Film & TV3 min(s) read
Published 11:33 02 Jun 2026 GMT
A Stephen King-like horror movie that cost just $750K to make is making people throw up in cinemas.
Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, hit theaters on May 15 and has already become one of the highest-grossing releases of the year.
According to Movie Web, the film earned $104 million at the domestic box office and $148 million worldwide, and Discussing Film projects that it could ultimately surpass $250 million by the end of its theatrical run.
Those numbers would be amazing for any movie, but they're particularly impressive considering Obsession reportedly cost just $750,000 to make.
The movie's financial success comes alongside increasingly extreme audience reactions.
Obsession tells the story of Bear (Michael Johnston), who wishes for his childhood friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to fall in love with him. His wish is granted, but the consequences quickly spiral into a nightmare.
The disturbing premise has left some viewers shocked. One viewer on X wrote: "Obsession is the most traumatizing horror movie I have ever watched."
Another said: "Obsession is genuinely the most scared I have ever been watching anything in my life. I am 100% serious when I say I hyperventilated in that movie theater. S**t made me forget to f***ing breath. I have never experienced that from a movie before, EVER."
According to Instagram user itsnickholiday, one person even threw up during a screening.
Another audience member wrote: "Obsession made me want to vomit because yeah… that’s exactly what the last year of my life felt like."
One particularly horrified moviegoer even called for the film to be banned, writing: "Just saw the Obsession movie and no joke it needs to be wiped from this planet to never be witnessed again. ILLEGAL to allow anybody to ever watch, lock up everyone who made it, burn it."
Despite the extreme reactions, Obession currently holds a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Part of its appeal may be its classic "be careful what you wish for" storyline, which has drawn comparisons to Stephen King's Needful Things, per CBR.
Based on King's 1991 novel, the movie follows a mysterious shop owner who gives people their deepest desires, but at a dangerous cost.
Similarly, Obsession centres on the One Wish Willow charm, a magical object that changes the lives and behaviour of those who use it.
While the two stories have different plots, both explore the risks of getting exactly what you wish for.
Obsession is available to watch in theatres.
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