Overview
- The Curry Barker‑directed horror Obsession has reached a reported worldwide total between about $265 million and $286.5 million, with North American tallies near $168 million–$188 million, and outlets differ on exact figures.
- The film, which opened May 15, bucked normal box‑office patterns by rising 39% in its second weekend and 14% in its third, then holding strongly into later weeks, driven by repeat viewings and Gen‑Z word‑of‑mouth.
- Obsession was made for roughly $750,000–$1 million, was acquired at TIFF for about $14–15 million, and has produced sizable backend payouts and bonuses tied to box‑office milestones, including reported seven‑figure sums for marketing partners.
- Exhibitors have responded by adding screens and showtimes—especially in India where the film has crossed tens of crores and moved into mass‑appeal single‑screen venues—and distributors have postponed planned digital and PVOD windows to keep it in theaters longer.
- Industry players are reacting to the run by courting Barker and rethinking acquisition and marketing strategies, which could increase studio interest in YouTube‑native creators and low‑cost festival pickups as commercially viable sources of theatrical hits.