The horror‑comedy lands on a spring slot, with Focus Features handling worldwide rights and Universal set to push it overseas.
Curry Barker’s next venture, the horror‑comedy Anything But Ghosts, is slated for a global theatrical debut on May 7, 2027. Focus Features has secured worldwide distribution, while Universal Pictures International will roll it out across foreign markets.
The film reunites Barker with his longtime collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, who co‑wrote the script and shares top billing. Both men also appeared in the breakout hit Obsession, a low‑budget supernatural thriller that raked in $519 million worldwide. Their new project follows a band of aspiring paranormal investigators whose quest for internet fame quickly spirals out of control.
Cast and Crew
The ensemble blends fresh faces with seasoned actors. Young star Violet McGraw, known for her turn in The Haunting of Hill House, joins the duo alongside newcomer Chris Reinacher. Hollywood regulars Bryce Dallas Howard and Aaron Paul add gravitas, rounding out a cast that promises both scares and laughs.
Production is a joint effort between Focus Features, Blumhouse‑Atomic Monster and several indie outfits, including Spooky Pictures and Divide/Conquer. Executive producers Daniel Bekerman, Barker, Tomlinson and Ben Ross oversee the project, while veteran producers Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Jason Blum, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath handle day‑to‑day duties.
Barker told Deadline at a TIFF panel that the shoot was a marathon: a 130‑page script squeezed into 26 days, with the director also playing the lead and delivering the most dialogue. He admitted he resisted trimming the screenplay despite counsel from editor Zach Kregger and his manager, insisting on capturing every scene.
The release lands just a day after Lionsgate’s The Resurrection of the Christ (Part One) and alongside 20th Century Studios’ Beach Read. Sony will kick off the summer slate a week later with a live‑action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
What the Numbers Mean
Obsession set a new benchmark for ultra‑low‑budget horror, becoming Focus Features’ biggest earner and overtaking the long‑standing record held by The Blair Witch Project. Its $519 million haul on a sub‑$1 million budget has raised expectations for Barker’s follow‑up. While the exact budget for Anything But Ghosts hasn’t been disclosed, industry chatter suggests a modest scale aimed at maximizing profit margins.
If the new film can replicate even a fraction of its predecessor’s box‑office momentum, it could cement Barker as a rare indie director who consistently delivers blockbuster‑level returns.
Looking Ahead
The May release positions the movie squarely in the spring blockbuster window, a period traditionally dominated by franchise fare. By offering a genre‑bending mix of comedy and horror, Barker may be betting on audience fatigue with formulaic sequels.
Fans of Obsession will be watching closely, especially after Barker hinted that the two films share a common universe. Whether that translates into Easter eggs or a larger narrative thread remains to be seen.
The next major milestone will be the film’s first trailer, expected later this year. Until then, the buzz around the May 7 date is enough to keep the conversation alive on social platforms and in trade circles.
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