Obsession, the horror film that delves into a woman’s violent fixation, has captivated global audiences, surpassing the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office. The movie, directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, achieved this milestone, making it the first original film of the 2020s to reach such heights. It outshined Pixar’s Elemental, becoming the highest-grossing original movie post-pandemic, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Despite being a micro-budget production with costs totaling just $750,000, Obsession has become the most profitable film ever made for less than $1 million. The film’s success even surpasses the 1973 Bruce Lee classic, Enter the Dragon, which cost $850,000 to produce and earned $400 million through various releases.
Since its theatrical debut on May 15, Obsession has seen its weekly earnings rise consistently, a feat not seen since E.T. By the end of its U.S. run in August, the film had grossed $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to $501.5 million and climbing, according to Box Office Mojo.
Obsession continues to make waves, with a release in South Korea on the horizon. Focus Features acquired the film after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The film’s success has also opened doors for its cast, with lead actress Inde Navarette set to star as Rogue in an upcoming X-Men installment, and lead actor Michael Johnston in talks to join a new iteration of The Mummy.
The film’s triumph has set the stage for Barker’s next project, Anything but Ghosts, a horror film in which he will both star and co-write alongside Cooper Tomlinson.
