UMVA has learned that the low‑budget horror thriller Obsession is rewriting box‑office history after soaring past $148 million worldwide on a shoestring budget of just $750,000.
Released on May 15, the film has already recouped nearly 200 times its production cost in just three weekends, a miracle few studios ever witness.
What makes the surge even more astonishing is the steady climb: earnings jumped in the second weekend and surged again in the third, defying the usual decline and fueled by relentless word‑of‑mouth buzz and glowing reviews.
Domestically, Obsession has amassed over $104.7 million, while international markets have contributed an additional $43.2 million, driving the global total to $148 million.
Critics have responded with near‑universal acclaim, awarding the film a 96 % approval rating and earning audiences a lofty 94 % score.
Industry observers now project the tally could swell to $250 million before the theatrical run ends, cementing the movie’s status as a runaway financial success.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the film’s meteoric rise began when indie outfit Tea Shop Productions spotted the project, later partnering with genre powerhouse Blumhouse after a buzz‑building premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Writer‑director‑editor Curry Barker, a YouTube creator making his theatrical debut, crafted a twisted tale of a hopeless romantic who purchases a cursed toy that grants his wish for his best friend Nikki to fall in love with him—only to unleash a dark, sinister price.
Actor Mark Duplass praised the achievement, calling the success of Obsession and another creator‑driven horror, Backrooms, a “glimmer of hope” for an industry searching for fresh, democratized pathways to the big screen.
With Obsession now dominating cinemas and breaking profit records, the film joins a rarefied company of ultra‑profitable horror titles, hinting at a new era where low‑budget visionaries can challenge the giants.
