$750k Horror Movie Obsession Just Passed The Mandalorian & Grogu at the Box Office

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Summer is here and movie theaters are busy, but some unexpected things are happening with ticket sales. Big-budget blockbusters – the films usually expected to dominate in the summer – haven’t performed as well as anticipated. The Mandalorian and Grogu had a weak start for a Star Wars film and quickly lost viewers, while Masters of the Universe didn’t meet even modest expectations. Instead, independent horror movies have been the big hits! Films like Backrooms and Obsession have broken records, with Obsession achieving something many thought wouldn’t be possible just recently.

Currently, Obsession has earned $161.2 million in the U.S. (according to Box Office Mojo), while The Mandalorian and Grogu has made $158.3 million. This means a horror film made for only $750,000 is on track to surpass the first new Star Wars movie in seven years domestically. Worldwide, the films are closer in earnings, but The Mandalorian is still ahead with $296.1 million compared to $234.5 million for Obsession.

How Did Obsession Outgross The Mandalorian and Grogu?

Horror movies consistently make money at the box office, as recent numbers clearly show. But even dedicated horror fans were surprised by the success of The Mandalorian and Grogu. While no one expected it to become one of the highest-grossing Star Wars films ever, it was still a major movie released during a popular holiday weekend – which usually do well. Disney had a successful Memorial Day release just last year with Lilo & Stitch. A billion dollars in revenue was probably too much to hope for with The Mandalorian and Grogu, but the return of Star Wars to theaters, combined with its appeal to families, suggested it would perform strongly.

Unlike some larger films, Obsession was a smaller project initially intended as a summer offering for horror fans. It gained some attention at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, but wasn’t predicted to be a blockbuster. However, when The Mandalorian and Grogu didn’t resonate strongly with audiences, positive buzz about Obsession quickly grew. Its intriguing story and a standout performance from its lead actor turned it into a surprisingly popular movie, and it continued to draw audiences for several weeks. Many people were eager to see it, fearing they’d miss out, and felt it was best enjoyed in a theater with others.

Okay, so I was really excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu – especially since it came out in IMAX! It just felt like a proper movie experience. But honestly, the hype wasn’t really there. You heard people calling Project Hail Mary a masterpiece months before it even hit theaters, and that film killed at the box office. With The Mandalorian and Grogu, though, things were pretty quiet. I think the marketing didn’t help; it just didn’t grab anyone early on. Then the reviews came out saying it was fun, but not exactly groundbreaking – a good Star Wars adventure, but nothing you needed to see immediately. People who have seen it seem to like it well enough, but most folks figured they could just wait and watch it at home when it hit streaming because it didn’t feel like one of those must-see franchise events.

It remains to be seen if Obsession can catch up to Mandalorian in worldwide box office numbers. While Mandalorian has likely earned most of its revenue, Obsession might continue to perform well, particularly as it’s currently the top horror film. With new releases like Disclosure Day, Toy Story 5, and Supergirl coming this month—which will reduce the number of theaters showing Mandalorian—Obsession could maintain its momentum by attracting both dedicated horror fans and those intrigued by all the positive attention it’s receiving.

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2026-06-11 23:43