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Spielberg's “Disclosure Day” Opens $44M, Still Far From Break-Even

6/15/2026

Summary

Spielberg’s Opening

Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” opened at No. 1 with a $44 million weekend from 3,824 theaters.
The film has earned $92.9 million worldwide, $48.9 million from 73 overseas markets, and must reach $300 million to break even against its $115 million production and $80 million marketing costs.
Rotten Tomatoes gave an 81 % rating and CinemaScore a B.
Premium screens added $6.5 million (15 % of foreign grosses) and 48 % of earnings, with 60 % of viewers aged 35 or older.

Summary

Obsession Earns $250M

Obsession, a former YouTube horror series, has topped $250 million worldwide, an indie-to-blockbuster jump.
A24 says the film shows horror can outpace expectations, strengthening genre lineup.
Director James Gunn’s praise boosted The Furious’s word-of-mouth, helping it earn $2.75 million in limited release.
Analysts expect Obsession to add $75 million before its streaming debut in two weeks, extending earnings.
Amazon MGM Studios says Masters of the Universe will be judged on streaming, not box-office.

Summary

Horror Dominates

Masters of the Universe fell to fifth place after a 71% second-week decline, earning $8.7 million.
Horror titles occupied three of the five highest-grossing spots, with Obsession, Scary Movie and Backrooms ranking second, third and fourth.
The top-ten box-office list included legacy franchises Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu at No. 6 and Masters of the Universe at No. 5, while original films such as Disclosure Day and Obsession led the top positions.

Summary

Indie Horror Soars

Focus Features' “Obsession,” made for $750,000, earned $265 million worldwide, becoming the studio’s all-time highest-grossing release.
A24’s “Backrooms,” directed by former YouTuber Kane Parsons, grossed about $250 million, overtaking “Marty Supreme” as the studio’s top-grossing film and highlighting a pipeline from ex-YouTubers to major-studio horror hits.
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” with a $165 million budget, earned $165 million worldwide, breaking even and underscoring the contrast with low-budget indie horror profits.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, Haxan Films' low-budget horror The Blair Witch Project, made for about $60,000, earned $248 million worldwide, proving that modest productions could generate massive returns. The film’s surprise success prompted Lionsgate to develop a sequel, Blair Witch, which was shot under the fake title The Woods, produced on a $5 million budget and released in September 2016.

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Spielberg’s Opening

Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” opened at No. 1 with a $44 million weekend from 3,824 theaters.
The film has earned $92.9 million worldwide, $48.9 million from 73 overseas markets, and must reach $300 million to break even against its $115 million production and $80 million marketing costs.
Rotten Tomatoes gave an 81 % rating and CinemaScore a B.
Premium screens added $6.5 million (15 % of foreign grosses) and 48 % of earnings, with 60 % of viewers aged 35 or older.

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