Obsession Art Director Reacts After $6,741 Earning as Movie Sets Box-Office Record

Debates and discussions in the creative industry are ever-changing, but the conversation around compensation and budgets has always been a pain point for everyone. So when the small-scale indie movie Obsession, made on a budget of $750k, ended up being a phenomenal success, it sparked an industry-wide tidal wave. 

Compensation for below-the-line crew members has become a trending topic after the film’s art director, Sally Choi, revealed how much she earned from the production. The micro-budget horror film, directed by Curry Barker, has become one of 2026’s biggest surprise hits, generating a massive profit and setting records for independent horror filmmaking. However, Choi’s recent Instagram post shifted attention away from the movie’s success and toward the realities faced by crew members working on low-budget productions.

Sally Choi Reveals She Earned Just $6,741 From Obsession

Still from Obsession | Credit:- Focus Features

In a lengthy Instagram post, Sally Choi disclosed that she earned $300 per day as an art director, which amounted to $6,741.36 after taxes, with no mileage reimbursement. Choi explained that while she agreed to the rate before production began, she was living paycheck to paycheck at the time and felt pressure to accept the opportunity. 

She also revealed that her responsibilities extended far beyond art direction, claiming she additionally worked as a production assistant, set dresser, graphic designer, background actor, driver, buyer, and swing crew member during the shoot.

Choi’s post framed her experience as part of a broader issue affecting below-the-line workers in independent filmmaking. She argued that crew members are often treated as budget line items that producers try to keep as low as possible and encouraged other Obsession crew members to share their own compensation stories. 

The post quickly went viral, generating thousands of comments and igniting a debate about whether successful independent films should provide additional financial rewards to crew members once they become major box-office successes.

Obsession Becomes Focus Features’ Record-Breaking Hit With $224M+ Box Office Collection

The conversation surrounding Sally Choi’s Instagram post became even more impactful as Obsession’s extraordinary commercial success made headlines. Directed by Curry Barker, the horror film has earned more than $224 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing release in the history of Focus Features. (via Deadline as of June 9, 2026)

The movie’s performance surpassed the studio’s previous releases and cemented Obsession as one of the biggest surprise success stories of 2026. A strong word-of-mouth campaign, viral social media presence, and positive audience reception are key drivers behind its impressive theatrical run.

Choi’s post has drawn attention to the gap that can exist between a film’s eventual box-office success and the earnings of the crew members who helped bring it to life. As Obsession continues to break records for Focus Features, people are urging the industry culture to change and make room for crew members to succeed simultaneously. 

What do you think about this situation? Does it change how you feel about this movie? Let us know in the comments section below!

Obsession is currently playing in the theaters (USA).