Netflix Wanted 'Obsession' and Wouldn't Have Released It in Theaters
By Cheryl Eddy | Published September 29, 2026, 8:00 am ET | Reading time 2 minutes
India Navarrette as Nikki in 'Obsession.' © Focus Features
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The plot of Obsession ends in a bleak place, but the movie itself achieved a happy Hollywood ending. It racked up box-office records, made money hand over fist, helped usher in a new wave of YouTube creators, and vaulted director Curry Barker to the A-list, with his cast, including future X-Men star Inde Navarrette, following not far behind.
However, there was a time not long ago when Obsession was just an independent film dreaming of a best-case scenario—and its path almost took a different turn. As Barker explained on the Q with Tom Power podcast (via Dread Central):
“I knew that the movie played well. I knew that the scares were scary and the laughs were funny, but I didn’t know how it would play in other theaters or if that would be the same case everywhere.”
The next day, he realized the impact Obsession had made, not just from the audience but on an industry eager for the next horror hit. He recalled a morning filled with missed calls from his agent and financier, indicating a bidding war was underway.
“He’s like, ‘Dude, everybody’s putting in a bid for this thing … every company,’” Barker continued. “At this time, I’m still thinking maybe a small theatrical release. Maybe they just want to acquire it. And also, as a director, I’m thinking, I’m scared of, ‘Are they going to want to change my movie? Are they going to want to take out certain parts that I like?’”
Barker mentioned Netflix was initially in the conversation, ultimately acquiring and streaming Obsession worldwide. While it wouldn't have been a failure on Netflix, its theatrical release seems integral to its massive success. That first festival screening at TIFF filled theaters with eager audiences—a crucial step in the movie's meteoric rise.