Low-budget horror continues to be the ultimate goldmine for theatrical distribution. Hollywood’s latest indie horror sensation, Obsession, has staged an impressive introductory weekend at the Indian box office. Despite arriving across domestic screens with virtually zero pre-release marketing or mainstream promotional push, the spine-chilling thriller has successfully capitalized on stellar word-of-mouth and glowing viewer reviews to register a highly lucrative opening weekend.
The film kicked off its domestic box office journey on Friday, May 29, 2026, pulling in a modest but steady Rs 1.75 crore. Fueled by glowing audience recommendations across social media networks, Obsession witnessed an excellent upward trajectory on Saturday, minting Rs 2.75 crore. According to early tracking numbers compiled by industry tracker Sacnilk, the movie hit its weekend peak on Sunday, collecting a robust Rs 3.25 crore. This takes its three-day cumulative domestic haul to a fantastic Rs 7.75 crore.
A Historic Budget-to-Profit Global Return
While its performance in India is highly encouraging, the movie’s macro-level financial dynamics are nothing short of legendary. Directed by Curry Barker, Obsession was reportedly produced on a microscopic, shoestring production budget of just Rs 7 crore ($850,000).
Since its initial international rollout on May 15, 2026, the film has undergone an exponential viral explosion globally. Driven by frantic discussions across TikTok and Reddit, the horror flick has officially bypassed the staggering Rs 900 crore ($110 million) mark globally. By converting its nominal production cost into a massive nine-figure theatrical windfall, the Curry Barker project officially cements its position as one of the most commercially profitable and successful independent Hollywood cinematic ventures of the decade.
Underage Ticketing Controversy Ignites Online Debate
However, the film’s unexpected commercial dominance in India has dragged it right into a major theatrical regulation controversy. Over the weekend, veteran Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Gupta took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his shock at the demographic filling up local cinema screens for the horror feature.
Sanjay Gupta’s Viral Post:
“Yesterday evening I went for a just released Malayalam film and I was the only one in the theatre. In the next screen my son was watching OBSESSION and the theatre was packed with kids most of whom were underage. It’s amazing how this film is sensation all over,” the director tweeted.
Gupta’s social media dispatch immediately went viral, setting off alarm bells because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had officially cleared the film for Indian distribution strictly with an ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate. The public revelation has caused many to question how national cinema chains are allowing underage children to buy tickets and enter screens. This ongoing controversy comes amidst insider reports that the CBFC had already heavily sanitized the Indian theatrical cut, completely snipping 38 seconds of explicit footage that contained extreme violence and intense adult themes before allowing it onto domestic screens.