Obsession Sets Netflix Release Date After Its Major 2026 Box Office Success

Obsession

Curry Barker’s horror film Obsession is preparing to make its Netflix debut in the United States, giving more viewers an opportunity to discover one of 2026’s notable horror releases. Following a successful theatrical run and an earlier streaming debut on Peacock, the film is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on November 17.

When Is Obsession Coming to Netflix?

According to an announcement shared by Netflix on X, reveals Obsession will release on the platform in the U.S. on November 17, 2026. The film, which carries an R rating, originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 before reaching theaters on May 15, 2026.

After its theatrical release, the movie became available on video-on-demand platforms on June 30 and made its streaming debut on Peacock on July 17. Its upcoming Netflix arrival is expected to introduce the horror story to an even wider audience.

What Is Obsession About?

Directed by Curry Barker, Obsession stars Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston, and Cooper Tomlinson. The story follows a hopeless romantic who turns to a mysterious object known as the One Wish Willow in an attempt to win the affection of his crush.

However, the wish produces consequences far beyond what he anticipated, turning a seemingly straightforward romantic desire into a disturbing horror experience. The film builds its central conflict around the unsettling consequences of trying to control another person’s feelings.

Obsession’s Box Office Performance and Critical Reception

Made on a reported budget of just $750,000, Obsession grossed approximately $522 million worldwide, according to the supplied information. Its reported financial performance makes the film a striking example of a low-budget horror production achieving substantial commercial success.

The movie has also received positive critical and audience responses. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 93% critics’ score, while its Popcornmeter audience score stands at 94%.

The film’s premise, filmmaking, and performances have contributed to its reception, with Inde Navarrette’s performance standing out in particular. Together, these elements have helped establish Obsession as a notable horror release in 2026.

How Obsession Compares With Other Horror Hits

Another horror film that made an impact in 2026 is Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons. Released in theaters only days after Obsession, the movie reportedly earned $400 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $10 million. It also received an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The two films approach horror from different creative directions. Obsession builds its story around an original premise involving supernatural wish fulfillment and forced affection, while Backrooms adapts material associated with a 4chan creepypasta and a subsequent viral YouTube series.

Their performances at the box office highlight the continued appeal of horror films among theatrical audiences. They also demonstrate how different storytelling approaches, from original concepts to adaptations of internet-born horror, can attract significant attention.

What Obsession’s Success Could Mean for Horror

The success of Obsession arrives at a time when sequels and remakes remain prominent in Hollywood. Its reported box-office performance is particularly notable given its production budget of less than $1 million, especially when compared with larger productions such as The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), which reportedly cost around $55 million to make.

Although the long-term impact of Obsession and Backrooms on future horror productions remains uncertain, their commercial results offer encouraging examples of the genre’s potential. Obsession, in particular, demonstrates how an original concept and a comparatively modest budget can coincide with substantial box-office success.

Obsession’s Next Chapter on Netflix

With its Netflix release scheduled for November 17, 2026, Obsession is preparing for another stage in its release journey. After attracting attention in theaters and reaching audiences through Peacock, the film will have another opportunity to find viewers on a major streaming platform.

Whether its theatrical success translates into comparable streaming interest remains to be seen. However, its upcoming Netflix debut could extend the film’s reach and further strengthen its position among the horror titles that have attracted attention in 2026.