Barker's Blockbuster Horror Empire
Horror Hitmaker Curry Barker Secures Eight-Figure Universal Deal for Third Film After 'Obsession' Success
Key Points
Barker and NBCUniversal leadership emphasized why Universal kept him: Barker said, “They’ve built the kind of home for bold, original storytelling that every filmmaker dreams of,” while NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairman Donna Langley called his work “redefining what’s possible,” and Blumhouse’s James Wan and Jason Blum praised that “he made something wholly original that connected with a massive audience.”
For “Anything But Ghosts,” the film’s production companies/producers are spelled out: it’s produced by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider’s Spooky Pictures and by Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath’s Divide/Conquer.
The studios’ “Anything But Ghosts” commitment predated “Obsession”’s breakthrough: Blumhouse Atomic Monster and related partners had already signed onto “Anything But Ghosts” before “Obsession” premiered in Toronto, and Blumhouse Atomic Monster then joined “Obsession” as an executive producer.
“Obsession”’s financial momentum is described with more specificity than in the summary: it continued to run strongly and had surpassed the $300M worldwide mark, with “Obsession” also described as having a $750K budget.
Beyond Universal and Focus, Barker’s calendar appears broader: Dread Central adds that Barker is “also attached to tackle A24,” indicating additional non-Universal projects in development or attachment.
Universal has locked in director Curry Barker for a third horror film in a
The deal comes as Variety reports that *Obsession* — made for just $750,000 — has now surpassed $300 million at the worldwide box office. That staggering return on investment, one of the best in modern horror history, explains why Universal moved fast to keep Barker from rivals.
A $750K Film That Earned $300 Million Worldwide
*Obsession* debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Focus Features, an NBCUniversal subsidiary, bought it for $15 million. When the film opened theatrically on May 15, 2026, it pulled in $17.1 million domestically in its first weekend, according to Variety.
Then came something rare. In its second weekend, earnings jumped 39% to over $22 million, according to Dread Central. Most films lose audience week two. *Obsession* gained one. By June 19, the film had crossed $300 million worldwide — all from a budget smaller than most filmmakers' first apartments.
Universal, Blumhouse, and Atomic Monster Form a Horror Super-Team
The new deal pairs Barker with Blumhouse's Jason Blum and Atomic Monster's James Wan — two of horror's biggest names. Together, they called Barker someone who
NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairman Donna Langley said Barker is
'Anything But Ghosts' Was Already in Motion Before 'Obsession' Broke Out
Barker is not waiting around. He has already completed his second feature, *Anything But Ghosts*, for Focus Features. The supernatural horror film stars Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw. It is produced by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider's Spooky Pictures and by Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath's Divide/Conquer, according to Variety.
Notably, Blumhouse Atomic Monster signed onto *Anything But Ghosts* before *Obsession* even premiered in Toronto. The production partners were already in place. When *Obsession* then became a runaway hit, Blumhouse Atomic Monster joined it as an executive producer too — deepening ties across both films.
Barker's Calendar Extends Beyond Universal to A24 and More
The Universal deal is not Barker's only outside commitment. Dread Central reports that Barker is
Back home, Barker expressed gratitude for the Universal partnership.
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