Chiwetel Ejiofor has some very kind words for Backrooms director Kane Parsons, and they are the kind that make a debut filmmaker sound like a seasoned veteran. The A24 horror thriller, arriving Memorial Day weekend, is already tracking for a domestic opening around 20 million dollars, potentially doubling its entire production budget in one weekend. With a cast that reads like a festival darling wishlist and viral creepypasta roots, something is clearly clicking.

While the numbers are already turning heads, it is Ejiofor's words about Parsons that truly set the tone for what Backrooms might become.

Chiwetel Ejiofor has made it clear that Kane Parsons is not just a first-time filmmaker; he is the only filmmaker for this film. Ejiofor praised Parsons for possessing an almost singular command over the Backrooms universe, the kind that only its original architect could carry. Parsons created the viral YouTube found-footage series that inspired the film, giving him an understanding of this liminal world that no studio hire could replicate.

"Having a director who really is sort of instrumental in the creation of that world is extraordinary," Ejiofor told Discussing Film.

He then added, "It is a real privilege to be on a set with somebody who is probably the only person on the planet who could direct the movie or who would know how to," emphasizing that Parsons' age or experience level was simply irrelevant against that depth of knowledge.

Parsons further impressed Ejiofor by resisting the rigidity that often traps debut directors under production pressure. Rather than clinging to a fixed vision, Parsons welcomed new ideas and allowed the film to grow organically through collaboration.

Backrooms is set to release theatrically on May 29, 2026, during the Memorial Day weekend corridor, giving it prime real estate at the multiplex. Tracking currently places its domestic opening weekend around 20 million dollars, a figure that would already meet or exceed its estimated 7 to 11 million dollar production budget.

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As Parsons holds the world together behind the camera, an equally compelling ensemble steps into it, and the cast list is no small thing.

Chiwetel Ejiofor leads the film as Clark, a furniture store owner whose discovery of a strange doorway inside his showroom, Cap'n Clark's Ottoman Empire, pulls him into the Backrooms, an infinite, fluorescent-lit maze of yellow-walled rooms. Renate Reinsve plays Dr. Mary Kline, Clark's therapist, who ventures into that glitchy purgatory to bring him back. The supporting cast includes Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, Avan Jogia, Chelah Horsdal, and Philip Granger.

The film, written by Will Soodik, blends psychological thriller sensibilities with sci-fi horror, anchoring the story in obsession, mental health, and the terror of crossing beyond reality. Comparisons to Iron Lung, which legged out to approximately 40 to 51 million dollars domestically on a modest budget, suggest Backrooms has the profile for strong theatrical longevity. Streaming will follow the theatrical and home video window, with A24's output deal pointing to Max as its likely digital home. If the pre-release momentum holds, Kane Parsons may have just directed his way into one of A24's most surprising success stories.

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What are your thoughts on Chiwetel Ejiofor's praise for Kane Parsons and the Backrooms ahead of its release? Let us know in the comments.