20 HUGE Hit Movies NOBODY Saw Coming

2. Backrooms

chiwetel ejiofor backrooms
A24

When Kane Parsons was first announced to be teaming with A24 to adapt his viral web series Backrooms into a feature film, it seemed like a project that might do well relative to its small $10 million budget but struggle to break out with the mainstream.

But oh, how wrong we all were.

Even with promising box office tracking in the months and weeks leading up to Backrooms' release, basically nobody expected it to become a genuine box office powerhouse and end up A24's highest-grossing film ever.

At the time of press, Backrooms has flown past the $200 million mark and is showing no signs of stopping, easily leaving other A24 hits such as Marty Supreme, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Drama, Civil War, and Materialists in the dust.

The film's success also earned Parsons the impressive distinction of, at 20 years of age, being the youngest filmmaker to reach the #1 spot at the American box office, ensuring he's immediately become an incredibly in-demand talent.

 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.