In a stunning turn of events at the box office, A24's Backrooms has not only exceeded expectations but shattered records, while The Mandalorian and Grogu has suffered a dramatic collapse. The horror film, directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, opened to a massive $118 million worldwide—$81 million domestically and $37 million overseas—making it the highest-grossing debut in A24's history by a wide margin. For context, the previous record holder, Civil War, managed just $25 million in its opening weekend.
Meanwhile, The Mandalorian and Grogu, which was expected to kick off a blockbuster summer season, has seen its fortunes reverse sharply. After a lackluster first week, the Pedro Pascal-led film dropped a staggering 69% in domestic ticket sales during its second weekend, falling to third place in the U.S. box office rankings. The film's decline has been so steep that it even lost its IMAX screens early to Masters of the Universe, as reported in our exclusive coverage.
How 'Backrooms' Became a Box Office Phenomenon
Directed by Kane Parsons, who now holds the record as the youngest director to top the North American box office, Backrooms stars Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film's success was fueled by the viral fame of its source material—a creepy internet legend about endless, liminal spaces. But its opening weekend haul has blown past even the most optimistic predictions, delivering the biggest start ever for an original horror movie. To put that in perspective, it outperformed the big-budget Mortal Kombat II (2026), despite that film being praised for exceeding expectations.
The film's global total of $118 million already places it as A24's fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time, and it's only been out for a few days. For more on how this debut compares to other A24 hits, check out our full breakdown.
Critical Acclaim for a Young Director
Critics have been equally impressed, with Backrooms earning an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Much of the praise centers on Parsons' direction, with one Collider review calling it a blend of "the slow burn of Alfred Hitchcock, the surreal visuals of David Lynch, and the human stakes of Stanley Kubrick." The film is being hailed as one of the best modern horror debuts, cementing Parsons as a director to watch.
As the horror renaissance continues, Backrooms is now playing in theaters nationwide. For a look at what else is coming this summer, don't miss our exclusive first look at 2026's hottest movies.
