Curry Barker’s debut horror film Obsession has defied expectations and shattered box office norms. The film. Which Focus Features acquired for $15 million after its Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) premiere, is projected to earn $79.7 million globally after two weeks in theaters, according to Box Office Mojo. That figure includes $58.5 million from North American theaters alone. The film’s second-weekend box office grew by 30%, reaching $22.4 million, a feat Jason Blum, executive producer and horror industry veteran, called unmatched in the genre.

From YouTube to Hollywood

Barker, 26, built his early career on YouTube with projects like Milk and Serial, a thriller about YouTube pranksters, but his transition to film was marked by a competitive bidding war at TIFF, where studios scrambled to secure the rights to Obsession. The film was ultimately bought by Focus Features,the production arm of NBC News’ parent company, Comcast,for a record $15 million, the highest price ever paid for a genre film at a film festival, according to Cultured Mag.

“When we made Obsession, we had no idea what was going to happen,” Barker said in a video interview, and he co-wrote the script with Cooper Tomlinson, his longtime YouTube collaborator, who also appears in the film.

Twist on a Classic Horror Trope

The plot of Obsession centers on Bear, a young man who wishes for his friend Nikki to love him “more than anyone in the fucking world” using a magical store-bought toy called the One Wish Willow. The wish comes true. But with a dark twist; Nikki becomes increasingly obsessive and controlling, culminating in demonic behavior — the film has drawn comparisons to Twilight Zone for its clever use of a classic “Monkey’s Paw” narrative.

“Nikki becomes controlling. Weird, and even starts making meat dishes that are best left unmentioned,” according to SlashFilm; Bear must manage the growing horror of his wish while trying to undo it. The film’s unique blend of psychological horror and everyday relationship dynamics has resonated with audiences, especially among younger viewers.

Barker also made a subtle but effective cameo as the disinterested customer service rep Bear contacts in a desperate attempt to reverse the wish — “It was a funny way to add a little self-aware humor,” Barker told Polygon.

Marketing That Mirrors the Plot

Focus Features launched an original outdoor advertising campaign in New York and Los Angeles to promote Obsession; the campaign, according to Mad Times, featured billboards where the character Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, seemed to reach out to passersby. The ads began with sweet. Flirtatious messages like “I love you so so so much” and “Text me?” but quickly shifted to unsettling and obsessive language such as “Why haven’t you texted me?”.

Viewers could even text the number on the ads and receive increasingly bizarre and intrusive messages from the character, mirroring the movie’s central theme of toxic obsession. The campaign, which directly involved audience participation, was praised for its creativity and immersive approach.

With Obsession already proving to be a commercial and critical success, Barker is now preparing for his next project: a reboot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre backed by A24, as reported by IGN Deutschland. The reboot is expected to bring a new vision to the iconic horror franchise, which began in 1974 and has since expanded into a series of films and media. Details about the new version remain scarce, but the project is already generating excitement in the horror community.