Insider Comments on Jason Blum’s Massive ‘Obsession’ Payday, While Artist Working on the Movie Gets $7,000: “That’s Just How It Works”
Executive producer Jason Blum is set to earn about $17 million from the indie horror hit “Obsession,” a figure that has sparked debate about pay differences in Hollywood, especially after the film’s massive box office success.
“Obsession,” directed by Curry Barker, started as a low-budget psychological horror film made for about $750,000. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it gained strong attention and was later picked up by Focus Features for $15 million. After the acquisition, Blum came on board as an executive producer to help with marketing and promotion.
Blum’s involvement came after the film was already finished and acquired. According to TheWrap’s sources, he negotiated a deal tied to box office performance. He reportedly earns a $2 million bonus once the film passes $25 million domestically, plus additional payments of about $500,000 for every extra $5 million the movie makes at the box office.
As “Obsession” continued to grow in popularity, those bonuses stacked up. The film has now made over $150 million domestically and more than $229 million worldwide, leading Blum’s total earnings to reach around $17 million. Some insiders told TheWrap that this amount is higher than what some of the film’s original creators and producers earned.
One insider described the situation bluntly, saying, “He gets to brag about a movie he got put on after they acquired it, and he gets paid more than anybody else, that’s Hollywood.”
At the same time, the report highlights a very different reality for crew members who worked on the film during its early stages. Art director Sally Choi, who spoke publicly after the film’s success, said she earned under $7,000 for her work. She explained that she understood the low-budget nature of the production when she agreed to it, but still pointed out how uneven the pay structure felt after the film became a major hit.
Choi said, “This is the reality of most filmmakers, especially those who work below the line. We become a line in the budget sheet to keep as low as possible.” Her comments quickly spread online and added fuel to ongoing discussions about how indie film workers are compensated compared to top-level producers and executives.
“Obsession” itself has become a surprise industry success story. The film reportedly performed unusually well at the box office, even growing its earnings over several weekends instead of dropping after release. Its success has placed it among a small group of modern horror films to reach major domestic milestones.
Blum’s role in the project came through his connection to Barker’s next film, but he later helped promote “Obsession” and structured his deal around its performance. Blumhouse Atomic, the company linked to Blum, has also benefited from the movie’s financial success.
The situation has reignited discussion about how profits are shared in Hollywood, especially when films made on tiny budgets end up making hundreds of millions. While producers and executives can earn millions through performance-based deals, many crew members who worked early in the process see none of the upside once a film becomes a hit.
As “Obsession” continues its strong run, the debate around its earnings has become almost as loud as the film itself.
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