Netflix Is Finally Releasing The Biggest Horror Movie Of The Year In 1 Month

Published Oct 19, 2026, 10:26 AM EDT Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie & TV News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay. Obsession is coming to Netflix. Directed by Curry Barker, the horror movie hit theaters on May 15 following a premiere at TIFF in 2025. Obsession became a surprise box office smash, grossing $522 million worldwide on a budget of only $750,000 before arriving on VOD on June 30. Now, a new post on X from Netflix reveals Obsession will release on the platform in the U.S. on November 17. This Netflix bow for the film follows its streaming debut on Peacock on July 17. This new release on Netflix will put the film in front of even more viewers, extending its 2026 dominance. The movie, which stars Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston, and Cooper Tomlinson, follows a hopeless romantic as he uses the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's affection, only to get far more than he bargained for. The simple yet effective premise, strong filmmaking, and breakout performances – especially from Navarrette – made Obsession a win with critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 93% critics' score, with the Popcornmeter coming in even higher at 94%. ScreenRant's Obsession review by Mae Abdulbaki was also positive at a score of seven out of 10. Abdulbaki praises the film's tension and unsettling atmosphere, as well as its exploration of the dark sides of love. She also has nothing but praise for Navarrette's strong performance, writing: Inde Navarrette is especially fantastic here, shifting between genuinely creepy horror moments and sickly sweet adoration. Her performance is wonderfully layered, blending off-putting line delivery with the warped physicality this kind of role requires. The actress is a highlight. Michael Johnston is also great, especially as his puppy dog heart eyes shift from surprise and horror the longer the film goes on. Obsession is one of two horror movies to make a strong mark this year. Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, was also a major hit, hitting theaters only days after Barker's movie. Backrooms, which has an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, grossed $400 million worldwide on a budget of about $10 million. Together, the two movies affirm that horror remains one of the most consistently popular genres in theaters. More than that, however, Obsession and Backrooms speak to the kinds of horror movies audiences want to see. The former is wholly original with standout performances and a creative premise, while the latter adapts a 4chan creepypasta and subsequent viral YouTube series. It remains to be seen what the long-term effects of Obsession and Backrooms are in terms of horror output in theaters, but Obsession's success, especially, goes against the current trend of sequels and remakes dominating Hollywood. What makes the Barker film even more impressive is that it was made for less than $1 million, a far cry from something like The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), which was made for around $55 million. Now only about a month out from Obsession's arrival on Netflix, the film's impact seems likely to continue. After dominating in theaters, Barker's movie appears destinted to become a major viewership draw on its new streaming platform. Release Date May 15, 2026 Runtime 108 minutes Director Curry Barker Writers Curry Barker Producers Christian Mercuri, James Harris, Roman Viaris, Haley Nicole Johnson