Obsession Becomes Cheapest Film to Lead Box Office in 17 Years

On Monday, May 18, the horror film *Obsession* rose to the top of the U.S. box office, marking the first time in 17 years that a film with a sub-million-dollar budget has led the weekly gross. The movie added $2.9 million that day, pushing its worldwide total past $27 million against a reported $750,000 production budget.

Forbes

The achievement echoes the 2009 breakout of *Paranormal Activity*, which was produced for roughly $15,000 and later topped the box office after a viral word-of-mouth surge. Paranormal Activity opened with $77,000 and grew to $21.1 million by its fifth weekend via viral word-of-mouth. Industry observers note that *Obsession* follows a pattern where modestly funded horror titles achieve outsized returns, a trend reinforced by upcoming low-budget projects such as Kane Parsons’ *Backrooms* for A24, slated at under $10 million.

Forbes

*Obsession* is directed by YouTube-originated filmmaker Curry Barker. The film’s lead, Inde Navarrette, portrays the character Nikki, while Michael Johnston plays the romantic protagonist who discovers a perilous wish. The story centers on Michael Johnston’s hopeless-romantic protagonist, whose wish for love triggers a sinister, supernatural consequence. A24 handles distribution, positioning the title alongside other independent horror releases.

Just Jared

With a $750,000 budget, *Obsession* earned $2.9 million on Monday (May 18), raising its worldwide total to over $27 million. It displaced *Michael*, *The Devil Wears Prada 2* and *Mortal Kombat II* from the top spot, while the upcoming Star Wars film *The Mandalorian and Grogu* is expected to open with $80-100 million.

Forbes

Critics have highlighted Navarrette’s performance as a standout, with several outlets urging awards-season consideration. The film’s high aggregate scores and strong word-of-mouth momentum suggest it may contend for genre-specific honors and possibly broader recognition. The 95 % critic rating ranks the film among the top-rated horror releases of 2026.

Just Jared

Trade coverage from Forbes and JustJared emphasizes the rarity of a sub-million-dollar production achieving weekly leadership. Analysts cite the result as evidence that strategic marketing and social-media buzz can offset financial resources.

Forbes

• “genuinely Oscar worthy.” — multiple outlets

Just Jared

The next weekend pits *Obsession* against the anticipated Star Wars release featuring the titular “Baby Yoda,” which could dominate box-office receipts. Nonetheless, industry watchers will monitor whether the horror title can sustain its momentum and set a precedent for subsequent low-budget releases.

Forbes