An independent horror film titled Obsession has generated $84 million globally and $62 million domestically at the US box office as of Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
The financial milestone represents a return of over 100 times its production budget of $750,000.
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Box Office Mojo tracked the revenue for the movie, which was filmed across a 20-day production schedule.
The plot centers on a character named Bear, played by Michael Johnson, who uses a mystical toy called One Wish Willow to force a character named Nikki, played by Inde Navarette, to love him.
Director's Journey from YouTube to Theatrical Success
The project marks the feature film debut for director Curry Barker, a 26-year-old filmmaker who originally built a digital audience on YouTube.
Barker created sketch comedy videos on the platform alongside Cooper Tomlinson, who also appears as an actor in the movie.
The filmmaking duo previously produced a self-funded, hour-long horror feature titled Milk & Serial in 2024.
Barker opted to distribute that early project directly via streaming, which eventually helped him secure the directing position for his current theatrical release.
"We're finally getting to the point where people are like, OK, fine, I'll put my film on YouTube," said Barker.
"Versus when I was in film school, that was kind of like a last resort. People didn't want to put their stuff on YouTube.
They wanted to go the festival route. I was like, screw it.
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You know, just put it on YouTube and see what happens."
Following the commercial success of the film, Hollywood studios have increased their investments in Barker.
The filmmaker has already signed a contract to direct an upcoming adaptation of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the entertainment company A24.
The current production features comedian Andy Richter as a music store manager, though the narrative focus centers on the psychological transformation of the primary characters.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film secured a 96 percent approval rating from film critics and a 95 percent score from general audience members.
Public discussions surrounding the movie have focused on the thematic elements of consent and personal autonomy.
Filmgoers have utilized online platforms to analyze the narrative implications of the supernatural wish made by the lead character.
"That's the thing that's really funny is that everyone kind of treats the One Wish Willow like it's this cursed thing, and I understand why, because of the context of the movie, but the thing is, the thing that Bear wishes for is cursed," said Barker.
"Like, taking away someone's autonomy, taking away someone's self, that's cursed. It's just that the wish itself is a very cursed thing."
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Ticket sales for the independent horror production are projected by industry analysts to maintain stable momentum in domestic commercial theaters throughout the upcoming week.
