‘Obsession’s’ Box Office Run Gets Even Crazier With Historic Horror Achievement
Obsession continues to surprise the box office world, with the R-rated horror movie proving that smaller films can still achieve massive success. The Focus Features release is showing incredible staying power in theaters, even weeks after its debut and while facing competition from major releases like Toy Story 5.
According to box office tracking reports, Obsession earned $2.1 million on its sixth Wednesday in the United States. That performance became the biggest sixth Wednesday ever recorded for a horror movie. The film also dropped only 36.3% compared to the previous Wednesday, showing that audiences are still showing strong interest.
The movie has now reached a massive $222.2 million domestic total, and industry watchers believe the film is on track to pass the $250 million mark in the United States. Some estimates suggest the final domestic run could reach between $250 million and $270 million if the movie continues its current momentum.
The success of Obsession is even more impressive because of its small budget. The supernatural horror film was made for less than $1 million, with production costs reportedly around $750,000. Focus Features acquired worldwide distribution rights for around $15 million, excluding certain international markets.
The results have turned the movie into a major financial win for everyone involved. Focus Features and the producers have seen a huge return on their investment, especially compared to the massive budgets usually required for major studio films.
Obsession was written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker, a YouTube comedian known for his sketch videos and short horror projects. The movie follows Bear, a music store employee who discovers a supernatural toy that grants his wish for his friend Nikki to fall in love with him. However, the wish quickly leads to terrifying consequences.
The cast includes Michael Johnston as Bear and Inde Navarrette as Nikki, with Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter appearing in supporting roles. Barker also provides a voice performance in the film.
The idea for Obsession came after Barker’s previous short horror project The Chair gained attention online. Producer James Harris later approached him about expanding his work into a feature film. Instead of adapting The Chair, Barker pitched Obsession, a separate story inspired in part by classic horror-comedy ideas.
The movie was filmed in Los Angeles in October 2024 and became Barker’s second feature film following Milk & Serial. It marked his first major theatrical release.
Obsession first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, where Focus Features purchased the distribution rights. The deal reportedly became one of the biggest acquisitions for a genre film in the festival’s history. Jason Blum also joined the project as an executive producer through Blumhouse Productions.
After arriving in theaters on May 15, Obsession quickly became a critical and commercial success. The film has earned hundreds of millions worldwide and has become Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie ever.
The movie’s unusual journey has made it one of the biggest surprises of the year. While many expected large franchise films to dominate theaters, Obsession has shown that an original horror story with a small budget can still become a box office powerhouse.
With its strong theatrical performance continuing, the film is now chasing an even bigger milestone. What once looked like an unlikely success story has turned into one of the most impressive horror runs in recent box office history.
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