The film "Backrooms" has surpassed 500,000 cumulative admissions in just eight days since its release, emerging as the biggest dark horse at this summer's box office. Following "Salmokji," the horror film has taken over the genre's box office momentum, with audience numbers continuing to grow even on weekdays, raising prospects for long-term success.
The film's success is attributed to active online discourse surrounding the work. Based on the internet urban legend "Backrooms" universe, the film has spawned a flood of interpretations, ending analyses, easter egg hunts, and worldview explanation content across social media and online communities since its release. In particular, with Gen Z leading repeat viewing testimonials and various derivative content, the film is being evaluated as a cultural phenomenon that transcends a single movie.
Beyond domestic success, its global performance has also drawn attention. According to Box Office Mojo, "Backrooms" topped the North American box office in its opening week and went on to claim the No. 1 spot at the worldwide box office, sparking a global box office sensation. This marks the largest opening in the history of production company A24, more than three times the previous record held by "Civil War." It also set new A24 all-time opening records in over 30 countries worldwide, proving its overwhelming box office power.
What has captivated the industry most is director Kane Parsons, who is 20 years old this year. He developed a nine-minute YouTube short he produced himself into a feature film, creating a global box office legend. With the success of "Backrooms," he set a new record as the youngest director ever to top the box office. The previous record was held by director Josh Trank, who topped the North American box office at age 27 with "Chronicle."
The audience demographic also skews young. According to overseas data, more than 86% of viewers are under 35, with more than half of those under 25. Younger generations familiar with internet culture, creepypasta, and urban legends have served as the core driving force behind the film's success.
Its presence in the Korean market is also notable. Looking at overseas box office performance by country, Korea recorded the fourth-highest overseas opening, following Latin America, the United Kingdom, and Australia/New Zealand. This surpassed the domestic opening of the Hollywood blockbuster "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," which was released around the same time, demonstrating that Korea has emerged as a key market driving global box office performance second only to North America, observers say.
Meanwhile, "Backrooms" is an immersive thriller depicting the story of Clark and Mary, who encounter inexplicable phenomena in a bizarre space beneath endless fluorescent lights and yellow walls.
