The $30 million toe in the water

A low-budget horror film, Obsession, has defied expectations, earning over $79.7 million worldwide in its first two weekends. The film, directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker, was financed on a modest budget of $750,000 and shot in just 20 days.

According to IMDb Pro's BoxOfficeMojo, Obsession has already grossed more than 100 times its production cost, making it one of the most profitable films in years.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

The film's success has left industry experts stunned, with even horror film genre heavyweight Jason Blum, who was an executive producer on the film, saying that this is rare. Obsession is the only wide-release horror film on record to grow in its second weekend at this scale - $22.4M, up 30% over opening.

This doesn't happen in horror, and the film's success has sparked questions about the future of the genre.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The film's success has also been attributed to its marketing strategy,which included building buzz through cryptic billboards across Los Angeles and New York, featuring Nikki's obsessive texts , voice notes and deliveries, alongside a phone number inviting them to reach out.

Focus Features, which is distributing the film, opted against a platform release and instead launched the film in over 2,000 theatres nationwide, which may have contributed to its success.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The film's success has also raised questions about the identity of the unnamed buyer who purchased a One Wish Willow - a supernatural toy that claims to grant one wish when broken.

The film's story follows hopeless romantic Bear and his childhood friend Nikki, who becomes obsessed with Bear after he purchases the One Wish Willow.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The film's success has also been attributed to its positive reviews, with the film earning a 95% fresh 'Tomatometer' score from critics and a 94% hot 'Popcornmeter' score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film has also received an 'A-' grade on CinemaScore exit polls , which is a rare achievement for a horror film.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The film's success has also raised questions about the future of the horror genre, with some experts suggesting that the film's success may be a one-off.

However, others believe that the film's success may be a sign of a larger trend, with younger audiences driving the genre's enviable hot streak.

According to PostTrak, 75% of the film's audience was betweeen 18 and 25 years old, which may be a key factor in the film's success.