Curry Barker’s Horror-Comedy ‘Anything But Ghosts’ Scheduled for May 2027 Release via Focus Features and Blumhouse
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Curry Barker's second directorial feature, "Anything But Ghosts," is set for release on 7 May 2027 via Focus Features and Blumhouse, following the extraordinary success of his debut "Obsession." The horror-comedy, co-written by Barker and star Cooper Tomlinson, follows two aspiring ghost hunters whose investigation spirals into chaos and is set within the same fictional universe as "Obsession." Notably, Barker has revealed significant production challenges: he shot a 130-page script over just 26 days whilst simultaneously directing, starring and carrying the lead role, ultimately compromising on shots and coverage to complete filming.
"Obsession," acquired by Focus for $15 million at TIFF 2025, became the studio's highest-grossing film and the highest-grossing acquisition in film festival history, earning $263.4 million domestically and nearly $520 million worldwide. Despite advice from his manager and collaborator Zach Kregger to cut 30 pages from the script, Barker refused, determined to shoot everything as written. The film's ensemble cast includes Violet McGraw, Bryce Dallas Howard and Aaron Paul, with production led by multiple companies including Spooky Pictures and producers Roy Lee, Steven Schneider and Jason Blum.
- Second film set for May 2027 following "Obsession"'s unprecedented success as festival acquisition
- Barker shot 130-page script in just 26 days, cutting shots instead of pages
- Horror-comedy reunites Barker and Cooper Tomlinson in expanded fictional universe
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Curry Barker, a young director, made his feature debut with a film called 'Obsession'. He is now preparing his second directorial project, 'Anything But Ghosts', which takes place in the same fictional universe as his first film and continues the creative world he established.
'Anything But Ghosts' is a horror-comedy about aspiring ghost hunters whose investigation into the supernatural goes awry in chaotic and unexpected ways. Barker reunites with his lead actor from 'Obsession', Cooper Tomlinson, and has assembled a notable cast also including Violet McGraw, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Aaron Paul.
Horror-comedies, which blend scary moments with humour, have grown increasingly popular with audiences in recent years. Major film studios including Focus Features and Blumhouse have taken note of this trend and are investing in projects within the genre, anticipating continued audience interest.
Full account
Focus Features and Blumhouse's Atomic Monster division have announced that Curry Barker's forthcoming horror-comedy venture, 'Anything But Ghosts', will arrive in cinemas on May 7, 2027. The distribution arrangement grants Focus worldwide rights, with Universal Pictures International managing exhibition across territories outside North America. The film marks Barker's second feature directorial effort, following his breakout success with 'Obsession' earlier this year.
Barker has co-written the screenplay alongside Cooper Tomlinson, his creative partner from 'Obsession', who also features as one of the lead actors. The ensemble cast additionally comprises Violet McGraw, Chris Reinacher, Bryce Dallas Howard and Aaron Paul, with Barker himself taking a starring role alongside Tomlinson. The production narrative concerns a troupe of aspiring paranormal investigators who become unexpectedly embroiled in circumstances beyond their comprehension, with events escalating into perilous and chaotic territory. Production companies involved include Spooky Pictures, Divide/Conquer, Image Nation and the principals' own That's a Bad Idea banner, with producers including Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath.
Barker's debut feature 'Obsession' became a commercial sensation upon its May 2026 release, demonstrating exceptional staying power at the box office. The supernatural thriller generated $263.4 million domestically and approximately $520 million worldwide against a production budget below $1 million, a return that has secured its position as Focus Features' most profitable acquisition. The film opened to $17.1 million in its domestic debut but defied conventional box-office patterns by achieving a 39 per cent increase in its second weekend and a further 14 per cent in its third, a trajectory rarely witnessed in contemporary theatrical markets. The film garnered substantial critical appreciation alongside its commercial triumph, with performer Inde Navarrette attracting early Oscar speculation for her role.
The forthcoming project reportedly inhabits the same fictional universe as 'Obsession', expanding the world Barker has established. Speaking about the production process, Barker revealed the demanding schedule, noting he directed whilst simultaneously delivering the film's most substantial acting role. He described working from a 130-page screenplay compressed into a 26-day shooting schedule, acknowledging that he had resisted editorial recommendations to trim the script despite counsel to do so. The film will face theatrical competition from other May 2027 releases, including Mel Gibson's 'The Resurrection of the Christ (Part One)' and '20th Century Studios' 'Beach Read'.
Where outlets differ
Source 2 specifies that Anything But Ghosts exists within the same universe as Obsession; Source 1 omits this detail
Source 2 provides granular domestic box-office breakdowns for Obsession ($17.1M opening, $23.9M second weekend, $27.3M third weekend, $263.4M domestic total), while Source 1 only mentions the worldwide figure ($519M) and the 39% second-weekend spike
Source 2 includes Barker's production account describing the 130-page script and 26-day shoot with his quotes about not cutting pages; Source 1 contains no production commentary
Source 2 references Barker's earlier YouTube work 'Milk & Serial' (3M views, $800 budget) and details Focus's $15M acquisition price for Obsession at TIFF; Source 1 mentions neither
Source 2 contextualises the May 7 release date against Obsession's May 15 debut and lists competing releases; Source 1 provides no comparative scheduling information
Coverage
- Variety — Curry Barker’s ‘Obsession’ Follow-Up ‘Anything But Ghosts’ Sets May 2027 Release Date From Focus Features, Blumhouse
- Deadline — Curry Barker’s Next Movie ‘Anything But Ghosts’ Sets May 2027 Release
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