Tiny Budget, Big Box Office: How Obsession Became a Horror Hit
Blumhouse-backed low-budget horror Obsession defied typical genre drop-offs, grossing $22 million in its second weekend (up about 30% from its $17.2 million opening) and an estimated $28.2 million over Memorial Day, for domestic total around $58.5 million and roughly $74 million worldwide. Produced for under $1 million and acquired by Focus Features for $14 million, it opened in 2,000 theaters without a platform release and has benefited from strong word-of-mouth, a CinemaScore of A- and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating, helped by a young audience (about 75% aged 18–25). The film, directed by first-time filmmaker Curry Barker and linked to YouTube creator culture, signals a new model where online creators can drive theater attendance, with Barker’s next project Anything But Ghosts already in development. The movie is expected to be one of the year’s most profitable releases.