A 26-Year-Old Directed ‘Obsession’ — It’s Now Made 80 Times Its Budget
Key takeaways
- Hollywood & Entertainment A 26-Year-Old Directed ‘Obsession’ — It’s Now Made 80 Times Its Budget By Hannah Abraham,
- This makes it one of the most profitable films in years, turning 26-year-old Curry Barker into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after new filmmakers almost overnight.
- The film follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a hopeless romantic who breaks a mysterious "One Wish Willow" to make his longtime crush Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, love him more than anyone in the world.
Hollywood & Entertainment A 26-Year-Old Directed ‘Obsession’ — It’s Now Made 80 Times Its Budget By Hannah Abraham,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hannah Abraham covers entertainment, culture and business.Follow Author May 25, 2026, 02:39pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Curry Barker attends the Los Angeles Special Screening of Focus Features' "Obsession" at the Hollywood Legion Theater on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAt a time when Hollywood is buckling under the weight of one remake after another, a new film has taken the industry by storm. Just two weekends into its theatrical run, Obsession has earned approximately $79.7 million worldwide (according to IMDb Pro’s BoxOfficeMojo) against a reported production budget of $1 million (in an interview with the New Yorker, the director said “$750,000 max”).
This makes it one of the most profitable films in years, turning 26-year-old Curry Barker into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after new filmmakers almost overnight.