Obsession has not only shattered expectations but has also turned the box office into its personal playground. Made for just $750,000, Curry Barker’s psychological horror-romance has earned over $287 million worldwide and become Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever. It even pulled off a feat not seen since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, increasing ticket sales for three consecutive weekends outside the holiday season.

As the profits climbed to frightening heights, some Obsession artists questioned their compensation, but Barker remains firm with his latest response.

Curry Barker, while not responsible for signing checks, defended his belief that Obsession's profits naturally belong to those who took financial risks. The filmmaker explained that micro-budget productions often reward investors and key stakeholders rather than every crew member who contributed behind the scenes.

"Everybody on this film worked so hard and they deserve to be recognized," Barker told The Hollywood Reporter while addressing the controversy surrounding Sally Choi's viral Instagram post about her $6,741 paycheck. The director praised the art department's extraordinary work and emphasized his admiration for the dedication displayed by every person involved.

Instead of promising retroactive payouts, Barker expressed hope that the film's massive success would become a career-changing launchpad for its hardworking crew members. The director pointed to his own rising opportunities as proof that Obsession's success could create lucrative doors beyond the movie's immediate earnings.

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Speaking of the director who turned a rejected script into a box-office goldmine, Curry Barker may have been onto something about opportunities, as he brings his fame to an already-filmed project.

Curry Barker is not spending much time admiring the mountain of success behind Obsession. The filmmaker already has another nightmare waiting in the wings with Anything But Ghosts, which has finished filming in Vancouver and is currently undergoing post-production. The supernatural horror-comedy does not have an exact release date yet, but it is officially set to haunt theaters in 2027.

The upcoming feature follows two con-artist paranormal investigators who make their living through fake scares and manufactured ghostly encounters, until they accidentally stumble upon a very real and very dangerous dark entity. Barker wrote the screenplay alongside longtime collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, with both creators also stepping in front of the camera alongside Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, Violet McGraw, and Chris Reinacher.

The horror filmmaker has also ensured that his latest creation remains connected to the world that made him a household name, with Anything But Ghosts featuring ties to Obsession, including the return of the mysterious One Wish Willow magic. With major Hollywood names now entering Barker's universe, his belief that success opens new doors appears to be writing its own sequel.

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Do you think Curry Barker is right? Let us know in the comments!