Coming from YouTuber Curry Barker, the horror flick “Obsession” has quickly become a phenomenon. In fact, the film has accomplished something at the box office that hasn’t been done since the early eighties.
Obsession Makes Box Office History
“Obsession” boasted a strong opening in a crowded summer landscape, snagging over $17 million in its first weekend at the domestic box office. Considering it was made for around $1 million, that’s no small feat. However the following weekend it did something even more impressive, it actually topped itself, pulling in $23 million. That vaulted it over the two films that had beaten it the week before, “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” Only newcomer “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” was able to come out ahead.
In “Obsession’s” third weekend, however, it went from uncommon to truly unprecedented. The indie horror flick managed to outdo itself yet again, this time totaling over $27 million. This marked a feat that, outside of the holiday season, hadn’t been pulled off since 1982. Per Variety, the last summer film that raised its weekend box office in both weeks two and three, was none other than Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”
The historic run kept “Obsession” in the silver medal spot, with “Mando” slipping into third. The new weekend champ is “The Backrooms,” making it a huge weekend for young YouTube creators. Kane Parsons directorial debut, based on his web series took home $81 million in its first weekend. He, along with “Obsession” writer/director Curry Barker, are part of an exciting new crop of filmmakers that got their start on the platform. Other YouTubers that have broken out recently include the Philippou brothers and Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier. The former directed “Bring Her Back” and “Talk to Me,” with the latter helming this year’s surprise hit “Iron Lung.”
Is a flash in the pan, or the start of something new and truly exciting? Only time will tell. Either way, seeing movie fans flock back to the theater to see original films from new filmmakers is hugely encouraging.
