Indie horror film 'Obsession' grosses $332 M worldwide on <$1 M budget

Currie Barker’s horror‑comedy "Obsession" has become a breakout indie success. Made for roughly $750,000–$1 million, the film earned about $332 million globally, outperforming many studio productions. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Focus Features paid $14‑15 million for distribution rights – the highest ever for a genre picture at the festival. The movie, inspired by a 1991 episode of The Simpsons, was written, directed and edited by Barker, a former YouTube sketch‑comedy creator.

Critics praised its blend of comedy and terror, noting the lead actress’s performance and the film’s inventive sound design. As one reviewer wrote, “La película no solo no se agota, sino que se atreve a dar varios saltos al vacío.” The commercial triumph highlights the growing impact of low‑budget horror from digital‑native creators.

The film’s success has been documented in several markets, including Spain and the Netherlands, and underscores the potential for modestly funded genre films to achieve major box‑office returns and attract major distributors.