411 Box Office Report: Obsession Opens Well While Michael Returns To #1

Michael returned to the top of the box office this weekend, while new horror film Obsession got off to a hot start. The Michael Jackson biopic led the way at the box office with $26.1 million. That’s down just 31% from last weekend’s hold.

In four weekends now, Michael has soared to $282.8 million domestically and a massive $703.9 million worldwide, making it highly profitable against a $155 million budget. With its strong legs, the film is very likely to make it to $325 million domestically. It could conceivably have a shot at topping Bohemian Rhapsody’s $879.1 million worldwide total, but that would require continued strong international holds.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 was down 57% in its second weekend, as it felt the bite of the weekend’s biggest new release. The comedy added $18 million to its coffers, bringing the film to $175.9 million domestically and a stellar $546.1 million worldwide. That’s against a $100 million budget, making it a very profitable film for 20th Century Studios. Prada 2 has already far surpassed the original ($124.7 domestic, $326.1 million worldwide) and is still taking aim at over $200 million stateside before it closes out.

Speaking of the new release, that was Obsession. The Focus Feature-released horror film form Curry Barker scored $16.1 million, well above the $10 million it was predicted to bring in. That is the best start for a horror film since Scream 7 blasted off to $76.1 million back in late February.

Obsession tops the opening weekends of several other comparable films like Hokum ($6.4 million), Lee Cronin’s The Mummy ($13.5 million), Ready or Not 2: Here I Come ($12.3 million) and undertone. Only Scream 7, Send Help, Iron Lung, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple have opened better among horror entries in 2026, and with the exception of Iron Lung those were all heavily promoted and had major studio backings.

Obsession earned its dollars off being one of the most buzzed-about indie horror films of the year. It had its festival premiere at TIFF in September and quickly earned high praise from critics. That praise has held up to the tune of a 94% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. Impressively, it’s also a fan pleaser with a 94% RT audience rating and an A- CinemaScore, a rare rating for the genre. (Remember that Sinners was only the second horror film in history to get a full A.)

All the buzz led to the film surpassing expectations, particularly with women. The film saw its predicted estimates rise throughout the weekend. With a budget of just $1 million, this is already a big hit even with Focus having spent a solid amount on marketing the film. It added $7 million overseas for a $23.1 million worldwide total.

This feels like a film that could defy the typical front-loaded status for horror films, though that better-than-expected start could put a bit of damper on the legs. Either way, this one seems likely to at least pass $40 million in the US, making it a major, major hit for Focus and establishing Barker and lead actress Inde Navarrette as the newest hot properties in the genre (Barker already has a Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake and horror film Anything but Ghosts on his slate).

Mortal Kombat II also felt the sting of Obsession, as it followed up its lower-than-expected opening weekend with a hefty fall. The video game sequel grossed $13.4 million, down 65% from its start, and brought its totals to $62.2 million domestically and $101.2 million worldwide.

Those aren’t the numbers that Warner Bros. were hoping for on this $80 million production, which is underdelivering in pretty much all territories. It’s looking like it should close out its domestic run at around $85 million to $90 million and will need those overseas numbers to pick up significantly if it wants to have a chance at breaking even in theaters.

Amazon MGM’s The Sheep Detectives did well in its second weekend, easing 38% to $9.3 million. The CGI/live action comedy is doing solid numbers overseas as well, with its totals at $29.7 million in the US and $58.7 million worldwide. The problem it’s the film’s budget, which was $75 million. Amazon MGM isn’t stressing this too much; as we’ve discussed before, their theatrical releases are often loss leaders and they make their money back on Prime Video. It is still looking like it will hit over $40 million in the US.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie keeps on rolling, off a mere 33% to $4.5 million in its sixth weekend. The video game sequel is now at $418.6 million in the US and $964.1 million worldwide. It will make it to $1 billion worldwide and probably around $430 million in the US, huge against a $110 million production budget.

Project Hail Mary’s slipped 41% in its ninth weekend, adding $3.9 million. The Ryan Gosling-led blockbuster is continuing to do solid business even after hitting digital this week. It has totaled $334.9 million stateside and $667.9 million worldwide, a hit against a $190 million budget. It will still close out around $340 million.

Top Gun hit theaters again for its 40th anniversary and did fine with $3.1 million. Of course, this is just extra money for the Paramount. The film has, over the course of its run, $185.3 million domestically and $362.3 million worldwide.

Black Bear Pictures’ In the Grey was okay in its opening weekend with $3 million, right where it was expected to land. The Guy Ritchie-directed film was middling with critics (44% on RT) but scored a bit better with audiences at a B CinemaScore and 83% RT audience rating. Keep in mind, Black Bear is still fairly new to theatrical distribution and doesn’t have the infrastructure to launch films like the major studios do. There’s no word on the budget here, but it will make its play for profit when it hits digital.

Finally, Amazon MGM had a third film in the top 10 with Is God Is. The thriller, which is directed by Aleshea Harris and stars an ensemble cast including Vivica A. Fox and Janelle Monáe, brought in $2.2 million. The marketing was light on this low-profile release but it built up buzz with a 97% RT critic aggregate, an 89% RT audience rating, and a B+ CinemaScore. Much like In the Grey, this will be a home viewing play for profit.

Next weekend will see Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu take over the box office, as the film is looking at between $85 million and $95 million to start as the summer box office kicks into a new gear. Paramount Pictures’ horror flick Passengers is targeting a high single digits start, while Neon’s I Love Boosters will be in the mid-single digits.

Box Office Top Ten (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)

1. Michael – $26.1 million ($282.8 million total, $703.9 million WW)
2. The Devil Wears Prada 2 – $18 million ($175.9 million total, $546.2 million WW)
3. Obsession – $16.1 million ($16.1 million domestically, $23.1 million WW)
4. Mortal Kombat II – $13.4 million ($62.2 million domestically, $101.2 million WW)
5. The Sheep Detectives – $9.3 million ($29.7 million total, $58.7 million WW)
6. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – $4.5 million ($418.6 million total, $964.1 million WW)
7. Project Hail Mary – $3.9 million ($334.9 million total, $667.9 million WW)
8. Top Gun – $3.1 million ($185.3 million total, $362.3 million WW)
9. In the Grey – $3 million ($3.0 million total, $3.0 million WW)
10. Is God Is – $2.2 million ($2.2 million total, $2.2 million WW)