After 44 Years, ‘Obsession’ Breaks E.T.’s Long-Standing Box Office Record

The film Obsession has been making waves at the domestic box office with an impressive upward trend that is seldom seen in today’s wide releases.

In its third weekend, Obsession raked in $26.4 million in North America. This figure not only stands strong on its own but also reflects a growth compared to prior weekends. The film saw an increase of about 10% from its second weekend, which had already exceeded expectations.

What sets this run apart is the consistent pattern of growth. The film debuted with around $17 million in its opening weekend. Instead of the typical drop most movies experience post-release, it surged by 39% in its second weekend, followed by another increase in its third weekend. This makes it one of the rare wide releases in modern box office history to rise in both its second and third weekends.

Focus Features noted that such a performance hasn’t been seen since 1982, when E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was in theaters. This marks a 44-year gap since a film has managed to boost ticket sales this significantly into its theatrical run, outside of holiday release patterns.

The results from the third weekend have propelled Obsession to a significant milestone. The film has now grossed approximately $106 million domestically and around $148 million globally, all against a modest production budget of just $1 million. This remarkable difference between production costs and earnings positions it as one of the most profitable films of the year.

Additionally, Focus Features confirmed that Obsession has now become their highest-grossing domestic release ever, surpassing the 2019 film Downton Abbey, which previously held the studio record with about $96.8 million in North America.

Initial tracking in the United States and Canada indicated modest expectations for the film, projecting an opening between $8 million and $10 million. However, after a strong first day of $7 million, projections were adjusted upward. The film ultimately opened with $17.2 million, securing third place at the box office during its debut weekend.

The film continued to gain momentum in the following weeks. During the Memorial Day weekend, it achieved a strong four-day total of $32 million. It also resonated well with younger audiences, particularly those aged 18 to 34, who made up the majority of the viewers, according to Focus Features.

Industry reports have described its ongoing growth as “unprecedented” for a wide release already showing in over 2,500 theaters. Typically, the horror genre is known for robust opening weekends followed by rapid declines, but Obsession has defied this trend.

With its consistent growth, positive word of mouth, and record-breaking achievements, Obsession has emerged as one of the most talked-about box office phenomena of the year.

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