Indie film “Obsession” tops summer box office with $220 million

The horror film “Obsession”, written and directed by YouTuber Curry Barker, was released on May 15, 2026 and quickly became the highest‑grossing movie of the summer, pulling in roughly $220 million in the United States. The film surpassed releases such as “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and is on track to outpace even “Toy Story 5” later in the season.

Focus Features, the distributor, is already planning an awards campaign. Lead actress Inde Navarrette’s categorisation for Oscar consideration is under debate, with the studio reportedly preparing to submit her in the lead‑actress category despite arguments that her role may qualify as supporting. The outcome of this decision could affect the film’s prospects during the upcoming awards season.

“Obsession” has also earned strong critical reception, holding a 94 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and its modest production budget of about $750,000 underscores the commercial success of low‑budget, creator‑driven movies in the current market.