Not long ago, talking about box office was basically taking a stroll through a dead and dry wasteland, filled with franchises on the other hand and perfectly predictable. However, in 2026 things have picked up, and finally surprising movies have emerged that have made millions almost effortlessly: The Assistant, The Drama, Project Salvation, Send Help… And one that, quietly, has been doing the impossible for three weeks: rising and rising.
No, it is not love
This is about Obsession, a small movie that cost just one million dollars and has already grossed 148 million worldwide, with 104 million just in the United States. The curious thing is not this, which is still a great success story, but how it has done it: increasing week by week. It premiered with 17.1 million, increased the amount to 23.9 million, and this week it has risen again to 26.4 million. It is usual for all premieres to drop inevitably, but this horror movie has come ready to break the rules of the game.
It is so unusual, in fact, that this continued rise has not occurred since 1982, when Steven Spielberg directed E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. That one, to be fair, did reach number 1. In fact, it held it for 17 weeks that year… and 3 the following year (things of the time). However, Obsession has only reached the top spot on sporadic days, although with the satisfaction of having beaten the very The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The horror cinema has never been better than now, with this and Backrooms dominating the box office above even Star Wars itself. Next week, with the arrival of He-man and Scary Movie, Obsession will probably start to decline, but the warning has already been given to a stagnant Hollywood: it’s time to renew or die, and the only way to ensure you’re going to make money is… spending very, very little.