The summer movie season is fully upon us. While that often means big tentpole blockbusters and massive sequels (of which there are plenty in summer 2026), there remains room for original cinema, particularly in the realm of horror. Enter Obsession. Focus Features and Blumhouse released director Curry Barker’s latest in theaters over the weekend as a major show of faith in the young filmmaker. That faith was rewarded, as it overperformed against expectations.
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As Michael ($26.1 million) and The Devil Wear Prada 2 ($18 million) duked it out for the top spot, Obsession landed at number three on the charts with an estimated $16.1 million domestically in its debut. Pre-release projections had it doing as much as $15 million. The movie also pulled in an additional $4.9 million overseas giving it a $21 million global start. For an original horror movie right in the heart of the summer movie season, that’s pretty damn good.
Barker, who made a name for himself with his ultra-low-budget movie Milk & Serial, managed to make Obsession for less than $1 million. After earning rave reviews out of the Toronto International Film Festival, Focus Features bought it for a reported $14 million. That will prove to be money well spent as word of mouth has been unusually good for this one. It’s probably going to have legs beyond opening weekend as well.
The movie centers on a hopeless romantic who breaks the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart. He soon finds himself with exactly what he asked for but rapidly discovers that his desires will come with a sinister price. Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter star. You can read Fango's review right here.
Barker has cemented himself as a name to watch in horror. He’s currently attached to direct a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie for A24, which will put him on the map in an even bigger way.
Meanwhile, after a mixed bag of an opening weekend, Mortal Kombat II fell pretty hard in its second frame. The R-rated video game adaptation took in another $13.4 million, representing a steep 65% drop from its debut. It did cross the $100 million mark worldwide but is going to struggle to recoup its $80 million budget in theaters alone. Whether or not Mortal Kombat 3 happens is now entirely dependent on how much money Warner Bros. can make from this one beyond the box office.
Looking ahead, this upcoming weekend will see the release of André Øvredal’s Passenger, which will be presented as counter-programming against the juggernaut that is Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Kane Parsons’ Backrooms will then help close out the month of may on a likely high note for horror.
Obsession is in theaters now.
