Movie audiences worldwide are showing significant interest in the film “Obsession,” mirroring the fervor of the movie’s obsessed and murderous character. According to The Wrap, the horror film has surpassed the $500-million mark at the global box office, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone. This achievement outshines Pixar’s 2023 animated film “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally, as reported by The Express Tribune.
“Obsession,” a low-budget film depicting a woman consumed by violent fixation after a supernatural wish, has now become the highest-grossing film made for under $1 million, produced with a budget of only $750,000. This success places it ahead of the 1973 martial arts film “Enter the Dragon,” which cost $850,000 to produce and earned $400 million through multiple re-releases.
The film, written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, premiered on May 15 and demonstrated a rare achievement by increasing its weekly earnings for three consecutive weeks, a feat not seen since “E.T.” By the end of its U.S. theatrical run on August 14, “Obsession” had grossed $263.4 million domestically and an additional $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to over $501.5 million and continuing to grow, according to Box Office Mojo. A release in South Korea is still pending.
Moreover, following its acquisition by Focus Features at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Obsession” stands as the highest-grossing festival-acquired film in history. The film’s remarkable success has paved the way for its young cast to secure new opportunities. Lead actress Inde Navarette will portray Rogue in an upcoming Marvel “X-Men” film, while lead actor Michael Johnston is in discussions to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” movie alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The astounding success of “Obsession” is expected to boost director Curry Barker’s career further. The filmmaker is currently working on a new horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.
