Global movie audiences have shown significant interest in the film “Obsession,” mirroring the intense fixation of its fictional character. According to a recent report by The Wrap, the horror movie 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 earned $494.6 million globally, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing original movie post-pandemic, as reported by The Express Tribune. Despite being a micro-budget production, the film, which revolves around a woman driven to violent obsession by a supernatural wish, has become the top-grossing movie made for under $1 million in the United States.
Written and directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, “Obsession” premiered on May 15 and experienced a rare trend of increasing weekly box office earnings for three consecutive weeks, a feat not seen since “E.T.” By the end of its theatrical run in the U.S. on August 14, the film had earned $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total worldwide earnings to $501.5 million and counting.
The film is yet to be released in South Korea, adding to its already impressive success. Focus Features’ acquisition of “Obsession” after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September marked the film as the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history.
The commercial triumph of “Obsession” has opened new doors for its young cast members. Lead actress Inde Navarette is slated to portray Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” film, while lead actor Michael Johnston is reportedly in discussions to star alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in Universal’s upcoming “The Mummy” movie.
The success of “Obsession” has set the stage for Barker’s next project, a horror film titled “Anything but Ghosts,” in which he will also star alongside co-writer Cooper Tomlinson.