The global audience has shown significant interest in the film “Obsession,” with its box office success surpassing $500 million worldwide. This horror hit, which was released in the 2020s, has become the highest-grossing original film of the post-pandemic era, outperforming Pixar’s “Elemental.” Remarkably, “Obsession” was produced with a budget of only $750,000, making it the most profitable film ever made for less than $1 million.
Directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” debuted in theaters on May 15 and has seen a steady increase in weekly grosses, a rare feat since “E.T.” The film’s domestic earnings reached $263.4 million by the end of its U.S. theatrical run on Aug. 14, with an additional $238.1 million from international markets, bringing its total revenue to $501.5 million. A release in South Korea is still pending.
Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Focus Features acquired “Obsession,” marking it as the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The success of the film has opened doors for its cast members, with lead actress Inde Navarette landing a role in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” film, and lead actor Michael Johnston potentially joining the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” movie.
The commercial triumph of “Obsession” has set the stage for Barker’s next project, a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.
