By Mashable | Created at 2026-09-25 08:00:59 | Updated at 2026-09-25 09:57:20
2 hours ago
Enter the liminal space from your couch.
By
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
on September 25, 2026
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Credit: A24
Table of Contents
I would've never guessed that a movie based on a viral YouTube found-footage series based on an unsettling old 4chan post would become the highest-grossing film in A24's history, but here we are. Backrooms took the box office by storm this summer, earning over $350 million worldwide on a $10 million budget.
The best ways to watch 'Backrooms' at home, at a glance:
Watch as of Sept. 25
$5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%)
Watch as of Sept. 25
Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month)
Directed by 21-year-old rising filmmaker Kane Parsons, Backrooms stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell.
"Parsons has managed to prove himself as an incredibly talented emerging filmmaker while also establishing the first chapter in what will surely end up becoming a brand new horror franchise," Mashable's reviewer writes.
If you're intrigued by the liminal space internet lore and have yet to check out Backrooms, or if you can't wait to watch it again, it's now heading to streaming. Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know to watch it comfortably from your couch.
What is Backrooms about?
Set in the '90s in Santa Clara Valley, California, Backrooms follows aspiring architect turned furniture shop owner Clark (Ejiofor), who has been staying in the shop temporarily after his recent separation. One night, he discovers a hidden doorway in the basement of the store, leading to the titular Backrooms — an endless stretch of eerie liminal space. Naturally, he enters the portal and starts exploring.
Check out the official trailer for a taste of the Backrooms:
How to watch Backrooms at home
Credit: A24
As of Sept. 25, you have several different options for watching Backrooms at home. You can either buy it or rent it via digital-on-demand retailers or stream it. We've broken down the details below.
Buy or rent on digital
Backrooms made its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on July 14, 2026. While it originally cost $24.99 to buy and $19.99 to rent, those prices have now dropped to just $19.99 and $7.99, respectively. Note: If you choose the rental option, you'll get access for 30 days, but only 48 hours once you start watching.
Mashable Top Stories
Quick links to buy/rent Backrooms on digital:
Recommended deals for you
HBO Max — top pick for premium content
Disney+ — best for families
Hulu — popular choice for originals
Peacock — low-cost choice for live sport
Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99
Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99
Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99
Stream it on HBO Max
A24 renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases will continue to stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. Following the same theater-to-streaming schedule as other recently released A24 movies (Marty Supreme, The Drama, and Bring Her Back), we originally made an educated guess that Backrooms would make its streaming debut on HBO Max in late September — just in time for spooky season. We're happy to announce that prediction was right on track. Backrooms is streaming on HBO Max as of Sept. 25, 2026.
HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month. However, there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.
The best HBO Max streaming deals
Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions
$109.99 per year (save $21.89)
$184.99 per year (save $36.89)
The best way to save money on HBO Max on any given day is with the annual plan. Yes, it costs more up front, but you'll save about 16% over the course of a year — up to $45.89 in savings.
A monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but a full year costs $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to only $9.17. Want to go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, only the Premium option will unlock 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.
Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan
Credit: HBO Max / Cricket
Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan
It may not be the most convenient option, but switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max with ads for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.
Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads
$5.49 per month for 12 months
College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for 50% off. Just use UNiDAYS to prove your student status, and you'll receive a unique discount code that'll drop the cost per month down from $10.99 to $5.49. Once the initial 12 months are up, the price will jump back to the full cost unless you cancel.
Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off
Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max
$19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads)
The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, is one of the best deals in streaming. For just $19.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $15 cheaper than paying for each one separately. Want to go ad-free? It'll run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47 for all three. That's up to 42% in savings.
Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $13/month
Credit: Netflix / HBO Max
$13 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $6.98 per month)
If you're a Verizon customer on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) to your plan for only $13 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's about $7 in savings each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.
Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month
Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max
$22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month)
Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action with Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package with Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $30.97 for all three, so that's about $9 in savings monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviews of Backrooms are mixed, but largely positive, with the film earning an 87 percent critic rating and 74 audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As noted above, it's also the highest grossing A24 film of all time, which is pretty impressive considering the studio's extensive library.
Mashable reviewer Sam Haysom says Backrooms is "well worth a watch" and "like a new horror subgenre."
Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.
Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
