Obsession poster

Obsession

Baron "Bear" Bailey breaks a novelty charm to force his co-worker Nikki Freeman to love him, but the supernatural compulsion warps her mind into violent obsession, trapping him in a nightmare he cannot wish away.

Trailer

Director

Curry Barker

Writer

Curry Barker

Studio

Capstone Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Tea Shop Productions

Release

May 15, 2026

Runtime

109 min

Genres

Dark Romance, Psychological Horror, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural Horror, Horror, Romance, Thriller

Country

United States

Budget

$750,000 (estimated)

Box office

$474,780,890 worldwide ($262,774,890 domestic; $17,196,855 opening weekend)

Awards

7 wins & 15 nominations total.

Cast & Characters

Michael Johnston

Bear

Michael Johnston

Inde Navarrette

Nikki

Inde Navarrette

Cooper Tomlinson

Ian

Cooper Tomlinson

Megan Lawless

Sarah

Megan Lawless

Andy Richter

Carter

Andy Richter

Haley Fitzgerald

Viola

Haley Fitzgerald

Darin Toonder

Harry

Darin Toonder

Anthony Pavone

Reggie

Anthony Pavone

Justice

Joe

Justice

Anthony Casabianca

Chris

Anthony Casabianca

Chloe Breen

Ruthie

Chloe Breen

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Did You Know?

Also known as "Ám Ảnh" in Vietnamese-language markets.

Source: IMDb · verified 2026-08-02

Filmed in Los Angeles, California.

Source: IMDb · verified 2026-08-02

Critical Assessment

IMDb
7.9/10
RT Critics
94%
Metacritic
77/100

Obsession holds 7.9/10 on IMDb (291K votes) and a Metascore of 77 from 277 critic reviews — an unusually strong reception for a Blumhouse horror-romance on a $750K budget.

Taking an icky conceit and twisting it to deviously crowd-pleasing ends, Obsession is dauntingly disturbing while also skillfully amusing and thrilling. Rotten Tomatoes (critics consensus)

A 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, a 77 Metascore, and a 7.9 IMDb average from 291K votes are unusually well-aligned for a horror release — critics and audiences agree this is one of the genre's strongest recent outings, not just a viral marketing success.

Ratings as of August 2, 2026

🤖

AI Verdict

AI-generated

Obsession's $474.8M worldwide gross on a $750,000 budget is one of the greatest ROI stories in recent horror — and unlike most micro-budget breakouts, both critics (77 Metascore) and audiences (7.9 IMDb, 291K votes) actually back it up, suggesting Curry Barker's cursed-charm premise is the rare high-concept horror hook that delivers on its promise rather than just its marketing.

Fan & Critic Buzz

AI Summary

The public reaction to "Obsession" is overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the film's original concept, effective build-up of tension, and strong performances. Critics and viewers alike have commended the film for its unsettling portrayal of obsession and control. The movie has been widely praised on social media.

Reviews

  • Curry Barker has crafted something mostly special for an almost non-existent budget. The story is compelling, the acting is solid, and Obsession feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison to similar horror films. However, it’s disappointing that one shrill character trait nea…

    Chris Sawin · 6/10
  • "Bear" (Michael Johnston) has a crush on his pal "Nikki" (Inde Navarrette) but it's a love that dare not speak it's name. He hasn't the courage to even ask her out! When she decides that she has had enough of their two-horse town and wants to move away, he decides to buy her a gi…

    CinemaSerf · 7/10
  • Full Review: aisleseatreviews.com "Waking up in the middle of the night with the eerie sense that you’re being watched, only to look down and see your kid standing pitch-black next to your bed staring at you. That is the exact level of visceral dread this movie locks you into." O…

    James Berry · 8/10
  • Obsession is an supernatural phychological horror film directed by Curry Barker, a youtuber turned filmmaker and what a crazy film he had made on a budget 1 million dollars. The concept itself is so interesting but terrifying at the same time that will make you think that why and…

    deepaksabat · 9/10
  • Curry Barker’s feature debut is a flawless, deeply unsettling masterpiece that takes the classic "be careful what you wish for" trope and turns it into a relentless nightmare. The film centers on a music store employee who uses a supernatural trinket to force his longtime crush t…

    Dean · 10/10
  • Creepy and lovely. There's a movie called Smile which shares some of its constituent elements to this movie in that the creepiness of it builds over time and then becomes unimaginably violent towards the end. This movie does that quite well and it is very effective at building it…

    Sierbahnn · 8/10
  • A well-acted take on an age-old monkey paw trope. For a low-budget debut, Curry Baker has made quite a splash. However, any 'horror' here was through cheap audio cues, and the narrative will require you to do advanced gymnastics with your willing suspension of disbelief. A poor n…

    bokbokwhoosh · 6/10
  • A chilling reminder that the shortest route isn’t always the fastest; in Obsession, it becomes a deadly psychological trap where the journey ends and the traveler vanishes.🫠🤫

  • I know I'm supposed to say I love this movie and it's the best thing I've seen this year (cause, for some reason, it seems to be the current movie fad among White audiences) but I'm gonna be real: Obsession is a mess of a rag doll strewn up with overused clichés and age-old liter…

  • Check out my full review @ https://www.manuelsbento.com/obsession-2026-inde-navarrette-gives-the-horror-performance-of-the-decade/ Rating: B+ There's a version of OBSESSION that lives up to its own hype, and the version that I watched. What bridges the gap is Inde Navarrette's le…

  • Writer/director Curry Barker’s leap from YouTube viral fame to the big screen is one of the best success stories in Hollywood, and Kane Parsons’ **BACKROOMS** for A24 later this month appears to be further proof that the road from YouTube to Hollywood — while still less traveled…

  • There’s a fine line between genuine affection and possession, and horror movies usually thrive when crossing it. I went into *Obsession* expecting a psychological deep dive into emotional dependency, but what we actually get is an experience that violently swings between brillian…

From the trailer's comments

  • all of this could've been prevented if bro just had the courage to ask her out

    @Demiurge13 · 19454 likes
  • I can't believe it. 😮 Film cost: $750,000 Box office: $405 million

    @itsoverr-b5h · 1729 likes
  • This girl needs an Oscar nomination. Insane acting

    @YungBobby27 · 13658 likes
  • Give the Oscar to that girl. Her performance is amazing

    @lffsJC · 774 likes
  • The movie actually showed how dark and destructive it can be to force a connection with someone or try to control another person’s feelings. It was absolutely amazing.

    @yaseminkaman · 16766 likes
  • The way she laughs when his friend kids "did you put a spell on her lol?", makes me think she's aware of what's happening but she can't do anything about, so she's progressively going crazy

    @ArianetteV2 · 18810 likes
  • Ahh thats why the genie from Aladdin couldn't let him to wish for the manipulation of feelings. This movie looks crazy.

    @RyanWard-h8f1s · 17046 likes
  • I don't think any of us could predict how massive this film would become. It's making history and is quintessential proof that cinema isn't dead.

    @owensuperbot232 · 31 likes
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