{"rewrite":{"id":"r_0fda91c1fb9ac44cff0781d1","clusterId":"c_0ab4dab6aba5f3223f43c3c9","slug":"a24-s-backrooms-earns-12-9-billion-yen-in-us-opening-japan-release-set","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"A24's Backrooms Earns 12.9 Billion Yen in US Opening, Japan Release Set","summary":"A24's horror film 'Backrooms' earned over $81 million (approximately 12.9 billion yen) in its US opening weekend from May 29, making it the highest-grossing original horror film and debut feature by a new director in North American history. The film also topped the global box office with $118 million (about 18.8 billion yen). Director Kane Parsons, now 20, became the youngest director ever to produce a film that ranked first in both US and worldwide box office, surpassing the previous record held by Josh Trank (27). The film is based on Parsons' YouTube short 'The Backrooms (Found Footage)', released when he was 16, which has accumulated over 200 million views. The feature was planned at age 17 and shot at 19. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell. Distributor Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in Japan, though a date has not been announced. The film has sparked a social media phenomenon, with brands like McDonald's, Burger King, and IKEA Canada posting Backrooms-themed content.","whyItMatters":"A YouTube short made by a 16-year-old has been expanded into a feature film that broke box office records for both original horror and debut features, marking a new path from internet-born content to mainstream theatrical success.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eInternational media reviews called the film \"a genre-defying film\" (The Guardian), \"a descent into the depths of hell\" (SlashFilm), and \"so original it's unforgettable\" (Deadline). The film's origin is an internet urban legend that spread from an image posted on the anonymous bulletin board 4chan in 2019. Parsons' short film is widely known as one of the inspirations for the Japanese horror game \"Exit 8\" by KOTAKE CREATE.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Backrooms phenomenon has drawn in major brands. McDonald's posted a strange video on its official X account showing a store appearing inside the Backrooms. Burger King, Mountain Dew, and IKEA Canada posted images of their products hidden in the yellow space. The US Academy Awards also released a special video themed around liminal spaces, led by this film. Countless parody images and theories recreating the yellow space are spreading on social media.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe film runs 110 minutes. The Japanese subtitles translation is by Keiko Sato. Distributor Happinet Phantom Studios has not announced a release date for Japan. The film's copyright is held by Backrooms Rights LLC and PC Films, LLC.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"A24's 'Backrooms' earned $81M in its US opening weekend, the highest ever for an original horror film and a debut feature. Director Kane Parsons, 20, became the youngest to top both US and global box office. The film started as a YouTube short he made at 16.","twitterPost":"Kane Parsons was 16 when he uploaded 'The Backrooms' to YouTube. Four years later, his feature debut with A24 has the highest opening weekend for any original horror film. Japan release confirmed.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"A24's 'Backrooms' shattered box office records in its US opening weekend, earning $81 million and making 20-year-old director Kane Parsons the youngest to top both US and global charts. The film, based on Parsons' viral YouTube short, will be released in Japan by Happinet Phantom Studios. A release date has not been set.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Eiga Natalie\",\"url\":\"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/674472\",\"title\":\"Film 'Backrooms' to Be Released in Japan, Huge Hit Across the US: A24's New Generation Spatial Horror\"},{\"source\":\"KAI-YOU\",\"url\":\"https://kai-you.net/article/95553\",\"title\":\"A24's New Horror Film 'Backrooms' Earns 12.9 Billion Yen at Box Office, 20-Year-Old Director Becomes Youngest to Top U.S. Box Office\"},{\"source\":\"Cinema Today\",\"url\":\"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155114\",\"title\":\"Urban Legend Born from YouTube Video Becomes Movie: 'Backrooms' Debuts at #1 in US, Japan Release Confirmed\"},{\"source\":\"KAI-YOU\",\"url\":\"https://kai-you.net/article/95571\",\"title\":\"A24's New Horror Film 'Backrooms' Gets Japanese Release; Worldwide Box Office Surpasses 18.8 Billion Yen\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260602l\",\"title\":\"A24's Film 'Backrooms' Based on Urban Legend 'The Backrooms' Gets Japanese Release; 20-Year-Old Genius Director Teams Up with A24, Box Office Revenue of Approximately 18.8 Billion Yen, World Rank 1\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":14102,"outputTokens":1410,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1780389090,"createdAt":"2026-06-02T08:19:16.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-06-02T08:23:27.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-02T08:23:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_0ab4dab6aba5f3223f43c3c9","canonicalTitle":"A24の新作ホラー映画『Backrooms』129億円の興行収入を記録　20歳監督が全米興収最年少記録を更新","representativeArticleId":"a_25bc3bbb0952d4f3621a10ec","sourceCount":5,"writtenSourceCount":4,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Backrooms\"],\"studios\":[\"A24\"],\"people\":[\"ケイン・パーソンズ\",\"ジョシュ・トランク\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-06-01T02:43:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-06-02T11:12:14.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-02T11:13:54.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Eiga Natalie","url":"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/674472","title":"映画「Backrooms」日本公開が決定、全米で大ヒット中　A24が贈る新世代の空間ホラー"},{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/991/G999102/20260602050/","title":"ネット都市伝説発のホラー映画「Backrooms」，日本公開が決定。A24が手がけ，海外では初週末から大ヒットを記録した話題作"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260602l","title":"都市伝説『バックルーム』を題材とした「A24」制作の映画『Backrooms』の日本公開が決定。20歳の天才監督と「A24」がタッグを組み、興行収入は「約188億円」と世界ランク1位を記録した話題作"},{"source":"Cinema Today","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0155114","title":"YouTube動画から生まれた都市伝説が映画に　『Backrooms』全米初登場1位で日本公開決定"},{"source":"KAI-YOU","url":"https://kai-you.net/article/95571","title":"A24の新作ホラー映画『Backrooms』日本公開決定　世界興行収入は188億円を突破"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Backrooms"],"studios":["A24"],"people":["ケイン・パーソンズ","ジョシュ・トランク"],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Director Kane Parsons, now 20, became the youngest director ever to produce a film that ranked first in both US and worldwide box office, surpassing the previous record held by Josh Trank (27).","The film is based on Parsons' YouTube short 'The Backrooms (Found Footage)', released when he was 16, which has accumulated over 200 million views.","The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell.","Distributor Happinet Phantom Studios will release the film in Japan, though a date has not been announced."]}