Backrooms
Max
2026 7.0 Movie

Backrooms (2026)

See how far it goes.

A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.

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Facts about Backrooms
TypeMovie
Released27 May 2026
GenreHorror, Mystery, Science Fiction
DirectorKane Parsons
StarringChiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve and Finn Bennett
Runtime111 min
RatedR
ScoresTMDB users 7.0/10
Budget$10 million

Where to watch Backrooms

Backrooms is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Max is $18.49 at list price.

We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 September 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.

What kind of watch this is

Backrooms is a 2026 horror, mystery, and science fiction film directed by Kane Parsons. It runs 111 minutes, which is enough time to get lost in a place that shouldn't exist. The story follows a strange doorway appearing in a furniture showroom basement. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Finn Bennett navigate a space that defies conventional geometry. It is not a jump scare fest. It is a slow descent into a void that feels suspiciously familiar. This is for viewers who prefer their fear to have rules, even if those rules are broken. The tagline, "See how far it goes," is a promise of distance rather than shock.

What the critics said

The critics leaned toward approval. Rotten Tomatoes reports 86% positive reviews from 311 critics, averaging 7.4 out of 10. Metacritic lands at 76, a weighted average indicating generally favorable reception. The consensus calls it a startlingly assured debut that bends liminal spaces into something mesmerizing and terrifying.

Los Angeles Times critic Amy Nicholson saw it as a surreal, dreamlike expansion of the web series. Next Best Picture’s Dan Bayer noted Parsons arrived as a fully formed filmmaker. Audiences were less convinced, giving it a B− on CinemaScore. It is a film that treats dread as a texture rather than a jump scare.

How it did with audiences

The $10 million gamble paid off. Backrooms grossed $402.5 million worldwide as of September 2026. It debuted to $81.5 million domestically, becoming A24's biggest opening weekend. By its second weekend, it surpassed Marty Supreme to become the studio's highest-grossing film. Parsons became the youngest filmmaker to hit number one at the box office. On TMDB, users rate it 7 out of 10. The numbers speak for themselves, which is usually the safest place to stand.

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