Anything But Ghosts Release
Curry Barker Sets Horror-Comedy Anything But Ghosts for May 2027 Release
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Barker described Anything But Ghosts as a “buddy comedy” that will still be “scary and messed up,” and said he wanted to avoid simply repeating the approach of Obsession: “Nobody wants the same movie twice.”
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The film finished shooting in April after a 26-day production. Barker said, “The hardest day on Obsession was the easiest day on Anything But Ghosts,” describing the new project as his most challenging to date.
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The film’s producers include Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath. It is being produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Spooky Pictures and Divide/Conquer, in association with Image Nation and That’s a Bad Idea.
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Barker’s next project after Anything But Ghosts is already in development: his third studio film has found a home at Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster, though its title has not been announced.
Curry Barker's horror-comedy Anything But Ghosts will hit theaters on May 7, 2027, according to Horror News Network. The film reunites Barker and collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, who co-wrote and star in the movie about two fake paranormal investigators whose scam collapses when they meet real ghosts. Focus Features holds worldwide rights, with Universal Pictures International managing international distribution.
Barker described Anything But Ghosts as a "buddy comedy" that stays "scary and messed up," telling producers he wanted to avoid repeating Obsession's formula. "Nobody wants the same movie twice," he said, per Creepy Catalog. The film wrapped production in April after just 26 days of shooting, with Barker calling it his most challenging project yet.
Two Fake Ghost Hunters Meet Real Supernatural Terror
Anything But Ghosts follows Barker and Tomlinson as confidence men running a paranormal scam. Their fraudulent ghost-hunting operation promises to expose supernatural hoaxes. Instead, they stumble into genuine, dark forces they cannot explain or escape. The film exists in the same fictional universe as Obsession, Barker's breakthrough micro-budget horror hit that earned over $500 million globally.
The ensemble cast includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Aaron Paul, Violet McGraw, and Chris Reinacher alongside Barker and Tomlinson. Cooper Tomlinson compared the tone to "Key & Peele walking into Hereditary," blending absurdist comedy with genuine horror. Early test screenings showed strong audience scores, World of Reel reported, building momentum ahead of the May 2027 release.
How Barker Elevated Production While Keeping Budgets Lean
Anything But Ghosts cost $5 million to produce, a significant jump from Obsession's $750,000 budget but still modest by studio standards. The 26-day shoot wrapped in Vancouver during spring 2026. Barker told producers that the production proved far more demanding than his debut: "The hardest day on Obsession was the easiest day on Anything But Ghosts."
Producers include Jason Blum, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Adam Hendricks, and Greg Gilreath. The film emerges from Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Spooky Pictures, and Divide/Conquer, with Image Nation and That's a Bad Idea also involved. Studios view the budget as minimal risk given Obsession's exceptional 39% box office jump during its second weekend—a rare commercial trajectory, per The Playlist.
Barker Already Developing His Third Major Studio Feature
Before Anything But Ghosts even releases, Barker has inked an eight-figure overall deal with Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster for a third, as-yet-untitled feature. The rapid greenlighting underscores studio confidence in Barker's box office appeal following Obsession's unexpected global phenomenon status. Additionally, A24 has tapped Barker to write and direct a reboot of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, expanding his filmmaking slate significantly.
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