Is Backrooms (2026) Worth Renting?

This is a review from a complete casual. I’m not a movie buff, and I’m not fluent in Backrooms lore. I’m warning you now. Despite all that, I still very much enjoyed this movie! I was about as enthralled as a child trying their first sip of soda.

Here’s who I think would love (or hate) renting Backrooms from my unique perspective on the film:

True fans of Backrooms lore have plenty to speculate in the new movie.

I did not know that the Backrooms had lore before getting into this movie. I thought it was just a name given to the analog horror aesthetic (forgive my ignorance). My husband was kind enough to enlighten me with the core concept when we rented the movie. While I’m not a bona fide expert in Backrooms knowledge, I greatly appreciated the fact that any of it was even used in the first place.

Mind you, not all movies inspired by pre-existing media give a damn about the original content. That’s how you get “Aang” being mispronounced throughout the entirety of the first live-action Avatar movie.

[THE NEXT PARAGRAPH INCLUDES SLIGHT SPOILERS!!!]

After some research, I found that Backrooms (2026) greatly values the foundation of this internet-born fictional plane. The concept of what real-life “no-clipping” would look like is beautifully demonstrated from beginning to end. “Still Lifes” are introduced in the movie in such an uncanny way that any ordinary person would find it truly sickening. The movie openly addresses the Async Research Institute, which I imagine feels like a popular fanfic idea being more or less “canonized” for those who are privy to Kane Pixels’ infamous Backrooms series.

Easter egg hunters get a lot of value out of renting Backrooms.

If you’re already quite big on the Backrooms, you probably already saw this movie in theaters. Even if you have, renting the movie will give you the chance to catch things you might have missed during your first watch.

Subtlety is a key player in Backrooms. It’s not your eyes playing tricks on you. Some scenes will hide a small, hidden detail with barely enough time for you to consider whether or not you actually saw something. The best part about watching digitally at home? You can rewind and pause as many times as you need to grab that bit of evidence that’s been scratching at your brain tirelessly since you left the theater.

Some Easter eggs are obvious. But what hardcore fan has ever turned down a good reference?

The Backrooms movie is a great introduction for newcomers.

You skipped the theatrical release of Backrooms because it was too much of a commitment for something you know little to nothing about. Now that it’s available for rent, should you hop on the hype train and see why people are hooked on this iconic liminal universe? I think so!

Now that I’ve finally seen it myself, I can confirm that you don’t need to dig up the history of this creepy old Reddit story or watch video summaries before renting the new Backrooms movie. I didn’t. This film does a good enough job easing you into this analog horror phenomenon without you needing any prior knowledge. And who knows? It might get you interested enough to join the enthusiastic fanbase.

This film doesn’t skimp on the aesthetics. You get a fairly good spread of the different types of liminal spaces you’d encounter in the games or series, such as deserted indoor pool areas and rooms with stacked furniture melted into the walls. It also teases the ultimate mystery of how the Backrooms can exist in our universe and its connection to our realm.

Horror fans don’t need to know about the Backrooms to enjoy a good scare.

The Backrooms is a fairly unique concept, but the movie still follows the juicy beats of a traditional horror story. I’m mostly talking about the suspense, and there’s a lot of it. And, of course, the looming eeriness of this movie’s atmosphere pays off with a couple of well-timed jump scares. Isn’t that what all horror junkies want? (I’m genuinely asking).

I’m not the biggest fan of scary movies, I admit. You can take my take with a grain of salt. But one thing’s for certain…I was stressed!

Backrooms may be an interesting watch if you like psychological thrillers.

I’m also not the biggest fan of psychological thrillers. But that didn’t hinder my ability to recognize the role that severe mental illness plays in this film. The psychological drama in Backrooms isn’t a shoo-in to fill time. Without giving too much away, facing the debilitating nature of psychiatric disorders gives us a clue as to why strange things are happening as the story progresses.

Again, I advise that you don’t take my word as law because I am also not well-versed in what makes a good psychological thriller.

Watching Backrooms with friends or family justifies the high cost of renting.

Do you really, really want to see Backrooms but can’t see yourself paying $20 just to watch it once and be done with it? Cheat the system. Get your money’s worth and invite everyone you know for a watch party. You can all huddle around the living room with snacks, drinks, and a pizza, or you can coordinate a streaming session on Discord.

The more people you watch with, the more value you feel like you’re getting. It quickly becomes a single $20 rental to four $5 private tickets. This little exploit makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth even if no one pitches in.

People with ommetaphobia or trypophobia might want to stay away from Backrooms.

You should already know that the Backrooms movie is a horror film going into it, but I wouldn’t blame you for wrongly thinking that it would only be atmospheric horror and jump scares. This film comes with a couple of extra frights that you really might not like. This is a trigger warning to anyone who feels gravely uncomfortable with the sight of multiple or deformed eyes.

Saying that people with megalophobia will have a hard time watching Backrooms may be a bit of a stretch. The Backrooms concept frequently plays with abnormal aspect ratios, so it’s reasonable to assume that some objects may appear larger (or smaller) than what most people would consider normal. Kind of like looking into a funhouse mirror.

**Don’t expect just an atmospheric experience with the Backrooms movie.**

Backrooms (2026) hangs on every liminal space long enough for you to take in the initial shock of its unnatural environment and experience a complex wave of unsettling emotions. It’s the main substance of the film. But you won’t always be in the Backrooms.

There will be times when you follow people around in the “real” world and witness their backstories through minor flashbacks. I didn’t really mind those parts of the movie. But you’ll be let down if you think you’re signing up for an ambient 2-hour spooky office tour. I’m sure there’s something like that on YouTube, though.

The price of renting Backrooms is too high for a second-timer’s boredom-driven impulse buy.

This is my subjective take. It’s worth watching this movie as many times as you need to if you’re a big fan who wants to whip out the detective glasses and investigate every hidden detail in this movie. But if you’ve already seen it once in theaters and that was enough for you, put your $20 toward something else. Or, pocket the change and pick a movie or show at random on one of your streaming services if you’re purely looking for background noise. Backrooms noise is a bit too quiet for shakin’ it with the Swiffer duster.

Renting vs. Buying Backrooms (2026)

The monetary difference between buying and renting the Backrooms movie is $5. Spending a few extra bucks to own a brand-new movie is quite the compelling offer. Most people would take it faster than a thrifter spotting a “FREE” sign on old furniture at the end of a neighbor’s yard. I personally stick to renting.

Is it better to rent or buy Backrooms (2026)? It depends on your watching habits.

Say you watch a new movie every Friday night. If you purchase a digital copy at $25 every week, that comes out to about $100 a month. If you rent instead, you’re only paying roughly $80 a month. That’s a difference of nearly $240 a year.

Ask yourself these questions:

Will I realistically be re-watching this movie?

How many times will I revisit this movie?

Am I trying to build a movie collection?

Is there a big purchase I’m saving up for?

Big numbers are scary, but don’t let me deter you from buying what you want.

Keep this in mind: You don’t have to buy every movie you watch. Reserve your purchases for your top favorites so you can experience the pleasure of owning good movies while still saving cash.

Are you obsessed with Backrooms? Then buy it!

Did I like it? Yes, but not enough to own.

Whether you choose to rent or buy, let me know! Tell me what you thought of the movie.