‘Obsession’ a tiny horror film just toppled ‘The Exorcist’ at global box office

Made for only $750000, breakout hit continues remarkable theatrical run despite already arriving on home platforms

Curry Barker's breakout horror film Obsession has added another remarkable achievement to its extraordinary box office run by surpassing The Exorcist in worldwide ticket sales. The milestone cements the independent production as one of 2026's biggest surprise success stories and highlights how a modestly budgeted horror film has managed to compete with some of the genre's most iconic titles.

According to the latest reported box office figures, Obsession has earned approximately $442.6m worldwide. That total places it ahead of William Friedkin's legendary 1973 horror classic The Exorcist, which has generated around $430.8m globally across its various theatrical releases over the decades. The comparison is based on unadjusted box office totals rather than inflation adjusted earnings.

The achievement is particularly striking given the vastly different circumstances surrounding the two films. Obsession was reportedly produced for about $750000, making its financial return one of the strongest ever recorded for a modern horror release. The film also continues to attract audiences despite already being available on premium video on demand platforms, an increasingly uncommon feat in the streaming era.

Barker's feature directorial debut follows a hopeless romantic who breaks a mysterious One Wish Willow in an attempt to win over his crush. Although the wish is granted, he soon discovers that every desire comes with devastating consequences. The cast includes Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter.

Before its theatrical release, Obsession built momentum on the festival circuit, where it generated strong interest before Focus Features acquired distribution rights in a reported $14m deal. Since opening in cinemas in May, the film has steadily exceeded industry expectations and developed into one of the year's biggest commercial success stories.

The film's performance has also drawn attention to the growing influence of filmmakers who first established audiences on YouTube before moving into mainstream cinema. Barker joins director Kane Parsons, whose horror film Backrooms also became a major theatrical success in 2026. Together, their achievements have strengthened discussions about the expanding pathway from online content creation to Hollywood filmmaking.

While Obsession has now overtaken The Exorcist in raw worldwide grosses, the two films belong to very different eras of cinema. Released in 1973, The Exorcist became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the most influential horror films ever made. It was also the first horror film to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, helping elevate the genre within the wider film industry.

Because ticket prices have increased dramatically over the past five decades, inflation adjusted comparisons still place The Exorcist among the highest grossing horror films in history. Nevertheless, Obsession surpassing its unadjusted worldwide total remains a significant commercial milestone and reflects the film's extraordinary popularity.