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8.8
Capstone Studios / Tea Shop Productions / Under the Shell / Blumhouse Productions Acclaimed

Obsession

Obsession · Obsession Collection

2026 109 min R
Critic8.8
Horror Supernatural Thriller Romance
Peacock Apple TV Apple TV
Where to Watch

Overview

A hopeless romantic breaks a mysterious One Wish Willow and wishes for his childhood friend to love him more than anyone else, only to discover that getting exactly what he wants carries terrifying consequences.
Story 9.0
Originality 9.0

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Editors

8.8 /10

Why Obsession Is Trending Again

Obsession is entering a fresh search cycle around its home release. After leading the U.S. Apple TV purchase and rental chart, the movie arrives on Peacock on July 17, creating strong demand for streaming, cast, ending and sequel information.

The One Wish Willow

The movie's central horror device is deceptively simple. Bear wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else, but the supernatural object grants the exact wording of his desire without protecting either character from the consequences.

Inde Navarrette's Breakout Role

Nikki is both frightening and tragic. Inde Navarrette's rapidly changing physical and emotional performance is central to the film's horror and has become one of the most discussed elements of the movie.

A Box Office Shock

Made for approximately $750,000, Obsession reached about $427 million worldwide by July 12, 2026. Its unusual week-to-week growth turned the movie into a major case study in word-of-mouth success.

Pros

  • Distinctive supernatural wish concept
  • Breakout performance from Inde Navarrette
  • Strong psychological and relationship horror
  • Remarkable visual control for a low-budget production
  • One of 2026's biggest word-of-mouth movie successes

Cons

  • Graphic violence may be too intense for some viewers
  • The characters make deliberately frustrating moral choices
  • The relationship themes and ending can be uncomfortable
Verdict A tiny-budget supernatural horror phenomenon that turned a simple wish-gone-wrong idea into one of 2026's biggest movie conversations.

AI Review

Obsession is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Curry Barker. Michael Johnston stars as Bear, a hopeless romantic who uses a One Wish Willow to make his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him. The wish turns her devotion into a terrifying obsession. Released theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026, the approximately $750,000 production reached about $427 million worldwide by July 12 and is scheduled to stream on Peacock from July 17.

A tiny-budget supernatural horror phenomenon that turned a simple wish-gone-wrong idea into one of 2026's biggest movie conversations.

Highly recommended for modern horror fans, especially viewers interested in supernatural relationship horror, viral breakout films and unsettling wish-gone-wrong stories.

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Physical Date
Premiere
Festival
Status
Development

Curry Barker developed Obsession after producer James Harris contacted him about expanding his horror work into a feature. Barker pitched the One Wish Willow story instead of adapting his earlier short The Chair.

Casting

Inde Navarrette was selected as Nikki after a lengthy search for an actor who could balance the character's normal personality, tragic vulnerability and supernatural menace. Michael Johnston was cast as Bear following a chemistry read.

Principal Photography

The film was shot in the Los Angeles area in late 2024. Curry Barker and cinematographer Taylor Clemons used center-composed framing and extra head space to give the imagery an intentionally uncomfortable sense of loneliness.

Festival Premiere

Obsession premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025.

Theatrical Release

Focus Features released Obsession theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026.

Breakout Box Office Run

After a $17.2 million domestic opening weekend, the film grew through word of mouth and ultimately reached approximately $427 million worldwide by July 12, 2026.

Home Release

Obsession arrived on premium video on demand on June 30, 2026, followed by physical media on July 14 and Peacock subscription streaming on July 17.

Production

Development

Curry Barker developed Obsession after producer James Harris contacted him about expanding his horror work into a feature. Barker pitched the One Wish Willow story instead of adapting his earlier short The Chair.

Casting

Inde Navarrette was selected as Nikki after a lengthy search for an actor who could balance the character's normal personality, tragic vulnerability and supernatural menace. Michael Johnston was cast as Bear following a chemistry read.

Principal Photography

The film was shot in the Los Angeles area in late 2024. Curry Barker and cinematographer Taylor Clemons used center-composed framing and extra head space to give the imagery an intentionally uncomfortable sense of loneliness.

Festival Premiere

Obsession premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025.

Theatrical Release

Focus Features released Obsession theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026.

Breakout Box Office Run

After a $17.2 million domestic opening weekend, the film grew through word of mouth and ultimately reached approximately $427 million worldwide by July 12, 2026.

Home Release

Obsession arrived on premium video on demand on June 30, 2026, followed by physical media on July 14 and Peacock subscription streaming on July 17.

Streaming

Peacock
Apple TV
Apple TV

Cast

Michael Johnston Baron "Bear" Bailey
Inde Navarrette Nikki Freeman
Cooper Tomlinson Ian
Megan Lawless Sarah Harper
Andy Richter Carter Harper
Haley Fitzgerald Viola
Darin Toonder Harry

Characters

Baron "Bear" Bailey Michael Johnston
Nikki Freeman Inde Navarrette
Ian Cooper Tomlinson
Sarah Harper Megan Lawless
Carter Harper Andy Richter
Viola Haley Fitzgerald
Harry Darin Toonder

Crew

Curry Barker Director
Curry Barker Writer
Curry Barker Editor
James Harris Producer
Haley Nicole Johnson Producer
Christian Mercuri Producer
Roman Viaris Producer
Taylor Clemons Cinematographer
Rock Burwell Composer

Trivia

  • Obsession was made for approximately $750,000 and later became Focus Features' biggest worldwide box-office release.
  • Curry Barker wrote, directed and edited the film.
  • The One Wish Willow concept was partly inspired by a monkey's paw story from The Simpsons.
  • The production filmed in the Los Angeles area in roughly 26 shooting days including reshoots.
  • Inde Navarrette developed much of Nikki's physical behavior with Curry Barker, with major aspects of the performance created without CGI.
  • By July 12, 2026, the movie had grossed approximately $427 million worldwide.
  • Obsession reached number one on the U.S. Apple TV purchase and rental movie chart in July 2026.

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Collections

Part of Obsession Collection

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Universe

Obsession

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Franchise

Obsession

The first film centered on the One Wish Willow concept, with possible continuation or anthology expansion under discussion.

Browse franchise →

Recommendations & Alternatives

A similarly themed alternative is Dune: Part Two.

Similar Films

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Scored by genre, cast, director, franchise, and studio overlap

AI Recommendation Insight

Obsession is a supernatural horror film written and directed by Curry Barker. Michael Johnston stars as Bear, a hopeless romantic who uses a One Wish Willow to make his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him. The wish turns her devotion into a terrifying obsession. Released theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026, the approximately $750,000 production reached about $427 million worldwide by July 12 and is scheduled to stream on Peacock from July 17. Similar picks: Similar Horror, Highly Rated Thriller