Obsession posts $14 million opening

Focus Features and Blumhouse’s “Obsession” opened to an estimated $14 million in North America over the May 15-17 weekend, according to Deadline’s Saturday box office report. The R-rated horror film played in 2,615 theaters and followed a $2.6 million start from Thursday previews and Wednesday early-access screenings, trade reports said. Deadline also reported the film earned an A- CinemaScore, the strongest audience grade among the weekend’s new wide releases. Lionsgate’s “Michael” led the frame with an estimated $27 million in its fourth weekend, Deadline said. ### How big was the opening relative to expectations? Deadline reported on May 16 that “Obsession” was running well ahead of earlier expectations for an $8 million to $9 million start. The outlet said the film’s estimated $14 million debut put it in third place for the weekend behind “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The Hollywood Reporter wrote on May 15 that “Obsession” had been projected to open to $10 million to $12 million domestically after earning $2.6 million in previews. (deadline.com) That earlier range underscored how the film’s weekend estimate improved as ticket sales came in. ### What do the preview sales and audience grade show? “Obsession” collected $2.6 million in Thursday previews and Wednesday early-access screenings, The Hollywood Reporter said. (deadline.com) Deadline separately reported a $6.6 million Friday and said premium large-format screens accounted for a quarter of ticket sales. Deadline said the film received an A- CinemaScore and cited a 70% “definite recommend” response. (hollywoodreporter.com) The trade also reported that 39% of the audience was ages 25 to 34, while another 39% of turnout came from premium large-format screens among viewers under 25. ### Who made “Obsession,” and what was the budget? Curry Barker directed “Obsession,” and The Hollywood Reporter described it as a supernatural horror film from Focus Features and Blumhouse. (hollywoodreporter.com) The outlet said Barker, 26, built an audience on YouTube before making the feature. Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette star in the film, with Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter in supporting roles, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (deadline.com) The Numbers lists “Obsession” with a $1 million production budget and identifies Blumhouse, Focus Features, Capstone Studios, Tea Shop Productions and Under the Shell among the production and financing companies. The site said the film opened wide domestically on May 15. ### Why are trade outlets calling the opening profitable? The Numbers said a $1 million production budget meant the film’s initial domestic receipts already exceeded that figure many times over. (hollywoodreporter.com) Deadline also framed the opening as a strong result for a festival acquisition, reporting that one unnamed source called the start “pretty impressive” for a title acquired after a festival run. (the-numbers.com) The Hollywood Reporter reported that Focus acquired the film out of the Toronto International Film Festival for about $15 million. That outlet also said Focus leaned heavily on digital marketing, including replica “One Wish Willow” merchandise and an in-world campaign tied to the movie’s fictional character Nikki. ### What else was happening at the weekend box office? (the-numbers.com) Lionsgate’s “Michael” was headed for a $27 million fourth weekend, Deadline reported, while Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” was tracking toward about $20 million in its third weekend. That left “Obsession” in third place, but still as one of the weekend’s main new draws. Monday studio actuals will provide the final domestic weekend totals for “Obsession,” “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The Numbers has already posted May 15 daily domestic figures for “Obsession,” and the next update will show whether the estimated $14 million opening changes when final receipts are reported. (hollywoodreporter.com) (deadline.com)