Obsession, the new horror film directed by Curry Barker, has quietly turned into one of 2025's biggest box office surprises. since its May 15 debut , the movie — about a young man's dangerous wish for love — has posted a 39.3% increase in its second weekend, the smallest week-two drop on record for a horror title that opened in over 2,000 theaters. As of Saturday morning, the film is projected to earn a three-day total of $28.5 million in its third frame, a climb of roughly 19% that is nearly unheard-of for a wide release, especially in the traditionally front-loaded horror genre.

The 39.3% Weekend-Two Climb That Broke a Horror Record

According to the box office report, Obsession achieved the smallest second-weekend drop in history for a horror movie that opened in over 2,000 theaters. This is particularly remarkable given that its sophomore frame fell over the Memorial Day holiday, a period that tyically inflates grosses and masks true holdover strength. The fact that Obsession grew by nearly 40% — rather than the usual steep decline — signals rare audience retention. By comparison, most wide horror releases see drops of 50% or more in their second weekend, as reported by industry tracking services. The film's ability to defy that pattern, even during a holiday corrridor, points to extraordinary word-of-mouth momentum.

The $100 Million Milestone That Beat Downton Abbey

Obsession is expected to cross the $100 million domestic milestone this weekend, surpassing 2019's Downton Abbey to become the highest-grossing Focus Features release in North America. That achievement is all the more striking because Focus Features has long been known for prestige dramas and arthouse fare, not breakout horror. The report highlights that this rise defies multiple headwinds: a crowded holiday frame, competition from A24's Backrooms (which is projected to post one of the year's top debuts), and the genre's typical front-loading. For Focus Features, the success of Obsession could reshape its slate strategy, proving that a modestly budgeted genre film can outperform period and literary adaptations when it connects with audiences.

Why Memorial Day Competition Didn't Slow Obsession

The original report notes that Obsession's second weekend coincided with the Memorial Day holiday, which should have pulled in a higher volume of moviegoers than a non-holiday frame. Yet the film's growth came despite — not because of — that boost. Meanwhile, Backrooms from A24 is expected to deliver the third-biggest domestic debut of the year, but early signs suggest Obsession is holding its own. The movie's Certified Fresh 96% critic score and Verified Hot 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes have fueled a self-sustaining cycle: strong reviews lead to strong word-of-mouth, which drives repeat viewings and even draws in viewers who would normally skip horror. As the report states, the blend of horror and romance has given the film an unusually broad appeal, attracting both genre fans and general audiences.

Backrooms Threat and Box Office Physics: What's Still Unfolding

Despite its historic run, several questions remain open. The most pressing is whether Obsession can maintain its momentum against the full force of Backrooms, which is opening on thousands of screens this weekend. The report does not provide a breakdown of screen counts or how much Obsession may lose as Backrooms expands. Additionally, while the $28.5 million third-weekend projection is strong, the film's ultimate domestic total is unclear — especially given that repeat business often fades faster for horror than for other genres, even with great scores. Finally, the source does not disclose the film's production budget or international performance , making it hard to gauge overall profitability.. what is clear is that Obsession has already written a chapter of 2025 box office history; the final page count is still being written.