Movie enthusiasts worldwide have shown a strong interest in the film “Obsession,” akin to the intense fixation of its deranged, murderous female character. According to a report by The Wrap on Sunday, the horror movie has officially exceeded $500 million in global box office revenue, making it the first original film of the 2020s to achieve this milestone.
“Obsession” has outperformed Pixar’s 2023 animated hit “Elemental,” which amassed $494.6 million worldwide, establishing itself as the highest-grossing original movie in the post-pandemic era, as reported by The Express Tribune. Despite its modest budget, the micro-budget film tells the story of a woman consumed by violent obsession following a selfish wish made by a young man for her affection, becoming the most lucrative film created with a budget under $1 million in the US.
Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” premiered in theaters on May 15. It notably saw a continuous increase in weekly grosses during its initial three weeks, a feat not seen since “E.T.” By the conclusion of its US theatrical run on August 14, “Obsession” had grossed $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total global earnings to $501.5 million and counting, as per Box Office Mojo. The film is yet to be released in South Korea.
Following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, “Obsession” became the highest-grossing festival acquisition to date when Focus Features acquired it. The film’s success has opened doors for its young cast, with lead actress Inde Navarette landing a role as Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” installment. Additionally, male lead Michael Johnston is reportedly in discussions to join Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in Universal’s forthcoming “The Mummy” movie.
The overwhelming triumph of “Obsession” has set the stage for Barker’s next venture. The filmmaker is currently in the development phase of a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” where he will star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.