Obsession turns a $750,000 budget into a $400 million scare
Curry Barker’s debut horror film Obsession, a Focus Features record-breaker, opens in Korea on September 2 after crossing $400 million worldwide.
A Box Office Legend Earning 610 billion won on an 1.1 billion won Budget
Produced on a low budget of approximately 1.1 billion won ($750,000), the horror film 'Obsession' is setting phenomenal records in theaters worldwide. Starting with the North American market, its cumulative global box office revenue has surpassed 400 million dollars (approximately 610 billion won), recording a return of over 500 times the production cost.
This marks the highest-grossing film in the history of its distributor, Focus Features, surpassing the revenue of the previous hit 'The Backrooms' (349.79 million dollars). As of now, it holds the number one spot for global horror film box office earnings in 2026.
A Bold Debut from YouTuber-turned-Director Curry Barker, Born in 1999
At the center of this box office whirlwind is director Curry Barker, a former YouTuber born in 1999. This work serves as his feature film debut. Director Curry Barker proved his capabilities as a next-generation filmmaker by being invited to the 'Bucheon Choice: World' section at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), where he won the 'Bucheon Choice: Best Director' award.
The film depicts the events experienced by the protagonist 'Bear' (played by Michael Johnston), who wants to win the heart of his unrequited love, 'Nikki,' but ends up breaking a mysterious toy. The film is characterized by its setting that combines the theme of unrequited love with horror.
Arriving in Korea on September 2... Audience Reaction Confirmed at Bucheon
'Obsession,' which was first introduced to the domestic market through the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, received an intense reaction from audiences immediately after its screening. Audiences generated word-of-mouth, emphasizing the film's high sense of reality and psychological pressure.
Universal Pictures has confirmed the Korean release date for 'Obsession' as September 2. As the film has already been verified through international markets and film festivals, attention is focused on Korean horror film fans.
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