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Obsession Surpasses $400 Million, Becoming Top Earner for Films Made Under $1 Million

The micro‑budget horror’s sustained theatrical run and a late premium VOD release have pushed Curry Barker and lead Inde Navarrette into high demand and prompted studios to rethink release windows.

Overview

  • Obsession opened wide in mid‑May after a TIFF debut and sold to Focus Features for roughly $14–15 million before grossing about $403–404 million worldwide from roughly $245.2 million domestic and $158.2 million international returns.
  • The film was produced for about $750,000 and by crossing the $400 million mark has become the highest‑grossing unadjusted film ever made for under $1 million, surpassing long‑standing sub‑$1M benchmarks.
  • Focus delayed its planned PVOD/streaming rollout to protect the theatrical run, then released the title to premium VOD on June 30 and scheduled physical discs for mid‑July, a strategy that extended revenue momentum.
  • Curry Barker has already shot a follow‑up set in the same universe and is attached to larger studio projects while Inde Navarrette has taken high‑profile meetings and locked a next role, reflecting rapid elevation of both talent.
  • Industry reaction centers on what Obsession means for low‑budget horror and Gen‑Z filmmakers, with studios reexamining acquisition economics, windowing choices and questions about pay and working conditions on micro‑budget sets.