In 2026, we know most of the big movies we’re looking forward to: The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, Supergirl, etc. But mark our words. When we hit this time next year, and we start to look back at the best genre films released in 2026, one word is almost certainly going to be on that list: Obsession.
Obsession is a new horror film from writer-director Curry Barker with a mostly unknown cast. It debuted earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival and was quickly scooped up by Focus Features. Now, Focus has finally figured out when it’s going to unleash this beast onto the world, and it’s on May 15, 2026.
Mark your calendar. Seriously. We’ll wait right here. Because Obsession is a messed-up, disgusting, terrifying movie. It’s about a young man named Bear (Michael Johnston) who has a huge crush on his good friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Nikki considers Bear just a friend, though, so one day Bear finds a trinket and wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything in the world. And it works.
But what Bear doesn’t consider is what that could mean. Yes, his crush now feels the same way. But it’s more than that. She loves him more than anything. Anything. And the places that Barker goes with the story will chill you to the bone, make you a little sick, and have you begging for more by the end.
I saw Obsession at Fantastic Fest 2025 and raved about it. It then played an event in Los Angeles called FocusFest, and I saw that as a great opportunity to see an awesome movie again early and also to show it to my wife. What I didn’t consider is that my wife likes scary movies but not brutal movies, and very quickly she was watching me, not the movie, out of anger and terror at what was unfolding on screen. If Obsession was brutal for me, it was way too much for her, and she was not pleased.
But if you’re reading this, we do think you’ll be pleased. Focus must be. Obsession is opening the same weekend as Mortal Kombat II and one week before The Mandalorian and Grogu. We’ll probably have a trailer (and new promo image) early next year, so keep an eye out. But, for now, just get ready. Obsession is coming.
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