The film "Obsession" has delivered an almost unbelievable box-office performance, defying the standard expectation for movies to experience a decline in revenue over their theatrical run. Following a 40% increase in its second weekend, the film registered yet another weekend-to-weekend increase in box-office revenue. In its third weekend, this horror sensation surpassed the coveted $100 million mark domestically, making it Focus Features' highest-grossing domestic release of all time.

Obsession generated $26 million in its third weekend, representing a 10% increase from its second-weekend earnings of $24 million. This second-weekend haul itself marked a significant 40% increase over its $17 million debut. What makes this success even more astonishing is its low production cost of under $1 million and a marketing budget likely less than $10 million. Focus Features acquired the domestic distribution rights for $15 million after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025.

The film was directed by Curry Barker, a 26-year-old filmmaker who honed his skills on YouTube and self-financed his first feature for just $800. Barker is now a highly sought-after talent, with two movies already lined up and multiple studios vying for his third project. "Obsession" stars Michael Johnstone as a young man who casts a spell on a young woman, played by Inde Navarrette, and subsequently faces the severe consequences of violating consent.

Critics and audiences have widely praised "Obsession," contributing to its success. It holds a "Certified Fresh" 96% critics' score and a "Verified Hot" 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus describes the film as "taking an icky conceit and twisting it to deviously crowd-pleasing ends, Obsession is dauntingly disturbing while also skillfully amusing and thrilling." Hannah Hunt of Collider noted the film as "an awkward wish-fulfillment fantasy quickly mutates into something uglier, sadder, and genuinely disturbing." With nearly $150 million already grossed worldwide, projections estimate its final global haul around $330 million, surpassing the total earnings of any "Scream," "Insidious," or Jordan Peele-directed film. The movie was released on May 15, 2026, with a runtime of 108 minutes, and its cast also includes Tomlinson Ian and Megan Lawless.

The Collider website also features an exclusive "Horror Survival Quiz" designed to help users determine which iconic horror villain they have the best chance of surviving. The quiz pits users against five renowned killers: Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, and Chucky. Through eight questions, the quiz assesses a user's instincts, environment preferences, personal strengths, types of fears, group roles, common horror movie mistakes, potential advantages, and their imagined final scene scenario to calculate their survival odds.

For those facing **Jason Voorhees** from "Friday the 13th," survival hinges on exploiting his predictability and relentless, linear pursuit. The quiz suggests using the environment, keeping in motion, and resisting panic are key, mirroring the strategies of successful Crystal Lake survivors who utilize terrain, water, and distance. Against **Michael Myers** from "Halloween," survival depends on acute observation and spatial awareness. His patient, methodical nature and ability to blend into ordinary suburbia mean noticing subtle anomalies – a shape in a window or misplaced car – becomes crucial, akin to Laurie Strode's vigilance. **Freddy Krueger** from "A Nightmare on Elm Street" preys on the mind, using fears and memories as weapons. Psychological resilience and the refusal to succumb to fear are essential to disarm him, as his power wanes when a target refuses to give him the terror he feeds on.

Facing **Pennywise** from "It," the most effective strategy is a direct refusal to be afraid. This ancient, shapeshifting entity feeds on terror, and its critical vulnerability is a target who genuinely stops fearing it. The quiz emphasizes asking difficult questions and confronting fears head-on, similar to the Losers Club's collective defiance. Finally, against **Chucky** from "Child's Play," survival is ensured by taking the threat seriously from the outset, regardless of its appearance. Chucky exploits underestimation, but a skeptical, quick-thinking individual who doesn't dismiss the absurd closes the critical delay between recognition and response, effectively disarming his element of surprise.