Overview
- The Curry Barker‑directed Obsession, which opened May 15, was made for under $1 million and has earned roughly $79.7–$80 million worldwide, delivering an outsized return on a tiny budget.
- Instead of the usual sophomore drop, the film grew in its second weekend, with reporters citing a roughly 30% increase and weekend grosses reported between about $22 million and $24 million.
- Focus Features released Obsession widely after buying it out of TIFF, and a low‑cost, in‑universe campaign—text/voice campaigns, cryptic billboards and a sell‑out One Wish Willow tie‑in—helped fuel social buzz and repeat viewings.
- Director Curry Barker has said he trimmed violent material to avoid an NC‑17 rating and on May 25 publicly teased a possible director’s cut restoring deleted gore and an alternate ending.
- The movie’s success has accelerated studio interest in Barker, amplified awards conversation for lead Inde Navarrette, and added to a broader industry shift toward original, digitally native horror as a viable wide‑release strategy.