The independent horror film Obsession, directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker, grossed over $79.7 million worldwide on a $750,000 budget, according to BoxOfficeMojo.. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, achieved a rare second-weekend increase of 30% and holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. Its plot follows a man who uses a supernatural toy called a One Wish Willow to make his childhood friend fall in love with him, only to face horrifying consequences.

The $79.7 Million Return on a $750,000 Budget

According to BoxOfficeMojo, Obsession has returned over 100 times its production cost in just two weekends—an achievement that has stunned industry insiders. The film’s $79.7 million worldwide gross, against a production budget of $750,000, places it among the most profitable independent releases in recent memory. Horror producer Jason Blum, an executive producer on the film, noted that Obsession is the only wide-release horror film on record to grow in its second weekend at this scale, earning $22.4 million, up 30% from its opening. This kind of sustained success is almost unheard of in the horror genre, which typically sees steep drops after opening weekend, as the source reports.

Why a 30% Second-Weekend Increase is Nearly Unheard of in Horror

Most horror films lose at least 40–50% of their audience in the second weekend, but Obsession bucked that trend entirely. The film earned $22.4 million in its second frame, a 30% jump from its opening, according to BoxOfficeMojo. Horror producer Jason Blum pointed out that this is the only wide-release horror film on record to achieve such a second-weekend increase at this scale. The rare performance signals strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewings, with 75% of ticket buyers aged 18 to 25, according to PostTrak data cited in the source.

How Focus Features' Cryptic Billboards and a Sold-Out Toy Built the Buzz

Distributor Focus Features employed unconventional marketing that went viral . they created a commercial for the fictional One Wish Willow toy, which sold out within hours, and placed cryptic billboards in Los Angeles and New York featuring obsessive texts and a phone number. the source reports that this strategy, combined with the film’s strong festival debut at TIFF, generated organic social media hype.. One viewer called it "the best horror movie since Hereditary," while another said it was "borderline traumatic but absolutely phenomenal." The film’s 95% Rotten Tomatoes score makes it the highest-rated movie of the year on that platform .

The $79.7 Million Question:Can Barker's Follow-Up Match the Hype?

Curry Barker comes from a YouTube background, a path that has become a pipeline for emerging filmmakers, but also raises questions about sustainability. The source does not indicate whether Barker has another project in development or if the rapid success will change his approach. Industry observers are watching to see if Obsession is a one-time viral hit or the start of a new wave of digital-native horror. Also unclear is how the film’s performance will influence studio decisions on releasing low-budget genre fare in theaters versus streaming.