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How a Wish Idea Sparked a $334M Film Hit
24 Jun
Summary
- Two actors dropped out of film school to create YouTube content.
- Their independent film 'Obsession' grossed $334 million.
- The film's success led to a $15 million acquisition by Focus Features.
Cooper Tomlinson and Curry Barker, friends since their first day at the New York Film Academy in 2018, famously dropped out to create their own content on YouTube. Their channel, That's a Bad Idea, produced web series, sketches, and short films, including the award-winning "The Chair" (2023) and "Milk & Serial" (2024).
An idea sparked in July 2023, stemming from a "be-careful-what-you-wish-for" concept, evolved into the supernatural horror film "Obsession." Initially pitched as a feature adaptation of "The Chair," the duo convinced producer James Harris to back "Obsession" instead.
This decision paved the way for a $750,000 production, a premiere at TIFF in September 2025, and a frenzied bidding war. Focus Features ultimately acquired the film for $15 million, leading to its wide release on May 15 and a remarkable $334 million gross in just 39 days.
"Obsession" chronicles the dark consequences of a wish made by Baron "Bear" Bailey for his co-worker Nikki's obsessive love. The film's success has also led to a follow-up supernatural horror-comedy, "Anything But Ghosts," co-written and co-starring Tomlinson and Barker, set in the same universe.
