The 2025 supernatural horror film Obsession has achieved significant financial success, grossing over $519 million worldwide on a reported budget of just $600,000–$750,000. This makes it the highest-grossing film with a production budget under $1 million in cinema history. The film's success has sparked a debate about how Hollywood pays its cast and crew. According to various sources, the film's production budget was extremely low compared to its massive earnings.
Obsession opened on 15 May 2026, taking the number-three spot at the domestic box office with an impressive $17.2 million debut. Over the course of its first week, the film grossed $30.2 million at the domestic box office. The film's success was backed by a 95% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore. Its performance defied box office norms as it saw ticket sales increase in its second and third weekends outside of the holiday season.
The film premiered on 5 September 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Focus Features acquired the distribution rights for $14–15 million. This was the highest price commanded by a genre film in TIFF history. Jason Blum joined as an executive producer under Blumhouse Productions. The acquisition deal was a significant factor in the film's success.
The pay gap between what the film earned and what its cast took home became one of Hollywood's most talked-about stories of 2026. Lead actress Inde Navarrette's salary went viral after the film's massive success, with reports alleging she was paid only $20,000 for her role as Nikki Freeman. Navarrette has not confirmed the amount. Her salary was fixed in the contract, and the profits went to the people who took the financial risk of making the film.
Navarrette's pay controversy was further complicated by her lack of leverage to secure back-end pay, a written-in percentage of profits. On a tiny indie made before she was famous, a first-time-level lead has almost no leverage to secure back-end pay. Despite the pay controversy, Navarrette achieved global stardom for headlining Obsession, winning several accolades including a Critics' Choice Award.
Other cast members also spoke out about their pay. Art director Sally Choi disclosed she earned $300 a day on Obsession, totalling $6,741.36 after taxes, despite the film's massive earnings. Choi wrote about her experience, sparking a wider conversation about pay in the film industry. The cast worked under SAG-AFTRA independent or moderate indie agreements, the standard framework for films at this budget level.
The film's director, Curry Barker, later landed an eight-figure deal at Universal for his next project. The deal highlights the significant financial rewards that can come with creating a successful film. Meanwhile, Obsession's success continues to be celebrated, with the film ranking as the tenth highest-grossing film of 2026 and the fifth highest-grossing horror film of all time.
Key points
- Obsession grossed $519 million worldwide on a budget of $600,000–$750,000.
- Lead actress Inde Navarrette was reportedly paid $20,000 for her role.
- Art director Sally Choi earned $6,741.36 after taxes for a month's work on the film.
