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Sci-fi horror film

Backrooms (2026): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Backrooms (2026) movie poster

Backrooms is a 2026 sci-fi horror film directed by Kane Parsons, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, Renate Reinsve and Lukita Maxwell. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $400.7 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
worldwide gross
$400.7M
Echo Score
75
Metascore
76
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Backrooms (2026) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Kane Parsons
Genres
Horror , Sci-Fi
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Backrooms About?

The premise of Backrooms without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

When furniture salesman Clark uncovers a hidden portal in his store’s basement, he becomes trapped in an alternate reality known as the Backrooms. His therapist ventures in to rescue him, only to find a shifting, seemingly infinite maze of abandoned office spaces. As time blurs, a nameless, inhuman presence lurks just beyond sight.

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Cast & crew

Backrooms Cast & Characters

Chiwetel Ejiofor leads the cast as Clark, with Renate Reinsve as Mary and Lukita Maxwell as Kat. Directed by Kane Parsons; 20 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Backrooms Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Backrooms 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).

75 /100

Backrooms Echo Score Breakdown

Backrooms delivers a haunting, minimalist horror experience that leans heavily on atmosphere and unresolved mystery. Critics commend its visual language and the performances of Reinsve and Ejiofor, while noting the narrative’s deliberate ambiguity. User feedback reflects enthusiasm for the film’s mood and design, though some find the story underdeveloped and confusing. The consensus positions the film as a compelling, if uneven, addition to psychological horror, rewarding viewers who appreciate subtle dread and open‑ended interpretation.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of direction and visual craft, the film employs an understated color palette and restrained editing that amplify its claustrophobic setting. Critics highlight the effective visual language and minimalist production design, while users praise the immersive atmosphere and found‑footage aesthetic. Some viewers note a reliance on style over narrative payoff, yet the overall craftsmanship is viewed as solid and purposeful.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When evaluating performances, both critics and audiences identify Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve as standout contributors. Their nuanced portrayals convey the psychological strain of confinement, adding emotional weight to the sparse narrative. A minority of user comments criticize certain acting choices as exaggerated, but the prevailing view acknowledges the cast’s ability to sustain tension and empathy throughout the film.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and pacing, the film embraces ambiguity, presenting a fragmented plot that resists conventional resolution. Critics note the tension between mystery and narrative necessity, describing the experience as both frustrating and rewarding. User reactions similarly split: some appreciate the open‑ended intrigue, while others lament the lack of clear exposition, resulting in a mixed appraisal of the film’s coherence.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    The sensory dimension combines a subdued soundtrack with deliberate sound design that reinforces the film’s eerie stillness. Reviewers commend the atmospheric soundscape and the meticulous recreation of liminal spaces, which heighten tension without relying on overt scares. Though a few critics argue the auditory elements are secondary to visual mood, the general consensus affirms a compelling sensory experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    Concerning rewatch value, the film’s cryptic narrative and layered visual cues invite repeated viewings to uncover hidden details. Critics highlight its lingering mystery as a rewarding element for dedicated audiences, and many users express enthusiasm for theorizing and dissecting the backrooms lore. Conversely, some viewers find the lack of payoff discouraging, yet the prevailing sentiment suggests the movie holds lasting appeal for those intrigued by unresolved horror.

Plot

Backrooms Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Backrooms from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In June 1990, a researcher named Naren Warne from the Async Research Institute becomes separated from his group and vanishes into a parallel dimension known as the Backrooms—a labyrinth of dull yellow rooms, flickering fluorescent lights, endless hallways, and oddly malformed furniture. The footage of his ordeal is recovered and later shown to Async scientists on monitors, hinting at something real yet unknowable beyond ordinary reality.

Full summary

The whole story of Backrooms, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Backrooms Box Office & Budget

Backrooms grossed $400.7 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 40 times what it cost. $197.5 million came from the US and Canada and $203.2 million (51%) from the rest of the world.

2026 box office

Worldwide gross

$400.7M

40× its budget

US & Canada
$197.5M
International
$203.2M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 49% Rest of the world 51%
Videos

Backrooms Trailers & Videos

13 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers, 1 clip, 7 featurettes and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 13 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Teaser Official Promo
  • Clip Official Clip
  • Featurette Kane Parsons & James Wan - The A24 Podcast
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Backrooms?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who portrays Clark, the protagonist of the film?

Cars

Cars in Backrooms

10 cars on screen, including the 1982 BMW 5 E28 and the 1992 Mercury Sable.

All 10 cars
  • 1982 BMW 5 E28 in Backrooms 1982 BMW 5 E28 Important role
  • 1992 Mercury Sable in Backrooms 1992 Mercury Sable Minor role
  • 1967 Chevrolet C-Series in Backrooms 1967 Chevrolet C-Series Background role
  • 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle in Backrooms 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Background role
Details

Backrooms Also Known As

44 alternative titles, including “Задните стаи” and “Бекрумс”.

Also known as
  • Задните стаи
  • Бекрумс
  • Бекрумсите
  • Tagaruumid
  • Backrooms: Bez izlaza.
  • Arka Odalar
  • Backrooms: Za stenou
  • นรกห้องลับ
  • Backrooms: Brez izhoda
  • الباكرومز
  • Backrooms: Thực Thể Quỷ Quyệt
  • ນະຮົກຫ້ອງລັບ
+32 more
  • الغرف الخلفية
  • באקרומס
  • Backrooms: Um Não-Lugar
  • Backrooms: O Labirinto
  • Закулисье
  • Бэкрумс
  • แบ็กรูมส์
  • Backrooms - Za tebou
  • Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition
  • Закулисье реальности
  • バックルームズ
  • Backrooms: Everything Must Go
  • 嚇房:Everything Must Go
  • 백룸
  • Backrooms: Sin salida
  • 後室
  • 后室
  • Backrooms - Hátsó szobák
  • Backrooms. Bez wyjścia
  • Backrooms: Bez izejas
  • Tagatoad
  • Backrooms: Bez izlaza
  • Backrooms: Залаштунки
  • 嚇房
  • Backrooms: Fără ieșire
  • Backrooms: Без излаза, კულისები
  • الغرفة الخلفية
  • Backrooms : Les arrière-salles
  • 后 室
  • ব্যাকরুমস
  • اتاق‌های پشتی
  • Reallığın pərdəarxası

Seen Backrooms?

FAQ

Backrooms FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Backrooms, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Backrooms?

Backrooms runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Backrooms released?

Backrooms was released on May 29, 2026.

Who directed Backrooms?

Backrooms was directed by Kane Parsons.

Who is in the cast of Backrooms?

Backrooms stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark, Renate Reinsve as Mary and Lukita Maxwell as Kat, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Backrooms make at the box office?

Backrooms grossed $400.7 million worldwide ($197.5 million domestic, $203.2 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Backrooms rated?

Backrooms has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 76 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Does Backrooms have a post-credit scene?

No. Backrooms has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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