Curry Barker, the brilliant creative mind behind the 2024 micro-budget viral horror hit Milk & Serial, has officially made his big studio debut. Obsession, the highly anticipated supernatural psychological horror, just hit theaters yesterday, May 15, 2026.
Having premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the film has received widespread critical acclaim and praise, especially towards Barker’s direction and writing.
The film follows a hopeless romantic, Bear, who buys a One Wish Willow to win over his crush, Nikki. While his wish does come true, it unleashes an evil, obsessive persona in Nikki, leading to an escalating nightmarish plot. If you want to watch the film from the comfort of your home, here is when, where, and how you can stream it.
NameObsessionDirected ByCurry BarkerWritten ByCurry Barker CastMichael JohnstonInde NavarretteCooper TomlinsonMegan LawlessAndy RichterProduction CompanyCapstone PicturesTea Shop ProductionsBlumhouse ProductionsDistributed ByFocus Features (United States)Universal Pictures (International)Runtime109 minutesRelease Date15 May, 2026 (United States)Ratings (as of May 2026)8.2 IMDb94% | 94% RT
When Will Obsession Release on Streaming?
Obsession is written and directed by Curry Barker and was released theatrically in the United States on May 15, 2026, by Focus Features, while Universal Pictures is handling its international distribution (via Deadline).
Since it has just had its theatrical release, its streaming release depends on the timeline that Focus Features or Universal follows. Usually, a film from either studio takes about 30 days after the end of its theatrical window to land on digital platforms.
So we can expect the film to land on Premium Video-on-Demand (PVOD) services by June or July. Audiences can either rent or purchase a digital copy of the film through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more.
If you want to stream Obsession as part of an existing subscription without paying a premium rental fee, you will have to wait a little longer. Usually, streaming release takes place 45 to 90 days after big-screen premieres.
Given its May 15 theatrical release date, Obsession is projected to arrive on subscription streaming platforms in late July 2026 or early August 2026.
Will Obsession Release on Netflix or Prime Video?
A still from the film | Credits: Focus Features
When Obsession finally completes its theatrical and PVOD runs, it will stream exclusively on Peacock. This is because Universal Pictures and Focus Features are sister companies under the Comcast/NBCUniversal umbrella, and all of their theatrical releases are hard-coded to go directly to Peacock for their initial streaming window.
The movie will remain on Peacock exclusively for a four-month period before shifting to Prime Video for the next ten months of the window as per the deal between Universal and Amazon (via Deadline). Then it will stream on Peacock for four more months.
Streaming ServicePlan TierMonthly CostAnnual CostPlan Details & FeaturesAmazon Prime VideoPrime Video Standalone$8.99N/AVideo streaming only. Does not include free Amazon shipping or other Prime perks. Ad-supported.Amazon Prime Membership$14.99$139.00Full access to Prime Video, free Amazon delivery, Amazon Music, and Prime Reading. Ad-supported.Ad-Free Viewing Upgrade+$4.99+$45.99Add-on that removes ads. Can be applied to either the Standalone plan or the full Prime Membership.PeacockSelect$7.99$79.99Ad-supported access to TV favorites from NBC, Bravo, and more. Excludes sports, movies, and Peacock Originals.Premium$10.99$109.99Ad-supported access to the full content library, including live sports, events, movies, and Peacock Originals.Premium Plus$16.99$169.99Ad-free streaming (with limited exclusions), live sports/events, access to your local NBC station, and offline downloads.
As for its exact release date on streaming, we will have to wait till its theatrical run is completed to know for sure when the film will arrive on digital and streaming platforms.
Written and directed by Barker, the film stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter in prominent roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Obsession available to stream on Netflix?
No. Because the film is distributed domestically by Focus Features/Universal, it is legally bound to Peacock for its initial subscription streaming run. It will not be appearing on Netflix anytime soon.
Is this horror movie a remake or an original story?
It is completely original. Written and directed by Curry Barker, the film moves entirely away from Hollywood’s reliance on sequels and remakes, delivering a fresh folklore-inspired nightmare centered around the “One Wish Willow.”
Who stars in the film?
The cast features an excellent lineup of rising young talent, led by Michael Johnston (Teen Wolf) as Bear and Inde Navarrette (13 Reasons Why) as Nikki, alongside Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless.
Structurally designed to be a deeply intimate, claustrophobic nightmare, the film may play even better when you are streaming it alone in your living room. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Obsession is currently playing in theaters in the United States.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
