Story perspectives

Low-Budget “Obsession” Nets $75 M, 106:1 ROI in 10 Days

5/26/2026

Summary

Barker’s Blockbuster

Obsession has earned $75 million worldwide in 10 days.
The film made $22.4 million domestically in its second weekend, a 30 % increase over its $17.2 million opening.
Director Curry Barker produced the movie for about $750,000, achieving a 106 : 1 ROI and a 7,040 % gross-to-budget ratio.
It holds 95 % scores on Rotten Tomatoes and from audiences, and earned an “A-” CinemaScore, prompting studios to pursue Barker for future franchises.

Summary

Obsession Soars

Obsession earned $1.63 million in its second week in Australia, ranking second behind “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” and ahead of other new releases.
The film posted a 39 % jump from its opening to its second weekend, the biggest increase ever for a horror title on over 2,000 screens.
From May 18-21, Obsession was the worldwide #1 horror film, out-grossing “Passenger” and “Is God Is.”

Summary

Navarrette Shines

Inde Navarrette’s portrayal of Nikki is sparking awards-season calls for horror actors.
Critics label Obsession an “incel horror” examining male entitlement and threatening female autonomy.
Women on X posted they left the cinema, calling the selfish male behavior terrifying.
Curry Barker is attached to direct an A24 reboot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The film’s humor-horror mix, with Navarrette shifting between comedy and terror, fuels buzz.

Summary

A24 Launches

A24 will release Kane Parsons’ Backrooms on May 29, a sub-$10 million film slated to eclipse Marty Supreme’s record for the label’s biggest domestic debut.
Curry Barker, a former YouTube horror-short creator, now heads the industry’s newest wave of digital-native filmmakers rooted in David F. Sandberg’s early online success.
Obsession’s $750,000 budget follows the low-cost model of hits like 2009’s Paranormal Activity and the original Blair Witch Project, reinforcing a proven approach.

History

Historical Context

Paranormal Activity, Oren Peli’s 2007 found-footage horror shot for $15,000, earned about $194 million worldwide after a September 25, 2009 limited rollout and an October 16, 2009 wide release by Paramount Pictures. Its unprecedented ROI sparked a wave of micro-budget horror releases, prompting studios such as A24 to back digital-native directors and reshaping genre financing.

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Barker’s Blockbuster

Obsession has earned $75 million worldwide in 10 days.
The film made $22.4 million domestically in its second weekend, a 30 % increase over its $17.2 million opening.
Director Curry Barker produced the movie for about $750,000, achieving a 106 : 1 ROI and a 7,040 % gross-to-budget ratio.
It holds 95 % scores on Rotten Tomatoes and from audiences, and earned an “A-” CinemaScore, prompting studios to pursue Barker for future franchises.

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