'Obsession' defies trends with rare second-weekend growth

The low-budget horror film Obsession has emerged as an unexpected box office success story, continuing to gain momentum in its second weekend and positioning itself as one of the most profitable films of the year.

The film earned $22 million from 2,655 North American theatres in its second weekend and a projected $28.2 million over the Memorial Day holiday period.

That figure represents a 30% increase from its debut opening of $17.2 million, an unusually strong hold for a wide-release horror title, which typically experiences steep declines after opening.

In total, Obsession has reached $58.5 million domestically and $74 million worldwide, despite a production budget reported to be under $1 million. The film is directed by YouTube creator Curry Barker and produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, led by Jason Blum.

Industry analysts cited by Variety described the performance as highly unusual. “It’s really unheard of. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a movie have a jump like this in weekend two,” said Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian, adding that it reflects strong audience response and word-of-mouth.

The film follows a young man who makes a Faustian bargain in a romantic storyline that turns increasingly disturbing. It has also benefited from strong audience reception, earning an A- CinemaScore and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

According to distributor Focus Features, the film’s performance has been driven by younger audiences, with around 75% of viewers aged between 18 and 25. The studio opted for a wide theatrical release strategy rather than a limited rollout, which has contributed to its strong nationwide performance.

Focus Features acquired the film following its festival run and is expected to benefit significantly from its box office success as Obsession continues its theatrical run.