Movie enthusiasts worldwide have shown great interest in the film “Obsession,” mirroring the intense fixation of its deranged protagonist. The horror flick recently achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the $500 million global box office mark, making it the first original movie of the 2020s to reach this achievement. This success eclipses the earnings of Pixar’s 2023 animated feature “Elemental,” which raked in $494.6 million globally, solidifying “Obsession” as the top-grossing original film in the post-pandemic era.
Notably, this low-budget production, revolving around a woman consumed by violent fixation triggered by a supernatural wish for reciprocal affection, has become the highest-grossing film ever made for under $1 million. With a modest budget of $750,000, “Obsession” has outperformed the iconic 1973 martial arts classic “Enter the Dragon,” which cost $850,000 to produce and amassed $400 million through various re-releases.
Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” premiered on May 15 and saw a rare feat similar to “E.T.,” with its weekly earnings consistently rising during the first three weeks in theaters. The film’s U.S. theatrical run concluded on Aug. 14, accumulating $263.4 million domestically and an additional $238.1 million internationally, pushing its global earnings to over $501.5 million and still climbing. A release in South Korea is on the horizon, as reported by The Wrap.
Moreover, “Obsession” has set a record as the highest-grossing festival acquisition to date, following its acquisition by Focus Features post its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September. The film’s remarkable commercial triumph has opened doors for its young cast members, with lead actress Inde Navarette landing the role of Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment, and lead actor Michael Johnston in talks to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The overwhelming success of “Obsession” has undoubtedly paved the way for Barker’s next venture. As revealed by The Wrap, the filmmaker is currently working on a horror project titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.