Obsession, the horror film about a woman consumed by violent obsession after a supernatural wish, has surpassed $500 million at the global box office, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone. This achievement outshines Pixar’s Elemental, the highest-grossing original movie post-pandemic. With a budget of only $750,000, Obsession has become the highest-grossing film made for less than $1 million.
Directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, Obsession saw a continuous increase in weekly grosses during its first three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since E.T. By the end of its U.S. theatrical run, the film had grossed $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to $501.5 million and counting.
Focus Features acquired Obsession after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The film’s success has already opened doors for its cast, with lead actress Inde Navarette set to star in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film, and lead actor Michael Johnston in talks to join Universal’s new The Mummy movie.
The overwhelming success of Obsession has paved the way for Barker’s next project, a horror film titled Anything but Ghosts, in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.