Overview
- The film, which opened May 15, made about $17.2 million in its first weekend and then posted a rare second‑weekend increase of roughly 30–39%, taking weekend receipts to about $22–28 million.
- Obsession has grossed roughly $79.7–80 million worldwide on a reported $750,000–$1 million production budget, making its return on investment one of the most extreme in recent film history.
- Focus Features bought the film out of TIFF for a reported $14–15 million and ran a guerrilla marketing campaign that included in‑character billboards, a text/voice line with custom Nikki messages, and a sold‑out One Wish Willow tie‑in, which helped drive youth turnout and repeat business.
- Critics and audiences have been unusually positive for a horror debut, with about a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and an A‑ CinemaScore, and breakout performer Inde Navarrette has drawn particular awards attention.
- Industry effects are already visible as studios fast‑track offers to Barker and reassess theatrical windows, marketing tactics, and the value of digital‑native creators for original horror projects.