YouTuber Curry Barker's Horror Debut 'Obsession' Scores Strong $16M Opening Weekend

'Obsession,' the indie horror feature from content creator and directorial newcomer Curry Barker, has made a powerful entrance at the box office with a $16 million opening weekend haul.

The film's financial trajectory is particularly striking given its lean $1 million production budget. Focus Features picked up the project for a reported $14 million, positioning itself to see strong returns as the movie builds momentum heading into the Memorial Day weekend corridor.

Audiences and critics have embraced the film enthusiastically. It earned an A- CinemaScore from moviegoers and maintains a 94% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and viewers alike.

The horror film centers on a romantic protagonist who breaks a mysterious object known as the "One Wish Willow" to impress his love interest. What unfolds is a twisted tale where his desires manifest exactly as wished for, only to reveal that fulfillment carries a sinister and dark cost.

The ensemble cast includes Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter.

Barker drew inspiration for the concept from an unexpected source: a classic television episode. "Bart gets a monkey paw and causes a bunch of chaos," he explained of the reference. "I was thinking that I've never seen a straight crazy horror where … we've seen 'Be careful what you wish for' tons of times. But we've never seen my version of it. I instantly started thinking about what I could do with that."

Navarrette, who portrays character Nikki in the film, has been discussing the movie's conclusion with audiences. The 25-year-old actress has opened up about the ending that made it to the final cut, alternative versions that were considered during production, and potential directions her character might take in future installments. She has also weighed in on whether viewers should remain seated through the credits.