Obsession Just Dethroned The Blair Witch Project's 27-Year Box Office Record — And It Cost Less Than $1 Million

A Tiny Horror Movie That Became a Cultural Phenomenon

If you haven't heard about Obsession by now, you've probably been living under a rock. Curry Barker's psychological horror thriller has officially surpassed The Blair Witch Project at the worldwide box office — a record that stood untouched for 27 years. And the craziest part? The entire movie was made on a budget of less than $1 million.

As of mid-June 2026, Obsession has raked in a staggering $286.5 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film ever acquired at a film festival after being auctioned post-premiere. Focus Features and Blumhouse's horror romance about the toxic relationship between characters Nikki and Bear has become nothing short of a box office sensation.

How Did a Sub-$1 Million Film Beat a Legendary Record?

The story behind Obsession's success is almost as wild as the movie itself. Barker, a 26-year-old Gen Z filmmaker, shot the film on a shoestring budget that barely covered production costs. Yet the movie's raw intensity and gripping storytelling captured audiences worldwide — from the UK and India to Mexico and Saudi Arabia.

What makes Obsession's achievement even more remarkable is its box office trajectory. According to Blumhouse founder Jason Blum, Obsession is the only wide-release horror film on record to actually grow in its second weekend — pulling in $22.4 million, a 30% increase over its opening. That's unheard of in modern cinema, where most films see their numbers drop week after week.

For context, The Blair Witch Project was released in 1999 on a micro-budget of roughly $60,000 and went on to gross about $248 million worldwide. It held the title of highest-grossing micro-budget film for nearly three decades — until Obsession came along and blew right past it.

What's Next for Curry Barker and Blumhouse?

The success of Obsession has made Barker arguably the most in-demand young director in Hollywood right now. And he's not slowing down. Barker already has a Texas Chainsaw Massacre project waiting in the wings, and a Jason Blum and Roy Lee-produced horror film called Anything But Ghosts has already been shot.

Meanwhile, Obsession has also become Focus Features' highest-grossing movie ever, surpassing the $224.7 million milestone it hit back in late May. The film's success has sparked conversations about whether indie horror is the most reliable box office bet in Hollywood — especially when compared to big-budget franchises like Toy Story 5 and Disclosure Day that require hundreds of millions in production costs.

With other 2026 horror hits like The Backrooms (also crossing $200 million from A24) and Leviticus (the new highest-rated horror on Rotten Tomatoes this year), it's clear that horror is having an absolute moment. But Obsession stands alone as the film that proved you don't need a massive budget to make a massive impact.