A24’s ‘Backrooms’ Horror Film Turns Internet Myth into Box‑Office Hit

The horror film *Backrooms*, produced by A24, adapts a 4chan image‑based internet myth that grew into a popular YouTube‑driven subculture. Teen director Kane Parsons, who first explored the concept in short‑form videos that amassed over 330 million views, helmed the feature starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as a divorced furniture‑store owner and Renate Reinsve as his therapist. The movie, shot on a $10 million budget, earned $117 million worldwide in its opening weekend, making Parsons the youngest director to top the U.S. domestic box office.

Critics note the film’s unsettling visual design – endless yellow‑lit corridors that evoke anxiety – and strong central performances, especially Ejiofor’s and Reinsve’s. However, reviews also point to a thin plot and limited explanation of the back‑rooms’ mythology, which may alienate viewers unfamiliar with the online origin. The film is positioned as a psychological horror that blends the liminality of internet culture with personal trauma.

Both Australian and Indian reviewers highlight the movie’s mood, production design, and its translation of a niche internet legend into mainstream cinema, while questioning its accessibility for general audiences.