Entertainment
Indie horror film Obsession sets festival record with $513 million global gross
The Hollywood Reporter reports that the low-budget movie became the highest-grossing festival acquisition in history.
The short version
- Director Curry Barker created the horror film Obsession for $750,000 using an unknown cast.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Focus Features acquired the film in a record estimated $15 million deal, surpassing offers from rivals A24 and Neon.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The movie grossed $513 million worldwide, becoming the top-grossing festival acquisition of all time.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Prominent horror producers preemptively backed Barker's next feature, Anything but Ghosts.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Key facts
- Curry Barker directed the horror movie Obsession on a $750,000 budget with an unknown cast.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Focus Features purchased Obsession for an estimated $15 million worldwide, marking TIFF's largest acquisition.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The release grossed $513 million globally, making it the highest-grossing festival pickup of all time.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Focus Features outbid A24 and Neon primarily due to its global distribution network.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Producers Jason Blum, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Adam Hendricks, and Greg Gilreath preemptively greenlit Barker's follow-up film, Anything but Ghosts.[The Hollywood Reporter]
What remains uncertain
- The exact terms of the acquisition deal remain estimated at around $15 million.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- How ‘Obsession’ Rewrote TIFF HistoryThe Hollywood Reporter metered