How an Indie Horror Film Became a Box-Office ‘Obsession’ Curry Barker, a 26-year-old YouTuber-turned-filmmaker, made his horror film “Obsession” in just 20 days on a $750,000 budget. The movie, distributed by Focus Features, is now projected to earn over $79.7 million globally, with $58.5 million coming from North American theaters. This marks a 30% increase in revenue compared to its opening weekend, a rare achievement for a horror film. Jason Blum, a prominent figure in the genre and an executive producer on the film, called the performance “the ONLY wide-release horror film on record to grow in its second weekend at this scale.” Barker’s journey began with his YouTube channel, where he built a following through projects like “Milk and Serial,” a thriller following YouTube pranksters. After “Obsession” premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), studios were so impressed they engaged in a bidding war for the project. Focus Features ultimately acquired the rights for $15 million, a significant milestone for Barker. The film, starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette, blends romance and horror, exploring the consequences of unchecked desires. The movie’s success has been bolstered by strong critical and audience reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 95% “Tomatometer” score from critics and a 94% “Popcornmeter” score from viewers. Barker reflected on the shift in filmmaking priorities, noting that uploading films to YouTube was once seen as a last resort. “We’re finally getting to the point where people are like, OK, fine, I’ll put my film on YouTube,” he said. “Versus when I was in film school, that was kind of like a last resort.” Barker’s breakthrough has opened doors to new opportunities.#toronto_international_film_festival #focus_features #curry_barker #jason_blum #milk_and_serial
