A24’s Backrooms is one of the biggest success stories of 2026. Not only did it claim the top spot during its opening weekend, but it also made YouTuber Kane Parsons the youngest director to open a film at number one at the domestic box office.
Kane Parsons in an interview for Backrooms – Fandango, YouTube
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However, the success of Backrooms has drawn skepticism. Some critics and social media users have suggested that the 20-year-old could not have directed the film. They point to the involvement of veteran producers such as James Wan, Shawn Levy, and Osgood Perkins.
Now, Backrooms star Mark Duplass is publicly responding to those claims.
Mark Duplass Pushes Back on the Rumors
On X, Mark Duplass quoted a post from a user claiming that “we all know Kane Parsons absolutely didn’t direct this movie.” While the user went on to suggest that Backrooms’ box office performance signaled a positive trend for the industry, the implication was that Parsons was not the guiding force behind the project.
Hmmm, with all due respect I don’t remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100% in control. More so than many directors 3x his age. https://t.co/GXQsI5jxG0
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) May 26, 2026
In response, the actor wrote: “With all due respect I don’t remember seeing you on set. When I was there, Kane was 100% in control. More so than many directors 3x his age.”
Duplass also took to Instagram in a video, making it very clear that Kane Parsons was the director of Backrooms. Opening with a quick summary of the allegations, Duplass said, “I was there.” He went on to suggest that one of the reasons he was hired may have been his history of mentoring young filmmakers.
View this post on Instagram
“I was prepared to help out, and what happened was, he didn’t need any of us. He was intensely prepared,” Duplass said. The Backrooms star explained that Parsons had spent five years developing the detailed mythology behind the story. However, Duplass said Parsons’ involvement went far beyond that.
Chiwetel Ejiofor in Backrooms – A24, YouTube
“He worked incredibly closely with his crew, particularly his DP on shot design, and was very sensitive and calm and smart in dealing with actors.”
In conclusion, Duplass said, “So, for those of you who have all these thoughts, were you there?”
Kane Parsons Jokes About the Claims
For his part, Kane Parsons has had some fun with the idea that he didn’t direct Backrooms.
Chiwetel Ejiofor in Backrooms – A24, YouTube
“This is actually all true. They don’t tell you this, but 96% of all movies released in North America and Europe are actually directed by the same person,” he joked in a YouTube comment.
“They call him ‘The Older Gentleman.’ He has had all of Hollywood in a chokehold for decades now. They make you sign over all of your intellectual property, life rights, and genetic information to him when you enter the industry. He loves movies.”
A Breakout Debut
Backrooms opened to $81.4 million, exceeding expectations. While reviews have been mixed—it currently holds a 68% “Rad” score with 64 voters on Criticless—it’s an impressive debut for a first-time feature director.
Whether Backrooms ultimately has long-term staying power remains to be seen. However, its opening weekend success suggests audiences were willing to take a chance on a filmmaker best known for YouTube. As for the claims that Kane Parsons didn’t actually direct the film, Mark Duplass has made his position unmistakably clear: he was there, and Parsons was in charge.
Do you believe that Kane Parsons directed Backrooms? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
