That’s a strong beginning, especially since the $1 million film is expected to open between $10 million and $12 million in the U.S. during a quiet weekend before the long Memorial Day holiday.
It's still unclear if *Obsession* can beat out *The Devil Wears Prada 2* and the Michael Jackson biopic *Michael*, which are expected to lead the box office.
One key advantage for *Obsession* is that younger adults aged 18 to 24 are not showing up for those other movies.
Another is that the film has gained strong support from both critics and audiences. It currently holds a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from both groups as of midday Friday.
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Barker, 26, built a big fan base on YouTube through his sketch comedy channel, *That's a Bad Idea*.
He later made a found-footage horror film called *Milk & Serial*, which went viral. Soon after, everyone wanted to work with him, and he finally signed with UTA.
*Obsession*, which Focus acquired at the Toronto International Film Festival for about $15 million, stars Michael Johnston as a man who has long been in love with his friend Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette) and hopes she will return his feelings.
But things get worse when he buys a One Wish Willow, a toy that promises to grant one wish if it's split in half. He wishes for Nikki to love him. Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter also appear in the movie.
Focus is releasing *Obsession* in 2,542 theaters across North America, including 435 large-format screens, many of them premium.
James Harris, Haley Nicole Johnson, Christian Mercuri, and Roman Viaris are among the producers, along with Jason Blum of Blumhouse, who serves as an executive producer. Others involved include Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, David Haring, and Ruzanna Kegeyan.
Focus put a lot of effort into the film's digital marketing, including selling out a replica of the One Wish Willow.
The product sold out in just a few hours, and the in-world commercial has already earned over 4.4 million views on YouTube. Fans have also been engaging with Nikki's obsessive and unsettling texts, voice notes, and special deliveries after seeing cryptic billboards in Los Angeles and New York, each showing her messages and a phone number inviting people to call.
*Obsession* generated a lot of interest at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival, where Focus won the rights over Neon and A24, with Universal Pictures handling the film overseas.
Before the film's release, Focus announced it's reteaming with Barker and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster on Barker's next movie, *Anything But Ghosts*, alongside Spooky Pictures and Divide/Conquer.
Barker is also set to direct A24's *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre*.
