‘Obsession’ Defies Expectations at the Box Office

The trailer for Focus Features’ horror film “Obsession,” starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette, has generated significant attention. Directed by Curry Barker, this low-budget film has surprised many with its strong box office performance. Despite being made with less than $1 million, “Obsession” earned over $17 million in its opening weekend, surpassing initial projections of under $10 million. During its second weekend, the film grossed approximately $24 million, reaching $30 million over Memorial Day. This represented a 30% increase from its debut, outperforming larger films like “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael.”

The film follows Bear, played by Johnston, who uses a novelty toy to wish that his friend Nikki, played by Navarrette, falls in love with him. However, this wish leads to unexpected consequences. Inde Navarrette has been praised for her performance, comparable to Kathy Bates in “Misery.”

Hollywood star power isn’t necessary for a film’s success, as “Obsession” proves with its cast of newcomers. Director Curry Barker, a 26-year-old content creator known for the sketch comedy duo “That’s a Bad Idea,” took the helm of the project. The film’s success was bolstered by Focus Features’ good marketing efforts and strong word-of-mouth promotion.

Erik Childress, a box office columnist for Rotten Tomatoes, noted the rarity of such growth in film revenue outside of holiday seasons, attributing part of the success to effective marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a new Star Wars film, made $98 million domestically during Memorial Day weekend. This marked the weakest opening for a Star Wars film since 2018’s “Solo.” Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie continues the “The Mandalorian” TV series narrative. The film has A-list talent with Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White, and Sigourney Weaver. Despite the weaker performance, its production budget of $165 million positions it to be profitable. According to Childress, unless it experiences a drop like “Solo,” it could still reach $250 million domestically.

In a media landscape where Disney leans into streaming, perceptions of the Star Wars franchise are shifting. However, future prospects remain promising, with another installment starring Ryan Gosling slated for 2027.