A recent report by The Wrap revealed that the horror film “Obsession” has surpassed the $500-million mark at the global box office, making it the first original movie of the 2020s to achieve this milestone. This achievement places “Obsession” ahead of Pixar’s “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million worldwide.
Despite being a low-budget production with a cost of only $750,000, “Obsession” has become the highest-grossing film ever made for less than $1 million. Directed and written by 26-year-old Curry Barker, the film premiered on May 15 and has seen consistent growth in its weekly grosses, a feat not seen since “E.T.”
By the end of its theatrical run in the U.S. on Aug. 14, “Obsession” had earned $263.4 million domestically and $238.1 million internationally, bringing its total revenue to $501.5 million. The film is yet to be released in South Korea.
Following its successful debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, Focus Features acquired “Obsession,” making it the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history. The film’s success has opened doors for its cast members, with Inde Navarette set to star in Marvel’s upcoming “X-Men” movie and Michael Johnston in talks to join the cast of Universal’s new “The Mummy” film.
The overwhelming 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.