Anything But Ghosts, Curry Barker's follow-up to the record-setting horror hit Obsession, opens in theaters May 7, 2027. Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster made the date official this week. The film follows two con artists whose fake paranormal business collapses when they meet an actual spirit. Here's everything you need to know.
Key Facts
- Release date: Anything But Ghosts opens exclusively in theaters nationwide on May 7, 2027, per Deadline.
- Plot: Two wannabe ghost hunters get in over their heads when their fake business runs into the real thing.
- Cast: Curry Barker, Cooper Tomlinson, Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard star.
- Studio: Focus Features holds worldwide rights, with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.
- Connection to Obsession: Barker has said the film takes place in the same universe.
What the Film Is About
The official logline describes Barker and Tomlinson as "wannabe ghosthunters" who find themselves in over their heads as things spiral out of control, per Deadline. The pair play con artists running a bogus ghost-hunting outfit, which works fine until a genuine haunting shows up. (Nobody planned for that.)
Barker has called the project a "buddy comedy," but he promised it's "still going to be scary and messed up," according to The Hollywood Reporter interview published in June. Tomlinson gave fans an even more vivid pitch on the Raiders of the Lost Podcast, saying it's "like if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary," as Dread Central reported.
That mix of laughs and dread is the film's calling card. Expect jokes that curdle into jump scares.
Meet the Cast and Creative Team
Barker directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with his longtime collaborator Tomlinson, and both men also star and serve as executive producers. They're joined by 47-year-old Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul and 45-year-old Bryce Dallas Howard. Violet McGraw and Chris Reinacher round out the cast, per Gold Derby.
Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Spooky Pictures return from Obsession, alongside Divide/Conquer and Image Nation. Barker and Tomlinson's own banner, That's a Bad Idea, is also on board.
The duo shared the release news on their social channels. "Our film, Anything but Ghosts, is officially hitting theaters May 7, 2027," they said, per Gold Derby.
It's a rare, playful moment of unity from two filmmakers who clearly still enjoy working together. Their creative partnership is the engine behind the whole project.
How It Connects to Obsession
Barker has said the new movie shares a universe with Obsession, his breakout hit starring Inde Navarrette. That film is now a serious awards-season contender, and Navarrette is generating Best Actress buzz, per Gold Derby. (Nikki fans should keep reading.)
Navarrette previously revealed that Anything But Ghosts will explain what happened to her character after Obsession's bloody ending. Just how deep the crossover runs remains under wraps, and Barker has said he doesn't want to repeat himself. "Nobody wants the same movie twice," he said in his Hollywood Reporter interview.
Want more from that world? Obsession has even inspired a viral Halloween costume this season.
A Wild, Fast Production
Barker shot the film before Obsession even reached cinemas, according to Empire. The production reportedly worked from a 130-page script and wrapped in just 26 days.
The pace clearly took a toll. "The hardest day on Obsession was the easiest day on Anything But Ghosts," Barker said at Deadline's DGA panel at TIFF, as Empire noted.
That's a striking statement from a filmmaker whose last movie was made for roughly $750,000. It suggests the sophomore project is far more ambitious, with more set pieces and, presumably, more ghosts.
Release Date and Box Office Outlook
Obsession opened to $17.1 million in May and then jumped 39 percent in its second weekend, a rarity for any wide release. Focus acquired the film out of TIFF's Midnight Madness for $15 million, per Cosmic Book News.
Anything But Ghosts lands in a familiar slot, one year after that breakout. It will face competition, though. Mel Gibson's The Resurrection of the Christ (Part One) opens May 6, and the Patrick Schwarzenegger and Phoebe Dynevor romance Beach Read arrives the same day.
Horror is having a busy stretch, too. Fans can also check out our roundups of Shudder's The Cycle, the mockumentary The Dark Gets In and Lionsgate's snake thriller Beware Boiúna.
What Comes Next for Barker
Barker isn't slowing down. His third studio feature has already landed at Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, per Empire. It's an untitled project he's said he's "been excited to make for a while."
Young horror talent is also on our radar elsewhere. Read what Backrooms director Kane Parsons wants for his franchise.
Mark your calendars for May 7, 2027, because Barker's ghost-hunting duo is coming for your popcorn. Stay tuned to Bigwritehook for trailers, first-look photos and every update as the release date nears.
