Blockbuster Box Office Weekend
Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' Opens Strong at No. 1, 'Obsession' Box Office Hit Continues
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Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" debuted at No. 1 this weekend, pulling in $44 million domestically and $92.9 million worldwide, according to Associated Press. That makes it Spielberg's best opening weekend ever for an original film — not adjusting for inflation.
Meanwhile, "Obsession" shows no signs of slowing down. The micro-budget thriller earned another $19 million this weekend, pushing its North American total to $188.3 million and its worldwide haul to $286.5 million, per Yahoo Finance.
Spielberg Returns to Summer Blockbusters With UAP Thriller
"Disclosure Day" is Spielberg's first big summer popcorn movie since 2016. The 79-year-old director has called it a "70s-era political thriller" — think UFO cover-ups meets *Three Days of the Condor*. Emily Blunt plays a meteorologist who gains empathetic abilities after a close encounter. Critics at Seattle Times and others have called her performance "career-best."
The film opened in more than 3,900 domestic theaters on June 12. It holds an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes but earned only a B CinemaScore — Spielberg's lowest since "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Universal distribution chief Jim Orr said it "resonated with everybody" and pointed to "a great run through the summer," according to Newsday.
Older Crowds Power 'Disclosure Day,' But Legs Are Key
The film skews older. Universal says 41% of the opening-weekend audience was 45 or older. That demographic typically does not rush to theaters on opening weekend. That means word-of-mouth will matter more than the debut number, per WRAL.
Orr said the broad demographic appeal "points to a great run through the summer." The film cost $115 million to produce. It needs strong legs to cross into clear profit territory. If it holds like Spielberg's best crowd-pleasers, the math gets much easier in weeks two and three.
'Obsession' Is the Most Profitable Film of the Year
Made for just $750,000, "Obsession" has now earned $286.5 million worldwide. That is more than 300 times its production budget, making it the most profitable film of 2026 relative to cost, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and was acquired by Focus Features for a record $15 million.
Director Curry Barker is a 26-year-old who got his start on YouTube. His second and third weekends outperformed his opening — a feat not seen since Spielberg's own *E.T.* in 1982. Barker has already been tapped to reimagine "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" for A24, per WBAL.
A $115 Million Film vs. a $750K Film — Hollywood Takes Notice
Industry analysts are framing this weekend as a clash of eras. Spielberg's $115 million studio film sits at No. 1. But Barker's $750,000 indie is closing in on $300 million worldwide. The contrast is hard to ignore, per Airdrie City View.
Barker and *Backrooms* director Kane Parsons both came from YouTube. Analysts say these creators arrive with "pre-assembled audiences" — fans who already trust them. Studios are paying attention. Expect more YouTube-to-theater pipelines in the months ahead, according to Brandon Sun.
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