Backrooms Smashes A24’s All-Time Opening-Day Record
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, The horror film Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, shattered the record for the biggest opening day in the history of A24 after earning an impressive $38 million on its first day of release.
Based on Parsons’ massively popular YouTube video series, the film grossed $38 million on Friday from 3,442 theaters across North America. Industry projections estimate its opening weekend haul could reach between $85 million and $90 million.
That figure is more than triple the previous record held by Civil War, directed by Alex Garland. The film opened to $25.5 million in 2024, setting what was then A24’s highest-grossing debut.
Backrooms follows the owner of a small-town furniture store who discovers a gateway within his showroom leading to a mysterious otherworldly dimension. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Mark Duplass. Producers include James Wan, Shawn Levy, and Osgood Perkins.
Other New Releases
Among this week’s newcomers, the family comedy The Breadwinner outperformed the World War II drama Pressure.
The Breadwinner, starring Nate Bargatze, earned $2.75 million on Friday and is expected to finish the weekend with approximately $7.5 million. The film follows a father who must take charge of his chaotic household after his wife leaves on a month-long business trip. The cast also includes Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, and Zach Cherry.
Meanwhile, Pressure debuted in sixth place with $2.46 million from 1,829 theaters and is projected to reach $5.4 million for the weekend. The World War II thriller stars Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower and centers on the crucial decision-making process behind the launch of the D-Day invasion.
Obsession Holds Strong as The Mandalorian and Grogu Falls Sharply
Independent horror hit Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, continued its remarkable run with $8.1 million on its third Friday in theaters. After earning $28 million over the Memorial Day holiday frame, the film is expected to reach a similar figure again this weekend, representing a 19 percent increase from the previous weekend.
By contrast, The Mandalorian and Grogu generated only $6.5 million on its second Friday, marking a steep 70 percent decline from its opening day. Early projections had pointed to a $40 million second weekend, but expectations have now dropped to roughly $25 million. If those estimates hold, the film’s domestic total will stand at approximately $136 million after two weeks of release.
Michael Continues Its Strong Box Office Run
The Michael Jackson biopic Michael from Lionsgate maintained its position in fourth place after adding $3.5 million on Friday. The film is expected to earn $12.7 million over the weekend, pushing its domestic total to around $340 million after six weeks in theaters.
