Just weeks after becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest success stories, Backrooms director Kane Parsons is making headlines again, this time for his strong views on artificial intelligence. The 20 year old filmmaker, whose horror movie Backrooms became a surprise global box office hit, believes AI should not play a major role in the future of filmmaking. While many people in the entertainment industry are excited about the possibilities of AI, Parsons feels it could take away the very thing that makes art special.
What makes his opinion stand out is his age. Many young creators are quickly adopting AI tools to make content faster and easier. Parsons, however, sees things differently. He recently said that if he had the choice, he would make generative AI disappear completely. According to him, the creative journey is what gives art its value. The challenges, mistakes, learning experiences and hard work involved in creating something are all part of what makes the final result meaningful.
His comments come as Hollywood continues to debate how AI should be used. Supporters believe the technology can help lower production costs and speed up work. Critics worry that it could eventually replace writers, artists, designers and visual effects professionals who have spent years developing their skills. Parsons understands that AI may be useful for handling some technical tasks in the future, especially in visual effects, but he remains concerned about what happens when convenience becomes more important than creativity.
Parsons’ own career story is a perfect example of why many people still believe in the power of human imagination. Before becoming a Hollywood director, he was a teenager creating visual effects videos on YouTube under the name Kane Pixels. His Backrooms found footage short film went viral in 2022 and quickly grew into a massive online horror universe. The project eventually caught the attention of A24 and producer James Wan, helping transform a small internet creation into a major theatrical release.
The results have been extraordinary. Backrooms opened to around $81.5 million in North America and roughly $118 million worldwide, making it the biggest opening weekend in A24’s history. Parsons also became the youngest filmmaker ever to have a movie debut at number one at the North American box office.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it was built through creativity, passion and years of self taught work. Parsons did not rely on algorithms or automated systems to create one of the year’s biggest movies. As Hollywood continues to discuss AI’s future, his success serves as a powerful reminder that original ideas and human creativity can still capture the world’s attention.