‘Obsession’ Made Over 21 Times Its Budget Its Opening Weekend

InnovationGaming‘Obsession’ Made Over 21 Times Its Budget Its Opening WeekendByPaul Tassi,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet.Follow AuthorMay 18, 2026, 09:09am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ObsessionFocusA new horror classic has been born, and once again, we have a story of relative unknowns striking it rich, making a fantastic film on a tiny budget that is paying off handsomely. The movie is Obsession, and it’s already one of the biggest success stories of the year.Obsession, written and directed by former YouTuber Curry Barker, starring relative unknowns Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston, was reportedly made for a budget of just $750,000 to $1 million, almost unheard of in today’s Hollywood landscape. Word of mouth began to spread amid exceptionally positive reviews (double 94% Rotten Tomatoes scores from critics and audiences), and it just opened with $21 million globally, $16 million in the US for its first weekend.The movie follows in the footsteps of other YouTubers-turned-horror directors like Markiplier, bringing in $50 million from his film Iron Lung on a $3-4 million budget. Danny and Michael Philippou’s Talk to Me took in $92 million on its $4.5 million budget. Though neither of those are $750,000-$1 million, and neither created actual awards buzz for their stars, which is the case when Inde Navarrette, who has given possibly one of the best horror performances…ever. Most viewers would agree that is not an exaggeration.ObsessionBlumhouseNavarrette plays Nikki, a girl Johnston’s Bear has a crush on. But when he’s convinced the feelings aren’t mutual, he uses a mysterious “One Wish Willow” toy to wish that she "loved him more than anyone in the world.” You might imagine how such wording might produce…problematic results, and Navarrette...