A24’s biggest box office hit is heading to HBO Max.
Backrooms, the breakout horror film from director Kane Parsons, will make its U.S. subscription streaming debut exclusively on HBO Max on Friday, September 25, 2026. The film will make its HBO linear debut the following night, Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The streaming arrival follows a remarkable theatrical run for Backrooms, which has become A24’s highest-grossing film of all time at both the domestic and worldwide box office.
The film has earned approximately $197.5 million domestically and nearly $397 million worldwide.
What Is Backrooms About?
Backrooms begins when a strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom, opening into a seemingly endless network of interconnected rooms.
Inside, time bends and getting lost may not be the biggest danger, as something appears to be waiting within the maze.
The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett and Lukita Maxwell.
Watch The Backrooms Trailer
The movie marks the feature directorial debut of Kane Parsons, whose viral YouTube series helped transform the Backrooms internet phenomenon into a sprawling horror mythology.
Parsons was just 20 years old when Backrooms opened in theaters in May. The film debuted to more than $81 million domestically, shattering A24’s previous opening-weekend record.
The Associated Press reported at the time that the film was made for approximately $10 million and that 86% of its opening-weekend audience was under 35, illustrating the enormous young audience Parsons brought from the online world to theaters.
Parsons directs Backrooms from a screenplay by Will Soodik, based on Parsons’ original series.
James Wan, Michael Clear, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Osgood Perkins, Chris Ferguson, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson and Parsons serve as producers. Jesse Savath, Judson Scott and Chris White executive produce alongside Parsons.
When Does Backrooms Stream On HBO Max?
Backrooms begins streaming exclusively on HBO Max in the United States on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The movie will also air on HBO on Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Backrooms is currently also available to purchase or rent digitally.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
