Kane Parsons becomes youngest film-maker to open at No 1 in the US with Backrooms
Kane Parsons, 20, became the youngest film-maker to debut a film at No 1 in North America with Backrooms. The horror film opened to $81m, a record for A24.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Backrooms turned a YouTube-born horror concept into a major box-office hit, giving 20-year-old Kane Parsons a record-setting directing debut. The film's runaway opening also set a new high for A24 and sparked online doubt about whether Parsons truly directed it.
A 20-year-old named Kane Parsons made a movie called *Backrooms*, and it opened at number one in the US and Canada. That means lots of people bought tickets right away.
The movie started as a story on YouTube, like a small idea that grew into a giant pumpkin. Some people online did not believe a person that young really made it, but an actor said Parsons was clearly in charge.
The big idea is that a creator from the internet can now make a movie that many people watch in cinemas. It also shows that scary movies can make a lot of money very fast.
Analysis
Box-office breakthrough
Kane Parsons, 20, has become the youngest film-maker to open a film at number one in North America with his directing debut, Backrooms. The Guardian says the film took $81m in its first weekend, which also made it the biggest opening yet for A24.
From YouTube to cinemas
The film is based on Parsons' YouTube series of the same name, itself inspired by the internet horror idea known as a creepypasta. The article describes it as a conceptual horror film and says it has stunned industry observers with its scale of success.
Online scepticism
Parsons' age led some people online to question whether he really directed the movie. Actor Mark Duplass pushed back on that idea, saying he saw Parsons in control on set and that he was more hands-on than many older directors. Parsons also mocked the rumours, joking that most movies are secretly directed by "The Older Gentleman".
Wider context
The piece places Backrooms alongside another low-budget horror success, Obsession, directed by Curry Barker. That film opened on 15 May with $17.1m in North America and has reached $104.7m after four weeks. The comparison reinforces how horror continues to deliver outsized box-office returns.
Key points
- Kane Parsons, 20, is now the youngest film-maker to open a film at No 1 in North America.
- Backrooms earned $81m in its first weekend, a record opening for A24.
- The film comes from Parsons' YouTube series, which was inspired by the creepypasta horror idea.
- Online rumours questioned whether Parsons really directed the film, but Mark Duplass defended him.
- The article compares Backrooms with another successful low-budget horror film, Obsession.
