |
| Atom Tickets | US ticket booking with seat selection |
| Odeon (UK) | UK cinema showtimes and tickets |
| Vue (UK) | UK cinema showtimes and tickets |
Backrooms was shot on a 30,000 square foot practical set. Watching it on a big screen with theater sound makes a noticeable difference, especially in the second half of the film. If you have the option, go for the large-format screen.
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When will Backrooms be available on streaming?
No official streaming date has been confirmed. Based on how A24 has handled its recent releases, though, there is a clear path to follow.
The A24 and Max Deal
Under that deal, new A24 theatrical releases land on Max (formerly HBO Max) during their first streaming window. Backrooms has already been confirmed as part of Max’s future streaming slate in the US.
Recent A24 films have taken between three and five months to reach Max after their theatrical debut. Based on that, the estimated streaming window for Backrooms on Max is September to October 2026. Some analysts put it as early as September 18, others as late as October.
No official date has been set. Treat these as educated estimates, not confirmed dates.
The Digital Rental Window Comes First
Before Backrooms lands on Max, it will go through a digital rental and purchase window. This is standard for A24 releases. Here is how recent A24 titles moved through these stages:
| Film | Theatrical Release | Digital Release | Streaming (Max) |
| Civil War | 2024 | 42 days after theaters | ~4 months later |
| Eddington | 2025 | 26 days after theaters | ~3 months later |
| Pillion | 2025 | Standard window | June 6, 2026 |
| Undertone | 2025 | Standard window | June 26, 2026 |
Based on these patterns, Backrooms could hit digital rental platforms sometime in late June or early July 2026. This is not confirmed, and the film’s strong box office run may push that date back.
Where to Rent or Buy Backrooms Digitally (When Available)
Once A24 opens up digital access, the film will likely land on these platforms:
| Platform | What to Expect |
| Apple TV / iTunes | Rent or buy (most likely A24 partner) |
| Prime Video | Rent or buy |
| Vudu | Rent or buy |
| Google Play / YouTube Movies | Rent or buy |
| Microsoft / Xbox | Rent or buy |
| Fandango at Home | Rent or buy |
Rental prices for new releases typically run between $5.99 and $6.99. A purchase usually costs $19.99 or $24.99 depending on the platform and quality.
Can You Watch Backrooms on Netflix, Disney+, or Peacock?
No. Backrooms will not go to Netflix, Disney+, or Peacock. The A24 and Max deal gives Max exclusive first-window streaming rights in the US. Netflix and Disney+ do not have access to A24’s new releases during that window.
| Platform | Is Backrooms Available? |
| Max (HBO Max) | Yes – expected Sept/Oct 2026 |
| Netflix | No |
| Disney+ | No |
| Peacock | No |
| Amazon Prime Video (subscription) | No |
| Hulu | No |
| Paramount+ | No |
Where to watch Backrooms in the UK?
In the UK, Backrooms is distributed by A24 directly. That puts it in a smaller category of A24 films that do not automatically go to Sky or Now TV.
Recent A24 films with direct UK distribution have streamed in different places. Warfare landed on Prime Video. Highest 2 Lowest and Eternity went to Apple TV. There is no confirmed UK streaming home for Backrooms yet.
UK viewers can currently watch it in cinemas through Odeon, Vue, and Cineworld. For streaming, check Apple TV and Prime Video first when the digital window opens.
| Region | Streaming Home (When Available) |
| United States | Max (expected Sept/Oct 2026) |
| United Kingdom | Likely Apple TV or Prime Video (not confirmed) |
| Other countries | Varies by local distribution deal |
Where to watch the original Backrooms YouTube Series?
If you want to get the full picture before (or after) watching the film, the original web series is free. Every episode lives on Kane Parsons’ YouTube channel, Kane Pixels.
The series launched on January 7, 2022 with “The Backrooms (Found Footage).” It now has 24 episodes, ranging from 90 seconds to 45 minutes. The whole thing is free with no subscription required.
| Series Detail | Info |
| Platform | YouTube (free) |
| Channel Name | Kane Pixels |
| Total Episodes | 24 |
| First Episode | January 7, 2022 |
| Episode Length | 90 seconds to 45 minutes |
| Cost | Free |
The film exists in the same continuity as the YouTube series. Parsons confirmed this in interviews, saying the movie is “in direct continuity with the YouTube series.” Watching at least the first few episodes gives you a feel for the world before you see the feature.
You do not need to watch the whole series to understand the film, but fans who have been following the lore since 2022 catch a lot more detail in the movie.
Is Backrooms worth-watching in theaters?
If you are on the fence about catching it now versus waiting for streaming, here is the short version.
The film was shot on a 30,000 square foot practical set. The sound design and the scale of those rooms are part of what makes the horror work. A lot of what builds dread in Backrooms comes from the feeling of empty space around you. That experience lands harder in a cinema.
Critics gave it a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience scores on Fandango sit at 74%. The film earned $81 million in its opening weekend on a $10 million budget. By any measure, it delivered.
If you can go see it this month, the theater is worth it. If you want to wait, Max will have it by fall 2026.
Is Backrooms 2 happening?
Yes. A sequel has been confirmed. According to Deadline, A24 has already moved forward on a follow-up. Parsons told interviewers that the Backrooms project is not done. Given the film’s $117.9 million worldwide gross against a $10 million budget, the sequel was not a surprise.
No cast or release date has been announced for the sequel yet.
How to watch Backrooms?
| How You Want to Watch | Option | Available Now? |
| See it in US theaters | Buy tickets via Fandango, AMC, Regal | Yes |
| See it in UK cinemas | Buy tickets via Odeon, Vue, Cineworld | Yes |
| Rent or buy digitally | Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu | Expected late June or July 2026 |
| Stream on subscription | Max (US) | Expected Sept/Oct 2026 |
| Watch the original series free | YouTube (Kane Pixels channel) | Yes, free right now |
