The internet’s most unsettling urban legend is finally getting the big-screen treatment it deserves. A24’s Backrooms is one of the most anticipated horror films of 2026, and whether you stumbled upon the original creepypasta or have been following Kane Parsons’ YouTube series for years, here is everything you need to know — right up to today.
What Is the Backrooms Movie Release Date?
The Backrooms movie is set to hit theaters nationwide on Friday, May 29, 2026. Distributed by A24, the film will open in a wide theatrical release across the United States. The rating has been confirmed as R by the Motion Picture Association for language and some violent content and bloody images. The runtime clocks in at approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Who Is Directing the Backrooms Movie?
The film is directed by Kane Parsons, known online as “Kane Pixels.” At just 20 years old, Parsons becomes one of A24’s youngest directors ever to helm a studio feature. His journey from a teenage YouTube creator uploading found-footage horror shorts to directing a major A24 production is nothing short of remarkable. His original YouTube series has accumulated over 190 million views, catching the attention of major studios while Parsons was still in high school. The screenplay is written by Will Soodik, with early drafts by Roberto Patino.
What Is the Plot of the Backrooms Movie?
The story centers on a strange doorway that appears in the basement of a furniture showroom. Clark, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is the furniture store owner who steps through that door and vanishes into an infinite, non-Euclidean dimension — the Backrooms. His therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), refuses to accept his disappearance and enters the unknown to find him, pulling her into a terrifying maze of endless yellow-walled corridors lit by buzzing fluorescent lights. Trailers have emphasized the deeply unsettling liminal aesthetic, complete with the ominous tagline: “You are not supposed to be here.” The latest trailer also teases new environments such as poolrooms, suggesting the film will expand significantly on the lore established in the web series.
Full Cast of the Backrooms Movie
The film features a strong ensemble cast:
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, the furniture store owner who disappears into the Backrooms
- Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, the therapist determined to bring him back
- Mark Duplass in a supporting role
- Finn Bennett as Bobby
- Lukita Maxwell as Kat
- Avan Jogia in a supporting role
Both Ejiofor and Reinsve are Academy Award nominees, lending significant dramatic weight to what is already a visually striking horror premise.
Who Is Producing the Backrooms Movie?
The film is co-produced by a powerhouse lineup including James Wan (creator of the Conjuring universe), Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine), Roberto Patino, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Osgood Perkins, Chris Ferguson, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Kori Adelson. Production companies involved include A24, Chernin Entertainment, 21 Laps Entertainment, and Atomic Monster. Principal photography took place in Vancouver, Canada, beginning July 7, 2025 and wrapping on August 14, 2025.
Trailers and Marketing So Far
A24’s marketing campaign has been creative and well-received. A first teaser dropped on February 24, 2026, racking up 5 million views and 100,000 likes quickly. The official full trailer arrived on March 31, 2026, amassing over 20 million views and nearly half a million likes in its first week alone. A24 also released a brilliantly conceived spoof commercial for a fictional furniture store from the film called “Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire” — styled as a vintage VHS advertisement — which delighted fans online. An official promo was added to the film’s page as recently as May 14, 2026, with new posters and images also released around that time.
What Is the Backrooms Creepypasta?
For the uninitiated, the Backrooms originated as an internet creepypasta — an anonymous piece of horror fiction posted on 4chan in 2019. It described an unsettling dimension accessed by “no-clipping” out of reality: infinite rooms carpeted in moist yellow carpet, humming fluorescent lighting, and an oppressive sense that something is always lurking just out of sight. Kane Parsons’ 2022 YouTube short The Backrooms (Found Footage) took the concept viral and essentially defined the modern visual language of the myth. A24 acquired the rights shortly after the video exploded online.
Is There a Backrooms Movie Based on the YouTube Series?
Yes — the A24 film is a direct adaptation of Kane Parsons’ YouTube web series, also called Backrooms. While the feature film introduces original characters and a more structured narrative, it retains Parsons’ signature analog horror aesthetic. Fans of the web series can expect the faithful visual hallmarks — the mono-yellow walls, the buzzing lights, and the deeply unsettling sense of wrongness — elevated by theatrical-scale sound design and larger horror set pieces. The film has been described as a psychological and cosmic horror experience that expands significantly on the mythology of the series.
When Was the Backrooms Movie First Announced?
Development of the Backrooms film was first reported by Deadline on February 6, 2023, confirming that Kane Parsons would direct from a screenplay by Roberto Patino, with James Wan and Shawn Levy attached as executive producers. Casting news began emerging in May 2025, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve confirmed as leads. Additional cast members including Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia were announced in July 2025. The film was then set to a completed status in February 2026, ahead of its May release.
Why Is the Backrooms Movie So Anticipated?
Several factors make this one of the most talked-about horror releases of 2026. First, the Backrooms mythos has a massive built-in audience online. Second, A24 has a stellar track record with smart, atmospheric horror. Third, the story of Kane Parsons — a teenager who made a viral YouTube video and ended up directing a major studio film at age 20 — is genuinely compelling. Finally, the combination of a grounded, character-driven story with cosmic horror visuals, an Oscar-caliber cast, and producers like James Wan and Shawn Levy signals a film with genuine mainstream ambitions alongside its horror credentials.
Is There Another Backrooms Movie?
It is worth noting that a separate, lower-budget production called The Backrooms Movie (produced by Ame Productions and Killer Bean Studios) was released on December 20, 2025, with a runtime of 63 minutes and a TV-MA rating. This is a completely different project from the A24 film. The major A24/Kane Parsons production is the one releasing May 29, 2026, and is the primary subject of mainstream coverage.
Will There Be a Backrooms Sequel?
While no official sequel has been confirmed for the A24 film, a Season 2 announcement for the Kane Parsons YouTube web series was made on April 4, 2026, shortly after the full film trailer dropped. Whether the film’s story will continue in a sequel depends largely on its box office performance, but given the scope of the franchise and the involvement of major producers, a follow-up seems entirely plausible if audiences respond well.
Are you ready to no-clip into the Backrooms on May 29? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — are you watching opening night, and what scares you most about the film?