‘Obsession’ Defies Box Office Norms with Rare Third-Weekend Surge, Crossing $100M Domestic
The horror-thriller 'Obsession' stunned the box office with a 10% increase in its third weekend, joining a rare club of films to grow ticket sales beyond opening weeks.
The Movie: A Dark Wish Fulfilled
“Obsession” is a horror-thriller directed by Curry Barker that runs 108 minutes. The film follows a hopeless romantic who, after breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush’s heart, finds himself getting exactly what he asked for — but soon learns that some desires come with a sinister price.
Reception: A Rare Horror Hit
It is the only wide-release horror movie on record to achieve such a significant weekend-to-weekend increase, rising 39% in its second weekend and then another 10% in its third. This kind of growth outside holiday seasons is unprecedented since 1982’s "E.T.
The Money: A Box Office Anomaly
In its third weekend, “Obsession” earned an impressive $26.4 million domestically, marking a 10% increase from the previous weekend. This surge pushed its domestic total to $106 million and its worldwide gross to $148 million. Remarkably, the film achieved this against a minuscule $1 million production budget, making it an extraordinary profit generator. It has now surpassed the $96.8 million domestic gross of 2019’s “Downton Abbey,” becoming Focus Features’ highest-grossing domestic release ever. Internationally, the film continues to perform strongly, with $13.8 million earned in the latest weekend across 56 territories.
What This Means for “Obsession”
Its success challenges conventional wisdom about horror films’ box office trajectories and highlights the power of low-budget, high-concept storytelling. With $148 million worldwide on a $1 million budget, “Obsession” is not just a commercial triumph but a cultural phenomenon redefining indie horror’s potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is it for a film to increase box office revenue in its third weekend?
It is extremely rare, especially outside holiday seasons. 'Obsession' is the first film since 1982’s 'E.T. The Extraterrestrial' to see ticket sales increase in both its second and third weekends, defying typical box office trends.
What is the premise of 'Obsession'?
'Obsession' follows a hopeless romantic who breaks a mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush’s heart, only to discover that some wishes come with dark, sinister consequences.
How profitable is 'Obsession' given its budget and box office performance?
With a production budget of just $1 million and a worldwide gross of $148 million, 'Obsession' is an extraordinary profit generator, marking one of the most successful low-budget horror films in recent years.
How much did 'Obsession' make at the box office?
Its worldwide total stands at $68.3 million.
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