For decades, The Exorcist has stood as the gold standard of horror—a film so terrifying it sparked societal panic and even faced a ban in the UK. But in 2026, a new contender has clawed its way past that legendary legacy. Curry Barker's Obsession has officially surpassed William Friedkin's classic at the worldwide box office, raking in $442.6 million compared to The Exorcist's lifetime total of $430.8 million (unadjusted for inflation). The milestone is even more jaw-dropping considering Obsession is already available on Peacock and premium digital platforms while still playing in theaters.
What makes this achievement truly staggering is the film's humble origins. Barker's feature directorial debut was made on a shoestring budget of just $750,000. After its festival premiere, Focus Features snapped it up for $14 million and released it 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 to win over his crush, only to discover that every granted desire comes with devastating consequences. The cast includes Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter.
Beyond its extraordinary financial success, Obsession represents a seismic shift in Hollywood. Barker, like Backrooms director Kane Parsons, first built his audience on YouTube before making the leap to feature filmmaking. 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 the film has earned a major stamp of approval from none other than Christopher Nolan, who declared that Obsession "works like a motherf*cker." That's an endorsement that carries serious weight, especially as Nolan continues to dominate headlines with his own epic, The Odyssey.
To be clear, The Exorcist's legacy remains untouchable. Released in 1973, Friedkin's horror masterpiece became the first horror film ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and remains one of the most influential films ever made. But Obsession's triumph is a testament to how the genre continues to evolve—and how a tiny indie with a big idea can still conquer the world.
For fans of psychological terror, this is a must-watch. And if you're craving more mind-bending scares, check out our guide to the best Stephen King psychological horror novels or dive into the scariest horror movies since 2000.
