Backrooms horror film showcases Vancouver locations and hits $272 million at the box office

The 2026 horror movie “Backrooms,” based on the internet urban legend of endless yellow hallways, was filmed largely in Metro Vancouver. Production built a 30,000‑square‑foot practical set on soundstages to recreate the maze, and used real‑world sites in Vancouver, Coquitlam, and surrounding areas for exterior shots. Director Kane Parsons described the set as “incredibly surreal,” noting the extensive testing of lighting and wallpaper to achieve the signature yellow tone.

“Backrooms” earned roughly $272.7 million worldwide, becoming one of the top‑grossing indie horror releases of 2026 alongside “Obsession.” The film’s success is part of a broader surge in horror, with several low‑budget titles outperforming major franchise releases that have struggled at the box office.

The movie’s performance highlights a shift in audience preferences toward genre films that combine strong visual concepts with practical production design, while also drawing tourism interest to the Vancouver locations featured in the film.