NEW YORK (AP) — Days before "Obsession" opened in theaters, its 26-year-old director, Curry Barker, made a bet with his manager and agent. They said if the movie opened above $20 million, they would all get tattoos.
"Obsession" fell just short. It debuted with $17 million. They were still thrilled. Barker made the horror film with just $750,000. It was enormously successful. But then something unexpected happened. The following weekend, "Obsession" easily cleared $20 million. And then it did again and again and almost a fourth time — an almost unheard-of staying power.
"It was just like: Holy cow. I didn't think that was an option," Barker says. "Now we've said if it hits $300 million, we'll all get the tattoo. We had to make a new milestone. And I think we'll reach it."