ArtistDirect News
Obsession Surpasses $200 Million Domestically, Sets New Horror Box-Office Record
Obsession, the 2025 supernatural‑psychological horror film written and directed by Curry Barker, has shattered the $200 million barrier at the North American box office. Released in U.S. theaters on May 15 2026, the movie is on track to finish between $220 million and $250 million domestically and to reach $242.7 million worldwide, becoming Focus Features’ highest‑grossing release ever.
At the time of writing, Obsession’s domestic gross stands at $169.4 million, while international receipts total $73.3 million, giving a worldwide total of $242.7 million. The film’s fourth‑Thursday performance on Thursday, June 7, yielded $3.9 million—a decline of 17% from the previous day and the largest fourth‑Thursday haul for a horror title in North America. The hold is the strongest seen for a horror film in the region, underscoring the movie’s sustained appeal.
The film’s trajectory places it among the top‑earning horror movies in U.S. history. By the end of the current weekend, Obsession is expected to surpass the domestic totals of Us ($175.1 million), Get Out ($175.8 million), The Conjuring: Last Rites ($177.7 million) and A Quiet Place ($188 million). That would elevate it to the seventh‑highest‑grossing horror film in North America, a position previously held by the aforementioned titles.
Obsession was produced on a budget of $750,000 to $1 million. The low‑budget film was shot in Los Angeles in October 2024 and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Focus Features acquired distribution rights for $14–$15 million, the highest price paid for a genre film at TIFF. Jason Blum joined the project as an executive producer under Blumhouse Productions.
The film’s commercial momentum is expected to continue despite the arrival of Disclosure Day, which will take the number‑one spot at the domestic box office for the weekend. Obsession’s current hold, however, remains strong, and analysts project a final domestic total between $220 million and $250 million. Worldwide, the film is projected to cross $250 million this weekend, a milestone that would make it the first horror of 2026 to achieve that figure.
Obsession’s success illustrates how a low‑budget horror can grow through word‑of‑mouth and sustained theater attendance. The film’s record‑breaking holds and its climb into the upper echelons of the horror box‑office ranking underscore its significance in the genre’s commercial landscape.
In summary, Obsession has become the first horror film released in 2026 to cross $200 million domestically, is poised to finish as Focus Features’ highest‑grossing film, and is set to join the all‑time top ten horror grossers in North America. The film’s continued earnings will determine whether it can close the gap to the top of the domestic horror ranking.
At the time of writing, Obsession’s domestic gross stands at $169.4 million, while international receipts total $73.3 million, giving a worldwide total of $242.7 million. The film’s fourth‑Thursday performance on Thursday, June 7, yielded $3.9 million—a decline of 17% from the previous day and the largest fourth‑Thursday haul for a horror title in North America. The hold is the strongest seen for a horror film in the region, underscoring the movie’s sustained appeal.
The film’s trajectory places it among the top‑earning horror movies in U.S. history. By the end of the current weekend, Obsession is expected to surpass the domestic totals of Us ($175.1 million), Get Out ($175.8 million), The Conjuring: Last Rites ($177.7 million) and A Quiet Place ($188 million). That would elevate it to the seventh‑highest‑grossing horror film in North America, a position previously held by the aforementioned titles.
Obsession was produced on a budget of $750,000 to $1 million. The low‑budget film was shot in Los Angeles in October 2024 and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Focus Features acquired distribution rights for $14–$15 million, the highest price paid for a genre film at TIFF. Jason Blum joined the project as an executive producer under Blumhouse Productions.
The film’s commercial momentum is expected to continue despite the arrival of Disclosure Day, which will take the number‑one spot at the domestic box office for the weekend. Obsession’s current hold, however, remains strong, and analysts project a final domestic total between $220 million and $250 million. Worldwide, the film is projected to cross $250 million this weekend, a milestone that would make it the first horror of 2026 to achieve that figure.
Obsession’s success illustrates how a low‑budget horror can grow through word‑of‑mouth and sustained theater attendance. The film’s record‑breaking holds and its climb into the upper echelons of the horror box‑office ranking underscore its significance in the genre’s commercial landscape.
In summary, Obsession has become the first horror film released in 2026 to cross $200 million domestically, is poised to finish as Focus Features’ highest‑grossing film, and is set to join the all‑time top ten horror grossers in North America. The film’s continued earnings will determine whether it can close the gap to the top of the domestic horror ranking.