Tag: Highest Grossing

In an era dominated by blockbuster franchises, massive production budgets and increasingly expensive theatrical releases, Obsession has emerged as one of the most remarkable box office success stories in modern cinema.

The supernatural horror film, directed by first time theatrical filmmaker Curry Barker, has now surpassed $500 million at the worldwide box office, earning approximately $501.6 million globally as of late August 2026. Made on a reported production budget of just $750,000, Obsession has transformed from a low-budget genre film into a global cultural and commercial phenomenon.

The extraordinary run has also placed the film among the five highest-grossing horror movies of all time worldwide.

Obsession follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a music-store employee who discovers a mysterious object known as the “One Wish Willow.”

Driven by his feelings for his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, Bear uses the supernatural power to make her fall obsessively in love with him.

However, as the familiar saying goes, viewers should be careful what they wish for.

The wish gives Bear exactly what he asks for. But, with increasingly disturbing and dangerous consequences.

The film also stars Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter.

Barker wrote, directed and edited Obsession, marking an impressive leap for the filmmaker, who previously built an audience as a YouTuber. The movie was filmed in Los Angeles in 2024 and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.

Following its premiere, Focus Features acquired the film for a reported $14 million to $15 million, making it one of the biggest acquisitions for a genre title at the festival. Jason Blum later joined the project as an executive producer through Blumhouse.

Obsession was released theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026, opening to a respectable but far from record-breaking $17 million.

Rather than experiencing the usual decline in box office numbers after its opening weekend, Obsession continued to gain momentum. The film reportedly posted higher weekend totals than its debut across multiple consecutive weekends, driven by powerful word of mouth and growing interest among younger audiences, particularly Gen Z.

The film’s domestic earnings eventually climbed beyond $263 million, while strong performances across international markets pushed its worldwide total past the $500 million mark.

Its success in major markets, including the United Kingdom and China, helped turn what began as a modestly budgeted horror release into one of 2026’s biggest theatrical success stories.

With approximately $501.6 million in worldwide earnings, Obsession has officially climbed into the top tier of horror box office history.

Top 15 Highest-Grossing Horror Films of All Time Worldwide

Note: Figures are unadjusted for inflation and rankings may change due to ongoing theatrical runs, re-releases and final box office reporting.

1. It (2017) — $719.8 million
2. The Sixth Sense (1999) — $672.8 million
3. I Am Legend (2007) — $585.5 million
4. World War Z (2013) — $540.0 million
5. Obsession (2026) — $501.6 million
6. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) — $499.3 million
7. Jaws (1975) — $495.2 million
8. It Chapter Two (2019) — $473.1 million
9. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) — $452.0 million
10. The Exorcist (1973) — $430.9 million
11. Signs (2002) — $408.3 million
12. Prometheus (2012) — $403.4 million
13. Backrooms (2026) — $395.1 million
14. Sinners (2025) — $371.0 million
15. The Nun (2018) — $366.1 million

In an industry where many movies generate the bulk of their revenue during their opening weekend, Obsession continued to attract audiences long after its debut. That kind of staying power is increasingly rare and demonstrates the impact that strong word-of-mouth can have when audiences genuinely connect with a film.

The movie has also reportedly become the highest-grossing title in Focus Features history and one of the most profitable films ever when measured against its relatively tiny production budget.

A24 has a new box office champion. The indie studio, known for producing critically acclaimed films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Moonlight, has just seen Marty Supreme climb to the top of its all-time earnings chart. Directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothée Chalamet, the sports dramedy has officially become A24’s highest-grossing film, surpassing the previous record-holder, Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Released in early 2026, Marty Supreme quickly captured the attention of both audiences and critics. The film follows the story of a young athlete navigating ambition, fame, and personal struggles, with Chalamet delivering what many call a career-defining performance. Its unique blend of humor, drama, and sports action created broad appeal beyond traditional indie filmgoers, contributing to its rapid box office climb.

Marty Supreme has grossed approximately $147–148 million worldwide, overtaking Everything Everywhere All at Once, which had previously earned around $142–143 million globally. This milestone is particularly significant for A24, a studio celebrated for taking risks on bold, unconventional projects that often defy mainstream expectations.

The film’s success can be attributed to several factors:

• Star Power: Timothée Chalamet continues to be a major draw, bringing in fans across demographics.
• Critical Acclaim: Early reviews praised the Safdie brothers’ direction and the film’s emotional depth.
• Wide Release Strategy: Unlike some indie releases, Marty Supreme saw a broad theatrical rollout, maximizing its box office potential.

This achievement marks a new era for A24, showing that independent studios can compete with Hollywood giants in terms of global revenue. While the studio has long been celebrated for its awards-worthy films, this success demonstrates that indie cinema can also achieve mainstream commercial impact.

In comparison, Everything Everywhere All at Once remains a cultural milestone for the studio, known for its genre-bending storytelling and historic Oscar wins. However, Marty Supreme’s broader audience appeal and box office strategy allowed it to edge past the 2022 hit, solidifying A24’s reputation as a powerhouse for both critical acclaim and financial success.

Nigerian filmmaker Funke Akindele has officially become Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker of all time, following the record-breaking box office performance of her latest film, Behind The Scenes.

According to figures released by distributors, the film has now crossed the ₦2+ billion mark in cinema revenue, making it the highest-grossing film in Nigerian and West African cinema history. The milestone places Akindele at the top of Africa’s box office rankings, ahead of all other filmmakers on the continent.

Behind The Scenes, released in December 2025, opened to strong audience turnout across Nigerian cinemas and select international markets. Within weeks of release, the film recorded multiple box office milestones, including:

• One of the largest opening weekends in Nollywood history
• Fastest Nollywood film to cross several revenue benchmarks
• First Nigerian film to officially exceed ₦2 billion in total box office earnings

The figures were confirmed by FilmOne Entertainment and other industry tracking platforms monitoring cinema revenue in Nigeria.

This achievement builds on Akindele’s growing reputation as Nollywood’s most commercially successful filmmaker. In recent years, her projects have consistently dominated the box office, including:

• A Tribe Called Judah, which became one of Nollywood’s earliest billion-naira films
• Everybody Loves Jenifa, which previously held the record as Nigeria’s highest-grossing local film

With Behind The Scenes surpassing all previous records, Akindele now holds the top three highest-earning Nollywood films in cinema history.

Akindele’s achievement is also being viewed as a major milestone for African cinema, demonstrating that locally produced African films can achieve large-scale commercial success without relying on foreign studios.

By becoming Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker, Funke Akindele has further established her status as one of the most influential figures in the Nigerian film industry.