It’s one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in a while. It’s up there with 2022’s Barbarian, a film where you’d think twice about using Airbnb. Obsession is a dark twist on the shy guy who can’t tell the girl of his dreams how he feels, so he makes a wish, which becomes an absolute nightmare, fraught with murder, self-mutilation, and outright creepiness.
The movie has no stars. It has a talented cast, no doubt, especially Inde Navarette, who plays ‘Nikki,’ but there are no A-list stars. It had a budget of only $750,000, and it has grossed over $500 million (via The Wrap):
Focus Features’ record-smashing horror hit “Obsession” has finished its run in U.S. theaters. But thanks to its continued success overseas, it has now crossed $500 million at the global box office, becoming the first original film of the 2020s to do so.
Curry Barker’s disturbing tale of a woman forced to become an obsessive, murderous girlfriend by a man’s selfish wish has passed the 2023 Pixar film “Elemental,” which grossed $494.6 million globally, to become the top grossing original film since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Obsession” also stands as the highest grossing festival acquisition of all time and the highest grossing film ever with a budget of less than $1 million.
Opening to a domestic launch of just $17.1 million, “Obsession” became a massive hit with critics and moviegoers alike thanks in good part to Inde Navarrette’s star-making lead performance. Defying 21st century box office norms, “Obsession” went on to have higher weekend totals than its opening for the next month, not dropping below $17 million until its sixth weekend in theaters as it grossed $263.4 million domestically.
Overseas, “Obsession” just inched past the $500 million mark by adding $2.5 million from countries like China and Germany where the film hit theaters well after the mid-May U.S. release date. The film has earned $238.1 million overseas, including $29.7 million in China and $26.7 million in the United Kingdom, pushing it to $501.5 million worldwide with a release in South Korea still to come.
There’s talk of a sequel, which I strongly oppose, as it’s unnecessary. Watch the film — you’ll see. It has sparked some excellent memes and reactions. Have fun with this one, folks. It’s worth it.
If the material is good, people will go to see it.
No, no, no, no, NO! #Obsession is streaming on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/YfvYFnMCiy
— Peacock (@peacock) July 18, 2026
