Movie enthusiasts worldwide are proving to be just as captivated by “Obsession” as the film’s deranged, murderous protagonist. The horror sensation has officially exceeded the $500-million mark in global box office revenue, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone.
Surpassing Pixar’s 2023 animated hit “Elemental,” which earned $494.6 million worldwide, “Obsession” now holds the title of the highest-grossing original movie in the post-pandemic era. This low-budget film, depicting a woman spiraling into violent fixation after a supernatural wish, has also become the most profitable movie ever produced for under $1 million, with a meager budget of $750,000.
Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” premiered on May 15 and saw a rare increase in weekly earnings during its first three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since “E.T.” By the end of its U.S. theatrical run on Aug. 14, the film had raked in $263.4 million domestically and an additional $238.1 million internationally, totaling over $501.5 million and counting.
Despite its remarkable success, “Obsession” is yet to be released in South Korea. Acquired by Focus Features after its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, the American horror film stands as the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history.
The commercial triumph of “Obsession” has already opened doors for its young cast members. Inde Navarette, the female lead, is set to portray Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment, while Michael Johnston, the male lead, is reportedly in discussions to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” film alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The film’s director, Curry Barker, is riding high on the success of “Obsession” as he gears up for his next project, a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” where he will star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.