The global audience for the movie “Obsession” seems to be just as captivated by the film as its deranged, murderous protagonist. On Sunday, it was reported that the horror film has surpassed the $500-million mark at the worldwide box office, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone. This success places “Obsession” ahead of Pixar’s 2023 animated hit “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally, making it the highest-grossing original movie in the post-pandemic era.
With a budget of only $750,000, “Obsession” has also become the highest-grossing film ever made for under $1 million, surpassing the 1973 martial arts film “Enter the Dragon,” which cost $850,000 to produce. The film, directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, was released on May 15 and has seen a continuous increase in weekly grosses during its initial three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since “E.T.”
By the end of its U.S. theatrical run on Aug. 14, “Obsession” had earned $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million overseas, bringing its global total to $501.5 million and counting. The film is still awaiting release in South Korea. Following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, Focus Features acquired the film, making it the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history.
The commercial success of “Obsession” has opened up new opportunities for its young cast members. Lead actress Inde Navarette is set to star as Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” film, while lead actor Michael Johnston is in discussions to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” movie alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The overwhelming success of “Obsession” has set the stage for Barker’s next project. The filmmaker is currently working on a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will co-star with co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.
