Curry Barker’s breakout horror sensation Obsession finally has a Netflix home. Netflix confirmed that the Focus Features film will start streaming in the US on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, about four months after it first landed on Peacock. The news gives subscribers who missed one of the year’s biggest theatrical stories a fresh chance to see what all the fuss is about.
Netflix shared the news on X on October 18, 2026 with a short video and a fitting tagline. “You wished for this,” the post reads, adding that the film is “coming to Netflix in the US on November 17.” The announcement specifically names the US, so viewers in other countries shouldn’t expect the movie on the same day.
The date lines up neatly with the film’s earlier streaming debut. Obsession began streaming exclusively on Peacock on July 17, 2026. November 17 lands exactly four months later, which matches the way Universal and Focus Features titles now move from Peacock to Netflix.
What Is Obsession about?
Obsession centers on Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a lonely music store employee who has a huge crush on his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette. Hoping to win her heart, he breaks a mysterious novelty toy called the One Wish Willow. Bear gets exactly what he asked for, but he soon learns that some wishes come with a dark and sinister price.
The idea came together after Barker caught a rerun of The Simpsons segment Treehouse of Horror II, in which a monkey’s paw grants wishes that backfire. Barker told CinemaBlend that he’d already been toying with a story about obsession, and the episode showed him he could tell it as “a wish gone wrong type of film.” Peacock also notes that the film is a modern spin on W. W. Jacobs’ classic short story The Monkey’s Paw.
Who are in the Obsession cast?
Obsession is led by Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette, with Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and comedian Andy Richter rounding out the main cast. Here’s a look at who plays whom.
Actor | Character | Known For |
|---|---|---|
Michael Johnston | Baron (Bear) Bailey | Teen Wolf, X-Men ’97 |
Inde Navarrette | Nikki Freeman | Superman & Lois, 13 Reasons Why |
Cooper Tomlinson | Ian | Milk & Serial, That’s a Bad Idea |
Megan Lawless | Sarah | Play by Play |
Andy Richter | Carter Harper | Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Elf |
Tomlinson is more than just a co-star, since he and Barker created the sketch comedy channel That’s a Bad Idea together. Richter plays Bear’s boss at the music store, and his character is also the father of Sarah.
Obsession Director Curry Barker’s Rise From YouTube
Barker, who was 26 when the film hit theaters, wrote and directed Obsession after building his career with short-form videos on TikTok and YouTube, Variety reported. His micro-budget horror film Milk & Serial became a viral hit after he released it for free on YouTube. That success put him on Hollywood’s radar and set the stage for his big-screen debut.
Obsession premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Focus Features later acquired the film, with Variety reporting a $14 million deal and Deadline putting the price at more than $15 million. The film then opened in US theaters on May 15, 2026.
Obsession Box Office: A $750,000 Film Turned Global Phenomenon
Obsession was made for just $750,000, yet it opened to $17.1 million in the US and kept growing week after week. Forbes reported that it quickly became Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever. It also became the highest-grossing festival acquisition of all time, passing The Blair Witch Project.
The film crossed the $500 million mark worldwide in August, becoming the first original movie of the 2020s to reach that milestone, Bloody Disgusting reported. Box Office Mojo now lists its global total at about $522.8 million, including roughly $263.5 million from the US. That makes it the highest-grossing film ever made for less than $1 million.
Korean moviegoers have embraced the film too. Obsession opened in Korean theaters on September 2, 2026, and passed 916,000 admissions by October 4, Sports Donga reported, citing the Korean Film Council’s box office tracking system.
How Obsession Made Its Way to Netflix
The film’s streaming path follows a deal between Netflix and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which was first announced in October 2024. Under that agreement, live-action films from Universal Pictures and Focus Features premiere on Peacock first. Netflix then gets a 10-month window where those films stream only on Netflix before they go back to Peacock.
The deal was originally set to cover the 2027 slate, but it kicked in early this year. Media Play News reported that Netflix now gets a 10-month exclusive run after Peacock’s initial four-month window, and Peacock then gets the movies back for another four months. That is why Obsession is leaving Peacock and landing on Netflix right on schedule.
Other Ways to Watch Obsession Before Netflix
Fans who can’t wait until November have a few options in the US. Obsession is still streaming on Peacock, and it’s also available to rent or buy on digital platforms, where it arrived on June 30. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD editions followed on July 14 and include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a commentary from Barker.
Netflix hasn’t announced plans to stream Obsession outside the US. Universal’s Netflix deal covers US rights, so the film’s streaming home in other countries will depend on local licensing deals.
What’s next for Obsession Director Curry Barker?
Barker’s next feature is the Blumhouse film Anything But Ghosts, which he is directing, co-writing with Tomlinson and starring in, Variety reported. The film follows two fraudulent paranormal investigators who are forced to face real ghosts. Barker is also set to write and direct A24’s reimagining of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, per Deadline.
Not long ago, Barker was making micro-budget horror for YouTube, and now his big-screen debut is the highest-grossing film ever made for under $1 million. Its Netflix debut on November 17 will bring the One Wish Willow to a huge new audience in the US, many of whom never caught the film in theaters or on Peacock. With Anything But Ghosts and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on the way, Obsession looks more like the start of Barker’s career than its peak.
