Mobile native’s film ‘Obsession’ on its way to earning $100M+ on $1M budget

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a271f70a 8790 44d0 9889 db7683def403 Mobile native's film 'Obsession' on its way to earning $100M+ on $1M budget
“Obsession” Director Curry Barker at a 2026 Q&A panel in Century City. (WikiMedia Commons)

This Memorial Day weekend, ticket sales for Mobile-born Curry Barker’s low-budget film ‘Obsession’ beat out every movie but Star Wars film ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ — earning $30.4 million across 2,655 theaters in just four days.

This is a 76.49 percent increase in gross earnings since its $16.1 million debut on May 15, bringing the film’s grand total to $60.7 million (in domestic sales). On a worldwide scale, the film’s smashing success this weekend puts Barker’s film at $68.4 million in ticket sales.

For a horror film that operated on a budget between $750,000 and $1 million, people’s growing ‘obsession’ with the film may be one that soon pays back a hundredfold.

Here’s how it fared this weekend compared to other box office films:

  1. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu”: $100M
  2. “Obsession”: $30.4M
  3. “Michael”: $26.9M
  4. “The Devil Wears Prada 2”: $16.5M

Here’s how it compares to other films with a ≤$1M budget historically:

  • “Obsession” (2025):
    • Budget: $750,000 to $1 million
    • Domestic ticket sales: $60.7 million (and counting!)
  • “American Graffiti” (1973)
    • Budget: $777,000
    • Domestic ticket sales: $115 million
  • “Rocky” (1976)
    • Budget: $960,000 – $1.1 million
    • Domestic ticket sales: $117.24 million
  • “The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
    • Budget: $60,000
    • Domestic ticket sales: $140.54 million
  • “Mad Max” (1979)
    • Budget: $350,000
    • Domestic ticket sales: $8.75 million
  • “Paranormal Activity” (2007)
    • Budget: $15,000
    • Domestic ticket sales: $107.92 million

The film worth obsessing over

6b4e11e6 c59a 44e1 a59f c56f83615718 rotated Mobile native's film 'Obsession' on its way to earning $100M+ on $1M budget
‘Obsession’ director Curry Barker talks on Century City Q&A panel with cast leads Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston. (WikiMedia Commons)

Here’s a rundown:

  • Obsession:
  • Director/writer: Curry Barker
  • Plot: After breaking a “One Wish Willow,” a supernatural toy, to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price
  • Rated: R
  • Run time: 1h 49m

To learn more about Baker High School alumni Curry Barker + his exciting next projects, read our article here.

Ella Walton
Ella Walton
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