A $750K horror movie just crossed a box office milestone that most blockbusters never reach. The two low-budget films directed by YouTubers continue to defy Hollywood expectations at the 2026 box office.
Obsession hits a major benchmark while Backrooms nears $350 million
Curry Barker’s Obsession has officially crossed $400 million at the worldwide box office. According to Box Office Mojo, the supernatural horror film has earned $245.3 million domestically and $157.8 million internationally. The milestone makes it Focus Features’ highest-grossing film of all time.
Kane Parsons’ Backrooms has also continued its strong theatrical run with $349.8 million worldwide. The A24 horror film has grossed $190.5 million domestically and $159.3 million internationally. Both films were directed by YouTubers and produced on modest budgets, marking a notable shift in the horror landscape.
Obsession earned an estimated $17.4 million worldwide during its seventh weekend in theaters. The film dropped to fifth place on the worldwide chart behind Minions & Monsters, Toy Story 5, Young Washington and Supergirl. Its domestic total now sits at roughly 60.9% of the overall worldwide gross.
Angel Studios’ Young Washington debuted with $20.9 million domestically over the July 3 to July 5 frame. The George Washington biopic opened in the same Fourth of July weekend slot that Sound of Freedom occupied in 2023. Minions & Monsters led the domestic chart with $36.4 million, while Toy Story 5 held second with $31.0 million.
Obsession previously overtook Sinners’ $370.3 million to become the highest-grossing live-action English-language original film of the 2020s. It also surpassed The Blair Witch Project’s $248.6 million as the top-grossing festival acquisition title of all time. Focus Features acquired the film’s distribution rights at TIFF for $14 to $15 million.
Barker made Obsession for a reported budget of $750,000. The film holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 286 critics’ reviews. Audiences gave it an A-minus CinemaScore grade. Australia leads the international market with $14.8 million, followed by the United Kingdom at $21.8 million. The film also recently became available on digital platforms after its PVOD release on June 30.
