Obsession breaks horror box-office records, crosses $200 million globally

Curry Barker’s horror film Obsession has crossed $200 million globally, becoming Focus Features’ biggest film of all time. According to industry tracker BoxOfficeMojo, the film has earned $234,501,640 (Rs 2240 crore) worldwide in 26 days since its US release on May 15.

The film has already become the studio’s highest-grossing title in the domestic market, where it stands at $161 million. Its latest milestone comes after a strong fourth weekend, when it fell just 7 per cent and collected $25.6 million, setting records for the best fourth-weekend hold for a horror film and the biggest fourth weekend ever for the genre.

The previous record-holder on both counts was The Blair Witch Project, which fell 9 per cent in 1999 and grossed $24.2 million in its fourth weekend. Obsession had also earlier become the first film since 1982’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial to post increases in both its second and third weekends.

Focus Features had acquired Obsession at the Toronto International Film Festival for around $15 million. The film has now gone past the global totals of several major titles from the Universal-owned label, including Downton Abbey (2019), which earned $193.3 million worldwide, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu on $181.8 million, Burn After Reading on $164.3 million, and Darkest Hour on $150.3 million.

Barker made Obsession independently on a budget of $750,000 with a cast of lesser known actors. Before this film, he was best known for the horror short The Chair, the found-footage film Milk & Serial, which he had posted for free on YouTube, and the sketch comedy channel That’s a Bad Idea, which he runs with partner Dr Cooper Tomlinson.

Obsession's box office run in India

The film’s performance has also drawn attention in India, where it has benefited from strong word of mouth. According to trade website Sacnilk, Obsession had neared the Rs 46.8 crore in 13 days, after collecting Rs 3.35 crore on Tuesday and Rs 3.85 crore on Wednesday. The film released in India on May 29.

Obsession follows Bear, a lonely employee at a music shop who uses a supernatural toy to make his friend Nikki fall in love with him, only for the wish to turn violent as she gradually loses her sense of self. As the film continues its theatrical run, its record-setting box-office performance has underlined both its global appeal and the scale of Barker’s breakout success.