Obsession passes $300M worldwide on $750,000 budget

Obsession has passed $300 million at the global box office, earning more than 400 times its $750,000 production budget. The film was written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, who began on YouTube and made his feature debut with Milk & Serial in 2024. Obsession premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Focus Features acquired it for around $14 million, and opened in U.S.

theaters on May 15. It became a viral hit with younger audiences, held the No. 2 spot at the domestic box office for a month, and is now Focus’ highest-grossing release; domestically it ranks as the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2026, behind big-budget blockbusters.

The film’s run highlights a broader shift toward Gen Z-driven horror.

United States, Toronto

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