Obsession Tops $400 Million Worldwide, Setting Record for Films Made on $1 Million or Less
Updated
Updated · TheWrap · Jul 6
Obsession Tops $400 Million Worldwide, Setting Record for Films Made on $1 Million or Less
3 articles · Updated · TheWrap · Jul 6
Summary
$400 million worldwide after eight weekends made Focus Features' “Obsession” the highest-grossing film before inflation adjustment with a production budget capped at $1 million.
The $750,000 horror film turned a $17 million opening into an unusually durable run, with each of its next four weekends beating its debut as word-of-mouth kept building.
That surge also pushed “Obsession” past $200 million in the U.S. and Canada, making it only the second original film since 2018 to clear that mark.
Its record puts it ahead of low-budget benchmarks such as “Rocky,” “Paranormal Activity” and “The Blair Witch Project,” with only Bruce Lee's 1973 “Enter the Dragon” matching $400 million on a sub-$1 million budget.
The breakout has become a wider signal for Hollywood: Gen Z-driven horror titles like “Obsession” and A24's “Backrooms” are reshaping studio interest in online-native filmmakers and franchises.
How did a YouTuber's $750k horror film become more profitable than Hollywood's biggest blockbusters?
With Gen Z now driving the box office, is original horror the new formula for cinematic success?
$224.7 Million and Counting: The Unprecedented Box Office and Cultural Impact of Curry Barker’s "Obsession"
Overview
Curry Barker’s horror film "Obsession" quickly rose from critical acclaim to become Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie ever, earning over $224.7 million worldwide. Acquired for $15 million after a competitive Toronto Film Festival bidding, the film’s theatrical run broke records with a historic second-weekend spike and continued to grow in ticket sales for three straight weeks—an achievement rarely seen outside holiday periods. Its minimal drop in the fourth weekend further highlighted its strong audience appeal. "Obsession" stands out as a box office phenomenon, driven by original storytelling and exceptional audience engagement.