Backrooms still in theaters what you need to know

As we look back at the cinematic landscape of 2026, two indie horror features stand out not just for their scares, but for defining a new era: Backrooms and Obsession.

These films proved that immeasurable success doesn’t always require a blockbuster budget. Both titles leveraged incredibly small budgets to craft imaginative storylines and plots that resonated deeply with Generation Z, capturing the zeitgeist of internet culture and translating it brilliantly to the silver screen.

While they may not have topped the box office charts against sprawling epics like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie or Avengers: Doomsday, their cultural impact is undeniable. They showcased the power of rising directorial talent and demonstrated how effectively digital-age narratives can bridge the gap between online communities and theatrical releases.

Obsession remains a powerful force, currently thriving in theaters while also dominating video-on-demand platforms, making it the top-selling title on Prime Video.

Meanwhile, Backrooms continues its momentum. The film has already amassed nearly $350 million worldwide. What’s particularly fascinating is how this story originated not in a studio, but in the digital ether—sparked by discussions on platforms like 4Chan and Reddit.

This narrative approach proved to be a potent marketing strategy. The film’s origins in online communities suggested that the true genesis of the story lay in shared digital spaces, setting the stage for what could become a brand-new horror franchise.

The buzz surrounding Backrooms is only growing. To keep audiences hooked and draw those who haven’t yet experienced the mystery, the studio behind the feature, A24, released 16 minutes of fresh footage, titled Backrooms: Everything Must Go.

This expanded material cleverly plays on a key element within the film—a furniture outlet that holds more secrets than it reveals. Whether this new content tempts viewers back to the theaters or gives newcomers another compelling reason to dive into the unsettling world of the Backrooms, it only serves to deepen the mystery.