[E-Daily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “Obsession,” the buzzworthy horror film that has taken North American theaters by storm, is set to premiere in South Korea on September 2. Following its overwhelming box office success overseas, the film also made a strong impression at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), raising expectations for its domestic performance.

With a production budget of approximately $750,000 (about 1.13355 billion won), “Obsession” has surpassed $400 million (about 610 billion won) in cumulative global box office revenue to date, writing one of the most astonishing box office success stories of the year. Not only has it generated more than 500 times its production budget, but it has also become the highest-grossing film in Focus Features’ history, continuing to set unprecedented records.
In particular, it has surpassed *The Back Room*—which grossed $349.79 million (approximately 528.6 billion won) worldwide—to establish itself as this year’s top-grossing horror film, and is being hailed for redefining the box office formula for genre films.
The reaction in South Korea has also been remarkable. *Obsession* made its domestic debut in the “Bucheon Choice: World” section of the International Feature Film Competition at the recently held 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Immediately following its screening, it garnered rave reviews such as “A movie you absolutely must not watch alone,” “The best horror film I’ve seen this year,” and “There’s no time to catch your breath until the very end,” sparking a wave of word-of-mouth buzz among movie fans.
The film’s artistic merit and direction have also been recognized. Director Curry Barker, who helmed the film, won the “Bucheon Choice: Best Feature Film Director Award” at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for this work. Born in 1999 and with a unique background as a former YouTuber, he is gaining attention as a next-generation horror director for his bold direction that subverts the conventions of traditional horror films right from his debut feature.
“Obsession” captivated audiences worldwide by combining intense suspense with fresh direction, rather than relying on familiar horror tropes. With the film having achieved both international box office success and critical acclaim at film festivals, all eyes are now on whether it can continue this momentum in South Korea as well.