SerpApi.Org
There are few horror movies in the history of Hollywood that have cast as big a shadow as that of The Exorcist. For half a century now, William Friedkin’s demonic masterpiece has remained one of the genre’s defining achievements, both critically and commercially, and it still holds up even today. It terrified audiences to the point of causing a societal crisis and was banned in the UK for being so traumatizing. Despite that incomparable legacy, one of the biggest surprise success horror stories of 2026 has officially overtaken it.
Curry Barker’s Obsession has officially surpassed The Exorcist at the worldwide box office, earning $442.6 million globally compared with The Exorcist’s lifetime total of $430.8 million across its various theatrical releases, while the milestone is based on unadjusted worldwide grosses and comes despite Obsession already being available on streaming via Peacock and premium digital platforms while it continues its theatrical run.
‘Obsession’ Is One of Horror’s Biggest Success Stories Ever
The achievement is all the more remarkable considering Barker’s feature directorial debut was produced for just $750,000. Following its festival debut, Focus Features acquired the film for $14 million before releasing it theatrically in May, where it quickly became one of the year’s biggest breakout hits. The supernatural thriller follows a hopeless romantic who makes a wish at the mysterious One Wish Willow in an attempt to win over his crush, only to discover that every desire granted comes with devastating consequences. Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter star in the movie.
Beyond its extraordinary financial success, Obsession has become part of a wider shift in Hollywood. Barker, like Backroomsdirector Kane Parsons, first built his audience on YouTube before making the leap to feature filmmaking and, with both films becoming major theatrical successes this year, the YouTube-to-Hollywood pipeline has rapidly established itself as a genuine launching pad for blockbuster filmmakers. And more than that, it's impressed the big kahuna in Hollywood, with Christopher Nolan stating that Obsession "works like a motherf*cker." Now that's an endorsement.
And just to reiterate, The Exorcist‘s legacy remains secure because, released in 1973, Friedkin’s horror classic became the first horror film ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and remains one of the most influential films ever made. So we're sure it won't mind too much.
Obsession is now playing in theaters and is also available on premium video-on-demand platforms.
