In a surprising turn of events, global audiences seem to be just as captivated by the movie “Obsession” as its deranged and murderous female protagonist.
The horror film recently reached a significant milestone by surpassing $500 million at the worldwide box office, making it the first original movie of the 2020s to achieve this feat. “Obsession” now holds the title of the highest-grossing original film in the post-pandemic era, overtaking Pixar’s “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally.
Despite its modest budget of $750,000, “Obsession” has become the highest-grossing film ever produced for less than $1 million, outperforming classics like “Enter the Dragon.” Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, the film premiered on May 15 and has been met with increasing success week after week, reminiscent of the iconic film “E.T.”
By the end of its theatrical run in the United States on August 14, “Obsession” had earned $263.4 million domestically and an additional $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to $501.5 million and counting. The film is still set for release in South Korea, adding to its impressive box office performance.
Having been acquired by Focus Features following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Obsession” now holds the title of the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The film’s commercial triumph has already opened doors for its young cast, with lead actress Inde Navarette landing a role in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment, and lead actor Michael Johnston in talks to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” movie.
The remarkable success of “Obsession” is paving the way for director Curry Barker’s next project, a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.
