Obsession Eyes $100 Million as Horror Hit Defies Box-Office Norms With Second-Weekend Gain
Updated
Updated · Forbes · May 23
Obsession Eyes $100 Million as Horror Hit Defies Box-Office Norms With Second-Weekend Gain
1 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 23
$17 million opener Obsession is on track to increase its second-weekend domestic gross, a rare feat for any wide release and especially unusual in horror.
Strong word of mouth has kept the film atop weekday box office charts, putting it within reach of $100 million despite a production budget of just $750,000 to $1 million.
That would give Obsession roughly a 100x gross-to-budget return, placing it among standout low-budget horror breakouts such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity.
The film still is not expected to win the weekend because The Mandalorian and Grogu is headed for about an $80 million domestic debut, though the two target different audiences.
Obsession's run is also fueling awards talk around newcomer Inde Navarrette, extending the film's momentum beyond box-office performance.
Can a micro-budget film's 100x return on investment reshape Hollywood's blockbuster-focused strategy?
What themes in 'Obsession' are so resonant it's being called the 'Fatal Attraction' for Gen Z?
How did a 25-year-old director leverage YouTube skills to create 2026's most acclaimed horror film?