Curry Barker, the film’s writer-director, and Inde Navarrette, who plays the film’s lead, took to the stage at TIFF 2026 to talk about the year their lives changed.
The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival saw the premiere of Curry Barker’s Obsession. At last year’s fest, the film was acquired by Focus Features, eight months before its wide release, and legendary theatrical run. On a $750,000 budget, the film has grossed over $500 million and counting, breaking records across the board. Almost overnight, the film’s cast and crew had their lives flipped upside down.
“The process of making this movie was always…there was no guarantee of this thing ever getting made.” Barker, who got his start on Youtube, released his first feature and directorial debut on the platform in 2024. Milk and Serial, a found footage horror film, was shot over the course of four months, for a budget of about $800. When Focus picked up Obsession for $15 million at TIFF 2025, the team behind the project got more than they ever could’ve wished for.
Photo by The Knockturnal.
“I remember those conversations, trying to get the cast of the movie and the crew to understand what was actually happening,” Barker recalled, “I was in these meetings…like going to meet with A24, meet with Neon, meet with Focus…Like we’re actually gonna be in the theater…They didn’t believe me!”
The film wide released in theaters on May 15, 2026, opening to $17 million.
“I’m so, so, so happy we went with Focus…they really blew me away with their ideas, and continued to execute on that promise on such a high level.” Barker continued, “It was insane what was happening. I’ve never been part of tracking any box office…my team was telling me that whatever it makes in that first weekend is gonna be the most it’s gonna make,” That couldn’t have been further from the truth. “The [second] weekend it made $27 million.”
“Everything changed for me. I’m now in rooms that I could not even imagine.” said Navarette, who was recently cast as Rogue in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot, “I’m now pitching my own projects, and hopefully gonna be able to produce and direct my own stuff,” she continued, “I love cinema and I love filmmaking and being part of Midnight Madness last year just kinda lit that fire for me.”
“I’m actually starring in my next film, Anything but Ghosts, alongside Cooper Tomlinson.” Barker added.
Navarette went on to say, “My whole life has changed, and I just take it day by day.”
Obsession is now streaming on Peacock.
