‘Obsession’ Nears $300 Million in Global Box Office Revenue

Independent horror sensation Obsession is on the verge of reaching another major box office milestone, with the film expected to surpass $300 million in worldwide ticket sales this week. Directed and written by Curry Barker, the thriller stars Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston and has become one of the most successful independent releases of the year.

Produced on a modest budget of approximately $750,000, Obsession was acquired by Focus Features for around $15 million following its debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Since arriving in theaters, the film has delivered an exceptional commercial performance that has exceeded industry expectations.

The movie opened domestically with $17.1 million during the May 15-17 weekend and has maintained remarkable momentum ever since. In a rare achievement, Obsession recorded a 39% increase in ticket sales during its second weekend, followed by another 14% rise in its third weekend. The film experienced only a 7% decline in its fourth weekend before posting a still-impressive 25% drop in its fifth frame, demonstrating unusually strong audience demand.

Through Wednesday, the horror thriller had generated $198.6 million at the North American box office and nearly $98.8 million from international markets. Those figures bring its global total to approximately $297.4 million, leaving it within striking distance of the $300 million mark.

Entering its 35th day in theaters on Thursday, the film appeared well-positioned to cross the milestone either by the end of the day or shortly afterward. Daily domestic earnings have ranged between $3 million and $4 million throughout the week, making the achievement highly likely by Friday if not sooner.

The film follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a music store employee who secretly harbors feelings for Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette. After learning that Nikki plans to leave town in search of a better future, Bear gives her a novelty item known as a One Wish Willow as a farewell gift. When he realizes his affection may never be returned, he uses the item to wish that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world. The wish is granted, but the consequences quickly spiral into horror as Nikki develops a dangerous obsession and resorts to deadly actions to prove her devotion.

The R-rated thriller has become a landmark success for Focus Features. On June 8, the studio announced that Obsession had become the highest-grossing film in its history after surpassing $200 million worldwide. Reaching $300 million would make it the first Focus Features release ever to achieve that benchmark.

Earlier this week, the film also claimed another notable record by becoming the highest-grossing movie ever acquired at a film festival. It surpassed the worldwide total of The Blair Witch Project, which was purchased by Artisan Entertainment for $1 million at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and went on to earn $248.3 million globally during its theatrical run.

Also featuring performances by Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless, Obsession remains an exclusive theatrical release. A streaming premiere date has not yet been announced.