Alabama director Curry Barker’s “Obsession” has experienced an otherworldly run at the box-office and recently hit a milestone not seen since Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.” in 1982.
Most theatrical runs for films tend to peak financially during the opening weekend and peter off as they remain in theaters.
However, “Obsession” has only grossed more money and grown in popularity since its May 15 release.
“Obsession” rose 10% in box office earnings from the prior weekend, which was already up a stunning 39% from its solid $17 million debut,” Variety reported. “It’s defying box office norms as the first film since ‘E.T. The Extraterrestrial’ in 1982 to see ticket sales increase in its second and third weekends outside of the holiday season.”
“Obsession” continued breaking records it its fourth weekend, bringing in $25.6 million.
Although that marks a 7% decrease from the $27 million-plus in week three, it was still the best fourth weekend ever for a horror film, dethroning “The Blair Witch Project” which had $24 million at the same point in 1999.
Made on a modest budget of $750,000, “Obsession” has already surpassed more than $150 million domestically and $250 globally, making it one of the most profitable films of all time.
“Obsession” is now Focus Features’ highest grossing film, surpassing the likes of “Downton Abbey,” “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Coraline.”.
In an Instagram post last week, Barker said that “Obsession” raking in $100 million was “surreal” and was grateful for everyone who has seen the movie in theaters.
“Thank you to everyone who has come out to watch the film and to everyone who helped us get here,” Barker said. “I’m obsessed with you.”
Barker, 26, has already amassed comparisons to acclaimed horror filmmakers and is set to direct the next installment of the cult classic “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
Barker’s film has been so successful that Focus Features extended the movie’s theatrical run to late June after it was initially scheduled to release on streaming platforms June 2.
Along with “Obsession” another recently released horror film “Backrooms” (from 20-year-old director Kane Parsons) also emerged as the top grossing film in its first week at the box-office, bringing in $81 million.
Both films also outperformed the “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which Variety described as “a tectonic shift in Hollywood that’s sent shock waves across the industry.”
The financial performances of both films coupled with the directors being young creatives from YouTube has sparked discussions on the future of filmmaking, the viability of indie horror films and what lessons Hollywood will learn from this moment.
On ”The Big Picture” podcast, hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins said Barker and Parsons are indicative of a new generation of filmmakers who have arrived while bringing people back to theaters.
The horror films were compared to the 2023 same-day releases of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” (dubbed “Barbenheimer”) critical and financial phenomena that became a cultural sticking points and inspired people to go to the theaters rather than wait for streaming.
But is that enough for Hollywood to learn the “right lessons” from “Obsession” and “Backrooms”?
“Probably not,” Dobbins said. “But also it’s not just about learning lessons. It’s that phenomenons like this are sort of not replicable.”
Fennessey and Dobbins also mentioned that even though “The Mandalorian and Grogu” struggled at the box office in comparison to the two indie horror films, the problem for the movie business is changing the motive of profit-seeking corporations and shareholders.
“Unfortunately it’s not just wake-up the studio heads, it’s wake up the shareholders and/or the multimedia conglomerates that are being reorganized by hedge funds and private equity on a regular basis,” Dobbins said. “They are constructed to only make the billion dollar or $2 billion dollar play. And it takes a long time to unwind that.”
However, many established Hollywood figures, actors and producers have raved about the films and the young directors.
Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, director of “E.T. The Extraterrestrial”, told Pop Drop that he is happy for the success both movies have had and has not seen “Backrooms” yet but loved “Obsession.”
“Obsession” follows a young man (“Teen Wolf” actor Michael Johnston) who uses a mysterious object to make a single wish: For his crush to fall in love with him. As the film plays out, audiences are quickly reminded of the cautionary adage, be careful what you wish for.
Made for less than $1 million and purchased by Focus Features for $15 million, the movie is a box office smash and has been praised as a modern horror classic with comparisons to films like ”Hereditary” and “Get Out.”
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