A recent report by The Wrap unveils the global fascination with the movie “Obsession,” which has now surpassed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office. This horror film has made history by becoming the first original movie of the 2020s to achieve this milestone, outshining Pixar’s “Elemental” and setting a new record for the highest-grossing original movie in the post-pandemic era.
“Obsession,” a low-budget production costing only $750,000, has also claimed the title of the highest-grossing film ever made for less than $1 million, surpassing the iconic 1973 film “Enter the Dragon.” Written and directed by the 26-year-old Curry Barker, the movie made its theatrical debut on May 15 and saw a remarkable increase in weekly grosses during its initial three weeks in theaters, a feat not seen since “E.T.”
As of August 14, “Obsession” had grossed $263.4 million in the U.S. and an additional $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total earnings to over $500 million and counting. The film’s success is set to continue with an upcoming release in South Korea. Acquired by Focus Features after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Obsession” now holds the title of the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history.
The commercial triumph of “Obsession” has opened doors for its young cast members, with lead actress Inde Navarette landing a role in Marvel’s forthcoming “X-Men” movie as heroine Rogue. Moreover, the male lead Michael Johnston is reportedly in discussions to join the cast of Universal’s new film “The Mummy” alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
The overwhelming success of “Obsession” is paving the way for Barker’s next project, a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” where he will not only direct but also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.