Small Budget, Big Success: Horror Hit Obsession Becomes a Box Office Sensation
The Horror Movie Everyone's Talking About Was Made by a YouTuber
A horror movie is causing a sensation at the box office! "Obsession" is currently winning over both critics and horror fans alike. What makes it special: According to reports, the film's budget was only around $750,000. However, that didn't stop "Obsession" from becoming a real box office hit. Here you'll find all the details on the plot and box office numbers!
Record-breaking numbers at the box office
The low-budget film is currently earning many times over its production costs. "Obsession" was released in the United States (and many other countries) on June 15. In just over a week, the movie has already grossed around $35 million worldwide. Industry insiders are even speculating that the film could earn more during its second weekend than it did in its opening weekend — something that is considered highly unusual.
At the moment, "Obsession" sits at the top of the U.S. box office charts, outperforming major titles such as "Michael," "The Devil Wears Prada 2," and "Mortal Kombat 2". According to industry magazine Forbes, no film with such a low budget has dominated the U.S. box office charts in 17 years. The last time this happened was in 2009 with "Paranormal Activity," another horror film.
Here's what Obsession is about
In "Obsession," hopeless romantic Bear (Michael Johnston) uses a "One-Wish Willow" to win over his crush Nikki (Inde Navarrette). This magical object grants wishes when broken. At first, he seems to get exactly what he's always wanted. But he soon realizes that some wishes come at a dark, sinister price. Behind the film is 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker. The director first gained attention with his short films. Here you can watch the trailer!
Fans and critics are raving
Everywhere you look, "Obsession" is being showered with praise. A glance at popular movie platforms best illustrates its high popularity: On IMDb, "Obsession" currently boasts a strong rating of 8.2/10. On Letterboxd, the rating is 4.2/5—putting "Obsession" at number 15 on the list of the highest-rated horror films of all time! Critics are equally impressed. The score on Rotten Tomatoes currently stands at 95%—among both critics and audiences.
Backrooms: Is the next horror hit already on the way?
But "Obsession" isn't the only film that could cause a sensation in theaters this month. "Backrooms" is another film by a young director who first made a splash online with his viral videos.
Here's what Backrooms is about
Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the owner of a run-down furniture store, discovers an invisible door in the basement of his shop. Soon he becomes obsessed with uncovering the secret behind it and confides in his psychologist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve). When she follows him there, something dark—and dangerous—lurks behind the walls.
The Backrooms Phenomenon
The internet phenomenon known as the "Backrooms" has become one of the most famous modern horror myths online. It all began with an anonymously posted image of empty, yellow-lit office rooms that went viral in internet forums in 2019. From there, the idea evolved into an endless labyrinth of monotonous hallways that people can supposedly enter "through a glitch in reality."
Especially on platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok, countless stories, videos, and games expanded upon the eerie atmosphere of the Backrooms. The appeal of the phenomenon lies mainly in its blend of isolation and subtle psychological horror. It remains to be seen whether "Backrooms" can generate a similar level of hype as "Obsession."
