Backrooms Claims Top Spot on Amazon Streaming After Record-Breaking Horror Run

In early summer 2026, Focus Features’ Obsession dominated the horror landscape. Former YouTuber Curry Barker made his directorial debut with the gripping, emotionally resonant film, whose impact was driven largely by Inde Navarrette’s breakout lead performance. The role has already positioned Navarrette as a potential 2027 Oscar contender and helped build awards momentum for Obsession across several major categories.

Widely hailed as one of the decade’s strongest directorial debuts, Obsession shattered numerous box-office records. It became the highest-grossing original horror film of the 21st century and the only genre release to remain in the top 10 for more than 40 consecutive days. A production budget of under $1 million grew into more than $500 million worldwide.

Obsession was not the sole horror success to set records in May 2026. Barker’s breakout coincided with the release of Backrooms, directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, who became the youngest filmmaker ever to reach No. 1 at the North American box office. Like Barker, Parsons transitioned from YouTube to feature filmmaking, adapting the viral online creepypasta into a sprawling cinematic hit. Against a reported budget of $10 million, Backrooms earned $393 million globally—and four months later, it officially became the most-watched movie on Amazon in the U.S., finishing ahead of Obsession.

What Did Critics Say About Backrooms?

While Backrooms received somewhat less universal praise than Obsession, it was still widely acclaimed on release. In his Collider review, Aidan Kelley compared the film to the work of Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch, calling it a “near-flawless film that demands to be seen.” It earned an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, enough for a “Certified Fresh” designation and only six percentage points behind Obsession.

The film stars Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor, with a script by Will Soodik, previously known for writing the Homeland episode “Tower of David.” Backrooms is now available for streaming in the U.S.

Source link