[Sportschosun Reporter Jo Ji-young] The horror film 'Backroom' (directed by Kane Parsons) has surpassed 1 million viewers in just 21 days since its release.
According to the Korea Internet Movie Ticket System, 'Backroom' exceeded 1 million cumulative viewers on the 16th, 21 days after its release. As the first foreign horror thriller to surpass 1 million viewers in approximately 7 years since Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' and 'Us,' it has set a long-awaited milestone for the foreign horror genre, which had struggled to reach a box office peak since the pandemic. Previously, 'Backroom' had already foreshadowed the 1 million mark by instantly surpassing the record of 'A Quiet Place 2,' which was considered the highest-grossing foreign horror film during the pandemic.
The driving force behind 'Backroom' reaching this 1 million figure was undoubtedly the young audience of the Gen Z generation. Based on CGV's ticket reservation distribution, those in their 20s accounted for the highest percentage at 38%, followed by teenagers and those in their 30s at 19% each, placing the 2030 generation at the center of the box office success. In terms of gender, the distribution was even, with 53% male and 47% female.
Young audiences familiar with internet culture and urban legends, as well as those who had encountered the film through short videos and memes, flocked to theaters, creating a virtuous cycle where viewing verifications and reviews attracted new viewers. With the demand for repeat viewings remaining strong even on weekdays, coupled with new influx on weekends, 'Backroom' drew a box office curve that showed no signs of slowing down, reversing its trend even in its third week of release. Above all, the power that brought audiences back to theaters extended beyond the film itself.
As the movie is based on the world of the internet urban legend 'Backroom,' social media and online communities were flooded with content interpreting the ending, finding Easter eggs, and explaining the worldview following its release. In particular, as posts sharing Korean subway transfer passages or the yellow fluorescent corridors of unmanned late-night stations as "real backrooms" spread, it became the spark for repeat viewings, prompting audiences to recall the film in their daily lives and return to the theater.
In a sense, a single movie has evolved into a form of entertainment and a cultural phenomenon. 'Backroom' tells the story of protagonists who face inexplicable events in a bizarre space set against yellow walls and endless fluorescent lights.
It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsberg and was directed by Kane Parsons. By Reporter Jo Ji-young soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
