‘Obsession’ Becomes 2026’s Highest-Grossing Horror Movie

Curry Barker’s Obsession is having a truly historic run at the box office, turning into one of the most impressive horror success stories in recent memory.

Fueled by strong word-of-mouth, the film has continued to grow week after week, with minimal drops and unusually strong holds for a horror release.

After opening to $17 million, Obsession surged to $23 million in its second weekend, followed by $26.4 million in its third. Now in its fourth weekend, the film has added another $25.6 million domestically, showing no signs of slowing down.

According to Deadline, that fourth-weekend performance sets a new record:

“Obsession reps the biggest fourth weekend ever for a horror movie ahead of 1999’s Blair Witch Project which did $24.3M.”

With its continued momentum, Obsession has officially become the highest-grossing horror film of 2026 worldwide.

The film has now earned:

• $152.1 million domestic
• $224.7 million worldwide

That total puts it ahead of all major horror releases this year, including Scream 7, which previously held the top spot with $207.9 million worldwide ($121.9 million domestic).

And yes—2026’s biggest horror hit is an original film.

What makes Obsession even more remarkable is its tiny budget. The film was made for just $750,000, with Focus Features acquiring it for a reported $15 million.

Even after marketing costs and theatrical splits, the film represents a massive return on investment and one of the most profitable horror releases of the decade so far.

Meanwhile, A24 and director Kane Parsons’ Backrooms is rapidly climbing the box office charts as well.

After just a few weeks in theaters, it has already reached:

• $135 million domestic
• $212.6 million worldwide

That puts it just behind Obsession and ahead of Scream 7, meaning a potential shift at the top could still happen depending on its legs.

In Obsession, a hopeless romantic breaks a mysterious artifact known as the One Wish Willow in order to win over his crush. But when his wish actually comes true, he quickly discovers that desire comes with a terrifying and uncontrollable cost.

The film stars Inde Navarrette (Superman & Lois) and Michael Johnston (Teen Wolf).

With a micro-budget, viral word-of-mouth, and record-breaking box office legs, Obsession has become the defining horror success story of 2026—and possibly one of the most profitable original horror films ever released.