In a surprising turn of events, global audiences appear to be just as captivated by the movie “Obsession” as its deranged, murderous protagonist. Recent reports from The Wrap confirm that this horror sensation has surpassed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone.
“Obsession” has outperformed Pixar’s 2023 animated hit “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally, establishing itself as the top-grossing original movie in the post-pandemic era, as reported by The Express Tribune. Despite its micro-budget origins, the film, centered on a woman consumed by violent fixation triggered by a supernatural wish for love, has become the highest-grossing movie ever produced for less than $1 million.
With a budget of only $750,000, “Obsession” has outshone the 1973 martial arts classic “Enter the Dragon,” which cost $850,000 to make and earned $400 million through various re-releases. Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, the film premiered on May 15 and made box office history by witnessing a consistent increase in weekly grosses during its initial three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since “E.T.”
By the conclusion of its U.S. theatrical run on August 14, “Obsession” had raked in $263.4 million domestically and an additional $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to $501.5 million and climbing, according to Box Office Mojo. A release in South Korea is still pending, offering further growth prospects for the film.
Notably, “Obsession” now holds the title of the highest-grossing festival acquisition ever, following its acquisition by Focus Features post its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film’s immense commercial triumph has jumpstarted the careers of its young cast, with lead actress Inde Navarette set to portray Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment, and lead actor Michael Johnston reportedly in discussions to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” project alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The overwhelming success of “Obsession” is expected to pave the way for Barker’s next venture. The filmmaker is currently developing a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star, alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson, as per The Wrap’s latest updates.