Kane Pixels

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Kane Parsons
Parsons in 2026
Born (2005-06-18) June 18, 2005
Petaluma, California, U.S.
Occupations
Years active2017–present
YouTube information
Channel
Genres
Subscribers3.42 million
Views375.1 million
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Keyboards
  • synthesizers
Last updated: June 21, 2026

Kane Parsons (born June 18, 2005), also known as Kane Pixels, is an American YouTuber, composer, filmmaker, visual effects artist, and actor. In January 2022, Parsons began publishing the viral web series Backrooms, based on the creepypasta of the same name, to his YouTube channel. He directed a film adaptation, Backrooms (2026), which was released by A24 to critical and commercial success. At age 20, Parsons became the youngest director in cinema history to have a film debut at number one at both the domestic and global box offices, with Backrooms grossing over $312 million worldwide.

Early life

Kane Parsons was born on June 18, 2005,[2][3] and grew up in Petaluma, California.[4] His father, Michael Parsons,[5][6] is a visual effects artist and his mother is a therapist; they divorced when he was seven years old.[7] He has a younger brother.[8] Parsons attended Marin School of the Arts at Novato High School.[9]

Career

2020–2021: Early work

In 2021, Parsons adapted the anime and manga series Attack on Titan into animated short fan films, which present the series' events in the style of historical war photography. The shorts were praised by various publications for their horror elements and faithfulness to the original series.[10][11][12]

2022–present: Backrooms

Parsons was inspired by the Backrooms creepypasta to create his own horror web series.

Parsons became interested in the Backrooms,[13] a fictional location which originated from a 2019 creepypasta.[14][15] Parsons was disappointed in the quality of related Backrooms content that was circulating online at the time, stating "there was definitely no real presence of high fidelity content being made".[13] He used Blender to produce a short film inspired by the Backrooms, which he released on his YouTube channel on January 7, 2022, under the name The Backrooms (Found Footage).[13][15][‡ 1] The video grew in popularity.[13][14] Parsons produced further installments in what became an ongoing web series.[10] The series incorporates the fictional Async Research Institute, an MRI manufacturer and research lab which Parsons had originally conceived as the focus of an unrelated project.[13][16]

Within a month of the release of Found Footage, Parsons was contacted by numerous studios regarding a feature film adaptation.[17][18] He was scouted by Lucas Ford, an assistant at 21 Laps Entertainment in charge of "flagging interesting material and creators".[10][19] Parsons' parents joined him for his initial Zoom meetings with studios.[8] In February 2023, the film adaptation was announced as a joint production between A24, Chernin Entertainment, Atomic Monster, and 21 Laps Entertainment, with Parsons directing in his feature directorial debut.[10] The film, titled Backrooms, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, was released in May 2026[20] to critical praise.[21][22][23] Backrooms was also a commercial success,[24] grossing $226.3 million worldwide.[25] At 20 years old upon the film's release, Parsons became the youngest director to have a film open at number one at the North American box office,[26][27] surpassing 27-year-old Josh Trank with Chronicle (2012).[28] He also became the youngest director in A24's history.[29][30] Media publications compared Parsons with Curry Barker—whose 2025 film Obsession played in theaters concurrently with Backrooms—and David F. Sandberg, as all three began directing short films released on YouTube before directing Hollywood feature films.[31][32]

In May 2026, Parsons confirmed that the Backrooms web series would continue.[17] In early June, Deadline Hollywood reported that Parsons was searching for a screenwriter to collaborate on a sequel to the film,[33] though Parsons denied this. He expressed interest in developing a Backrooms television series.[34]

2023–2024: The Oldest View

On March 18, 2023, Parsons began releasing his mystery thriller web series The Oldest View on YouTube.[‡ 2][35] The series revolves around a YouTube vlogger named Wyatt discovering a staircase leading into an underground mall.[35][36][37]

Personal life

In early June 2026, shortly after the release of his film Backrooms, Parsons, in an interview with The Australian, has spoken out against the usage of generative artificial intelligence in filmmaking, stating: "If I could snap my fingers and make generative AI disappear forever, I probably would. Creatively, I get no enjoyment from using those tools. It defeats the purpose entirely for me." He further added that even though AI could help make some VFX tasks less laborious, "right now it’s difficult to discuss objectively because there’s so much at stake and so many genuinely harmful consequences already happening."[38][39]

Filmography

Feature film

Directed features
Year Title Ref.
2026 Backrooms [30]

Web series

Year Title Actor Ref.
2020–2021 Project 209 Yes [‡ 3]
2021 Attack on Titan (Historical Footage) No [11][‡ 4]
2022–present Backrooms Cameo / Extra [14]
2023–2024 The Oldest View Yes [35]
2025–present People Still Live Here No [‡ 5]

