Obsession film earns $148M, records weekend growth

The horror film "Obsession" has become a global box office phenomenon, achieving a rare feat of growing its earnings for three consecutive weekends and generating massive profits from a minuscule budget. The movie, which premiered on May 15, 2026, has earned over $148 million worldwide against a production budget estimated between $750,000 and $1 million.

Directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker in his theatrical debut, "Obsession" is a psychological horror story. It follows a shy music store employee, Bear (Michael Johnston), who uses a supernatural trinket called the "One Wish Willow" to make his childhood friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) fall in love with him, with terrifying consequences. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.

Its financial performance is extraordinary. Domestically, it has grossed over $104 million, making it the highest-grossing release ever for distributor Focus Features. Industry projections suggest its total global haul could reach $250 million by the end of its theatrical run. This would represent a return on investment of over 300 times its budget. For context, while "Avatar" generated more pure profit, its...