Obsession Tops $400 Million Worldwide on $750,000 Budget
Updated
Updated · Variety · Jul 5
Obsession Tops $400 Million Worldwide on $750,000 Budget
3 articles · Updated · Variety · Jul 5
Summary
$403 million in global ticket sales has made “Obsession” one of the year’s biggest theatrical breakouts after two months in cinemas, with $245 million from North America and $157 million overseas.
A $5.3 million domestic and $12 million international haul over the July 4 holiday showed the indie horror film still drawing crowds deep into its eighth weekend, putting it near $250 million domestically.
Positive word-of-mouth and strong Gen Z turnout powered the run after a $17 million May debut, with the film posting four straight weekends that exceeded its opening frame.
Focus Features bought the Curry Barker-directed film for $14 million after it was made for $750,000, turning it into a standout profit engine as offbeat horror keeps pulling younger audiences back to theaters.
How did a YouTuber's $750k horror film become more profitable than Hollywood's biggest blockbusters?
With Gen Z now driving the box office, is original horror the new formula for cinematic success?
$224.7 Million and Counting: The Unprecedented Box Office and Cultural Impact of Curry Barker’s "Obsession"
Overview
Curry Barker’s horror film "Obsession" quickly rose from critical acclaim to become Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie ever, earning over $224.7 million worldwide. Acquired for $15 million after a competitive Toronto Film Festival bidding, the film’s theatrical run broke records with a historic second-weekend spike and continued to grow in ticket sales for three straight weeks—an achievement rarely seen outside holiday periods. Its minimal drop in the fourth weekend further highlighted its strong audience appeal. "Obsession" stands out as a box office phenomenon, driven by original storytelling and exceptional audience engagement.