References

  1. Tritisniotis, Zachariah (June 1, 2026). "'Backrooms' soundtrack proves that Kane Parsons & A24 did their homework". Happy Mag. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  2. Piccotti, Tyler (May 29, 2026). "Kane Parsons Dropped His First 'Backrooms' Video at 16. Here's How He Made It to the Big Screen". Biography. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  3. Goldberg, Madison E. (June 18, 2026). "Backrooms' Kane Parsons Just Turned 21. His Horror Movie Has Made Over $250 Million Worldwide". People. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  4. Tauber, Olivia (May 25, 2026). "How Kane Parsons Took the Backrooms From Internet Meme to the Silver Screen". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  5. Litchfield, Ted (June 10, 2026). "Backrooms director's dad returns to old Facebook post asking for career help for his son as the movie hits #1 worldwide: 'Thanks for the help. He figured it out!'". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  6. Inside the Backrooms with director Kane Parsons. BBC News. June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026 – via YouTube.
  7. Rose, Steve (May 15, 2026). "Are you sitting uncomfortably? How Backrooms upended the horror movie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  8. Aguilar, Carlos (May 14, 2026). "Kane Parsons is 20. Here's how he made A24's biggest summer movie, the spooky 'Backrooms'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  9. Miller, Shannon (May 13, 2026). "Former MSA Film Student Premieres Major Film "Backrooms"". Marin School of the Arts. Archived from the original on June 7, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  10. Grobar, Matt (February 6, 2023). "'The Backrooms' Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  11. Barboza, Brianna (April 25, 2024). "This YouTuber Recreated Attack on Titan's Most Iconic Scenes as Horrifying Historical Footage". Game Rant. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  12. Dennison, Kara (February 7, 2022). "See Attack on Titan Through the Eyes of Backrooms Director Kane Pixels". Otaku USA Magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  13. Mills, Jack (March 7, 2024). "The Backrooms: how Kane Parsons turned creepypasta into cinema". Dazed. Archived from the original on February 24, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  14. Lloyd, Andrew (March 29, 2022). "The Backrooms: How a Creepy Office Photo Became an Internet Bogeyman". Vice. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. Dobuski, Michael (November 6, 2022). "The Backrooms: Horror storytelling goes online". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  16. Baker, Chrishaun (June 3, 2026). "One Of 'Backrooms Biggest Mysteries Is Explained In The Original Material". Inverse. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  17. Earl, William (May 29, 2026). "'Backrooms' Director Kane Parsons Explains It All: Breaking Down Liminal Spaces, Why He Was Nervous His Work Might Get 'Butchered by Suits' and What Sequels Might Look Like". Variety. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  18. Klee, Miles (May 30, 2026). "'Backrooms' Takes You Deeper Inside the Internet's Most Uncanny Horror Myth". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  19. Belloni, Matthew (June 2, 2026). "The 27-Year-Old Assistant Who Found 'Backrooms'". Puck. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  20. Squires, John (February 23, 2026). "'Backrooms' Poster – A24's Liminal Horror Movie Will Release in Theaters This May". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on May 22, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  21. Nicholson, Amy (May 28, 2026). "The eerie 'Backrooms' is a doorway into a new kind of Hollywood spellbinder". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  22. Gleiberman, Owen (May 27, 2026). "'Backrooms' Review: Experimental Horror Comes Out of the Margins in Kane Parsons' YouTube-Gone-A24 Head Trip". Variety. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  23. Han, Angie (May 27, 2026). "'Backrooms' Review: Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve Get Lost in A24's Creepy but Underbaked Liminal Horror". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  24. Zilko, Christian (May 26, 2026). "'Backrooms' Director Kane Parsons Had to Choose Between College Apps and an A24 Deal". IndieWire. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  25. "Backrooms". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  26. Pulver, Andrew (June 1, 2026). "Kane Parsons becomes youngest film-maker to open at No 1 in the US with Backrooms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  27. Fuster, Jeremy (May 31, 2026). "'Backrooms' Scores $118M Global Opening as Kane Parsons Becomes Youngest Director to Top Box Office". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  28. D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 31, 2026). "'Backrooms' Mushrooms To $81M+ U.S., $118M WW A24 Record Opening; 'Obsession' $104M+ Best Ever For Focus Features – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2026. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  29. Rubin, Rebecca (June 11, 2025). "A24 Sets Horror Movie 'The Backrooms' From 19-Year-Old Kane Parsons, Youngest Director in Studio's History". Variety. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  30. Garner, Glenn (May 25, 2026). "'Backrooms' Creator Kane Parsons On Being A24's Youngest Director Ever". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  31. Fuster, Jeremy (June 5, 2026). "Before Curry Barker or Kane Parsons, There Was David F. Sandberg. Here's His Advice". TheWrap. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  32. Stern, Marlow (June 2, 2026). "Why YouTubers Are Turning Hollywood Upside Down". Variety. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  33. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 1, 2026). "'Backrooms 2': Here's What's Up At This Minute With A Kane Parsons Sequel – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  34. Nebens, Richard (June 4, 2026). "'Backrooms 2' Reports Get Conflicting Update From Director Kane Parsons". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  35. Hawkins, Erik (June 11, 2026). "'Backrooms' Quietly Hides an Easter Egg for Kane Parsons' Latest YouTube Liminal Thriller Series". Collider. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  36. Williamson, Samuel (December 24, 2023). "2023's Creepiest Horror Release Is a 12-Minute Short Film". Collider. Archived from the original on March 31, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  37. Hall, Jacob (November 29, 2023). "The Scariest Movie Of 2023 Isn't In Theaters – It's On YouTube". /Film. Archived from the original on June 6, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  38. Garner, Glenn (June 4, 2026). "'Backrooms' Director Kane Parsons Calls AI "Genuinely Harmful" To Creativity: "Cultural And Economic Rot"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  39. Dunn, Jack (June 4, 2026). "'Backrooms' Director Kane Parsons Says Using AI 'Defeats the Purpose' of Filmmaking: 'I Get No Enjoyment From Using Those Tools'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 22, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. Kane Pixels (January 7, 2022). The Backrooms (Found Footage). Retrieved April 28, 2026 – via YouTube.
  2. Kane Pixels (March 18, 2023). The Oldest View - Renewal. Retrieved June 18, 2026 – via YouTube.
  3. "Project 209". YouTube. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  4. "Attack on Titan". YouTube. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  5. "People Still Live Here". YouTube. Retrieved June 19, 2026.