‘Obsession’ Set to Become One of the Few Films Ever to Hit Massive Earnings Milestone on a Budget Under $1 Million

Obsession has become a breakout success story in 2026, with a very low production budget and surprisingly strong earnings.

The film, a 2025 supernatural horror project, was made on an estimated budget between $750,000 and $1 million. It was written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker.

The story follows a young man named Bear, played by Michael Johnston, who works in a music store. He buys a strange supernatural toy that can make wishes come true. He uses it to make his childhood friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him, but things quickly turn dark and disturbing. The cast also includes Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter in supporting roles.

The movie first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025, in the Midnight Madness section. Later, it was released in theaters in the United States on May 15, 2026, by Focus Features.

Box office reports say the film has performed far above expectations. It opened with strong numbers after early projections of $8–10 million for its first weekend. It ended up making $17.2 million in its debut, placing third at the box office behind Michael and The Devil Wears Prada 2. It also made $7.0 million on its first day, which led to higher projections before the weekend ended.

As of May 20, Obsession has earned $27 million in the United States and Canada and $8 million in other markets, bringing its worldwide total to $35 million. Industry tracking data suggests the film may continue to grow and could potentially pass major milestones if its current momentum holds. It may become one of the only films in history to earn $100M+ on a budget of less than $1M.

The film is expected to earn more this weekend than it did in its opening weekend, a rare feat.

The film is expected to earn more in its current weekend than it did in its opening weekend, which is unusual for most releases. This kind of performance is often seen as a sign of strong word of mouth.

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