Record-Breaking Backrooms Already Working on Sequel

Backrooms opened to an $81.5 million domestic weekend, the fourth-highest domestic opening of the year and the biggest ever for A24. The film also set the record for the largest opening weekend in history for an original horror movie, and it was made on a modest $10 million budget.

The concept began on YouTube, where Kane Parsons built the world at 16; Parsons directed the feature and, at 20, became the youngest director to helm a No. 1 global box-office hit. He is actively working on a sequel and is looking for a screenwriting collaborator to help shape the next chapter.

Backrooms was written by Will Soodik, though it’s unclear if he will remain on the sequel’s writing team. The movie introduced a liminal space and the secretive company Async, and Parsons’ YouTube series left plenty of lore for a follow-up to explore. There is room to revisit characters such as Renate Reinsve’s Mary or Mark Duplass’ Phil, or to introduce new figures within the world.

backrooms, a24, box office, opening weekend, kane parsons, sequel, youtube, original horror, liminal space, will soodik