Obsession, 2026’s No. 1 Horror Movie, Is Leaving Peacock in November

Curry Barker’s feature debut, Obsession, became a hit and a cultural phenomenon. Barker wrote and directed the film, which Polygon called the No. 1 horror movie of 2026. It follows Bear (Michael Johnston), who wishes that his friend Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarrette) would love him more than anyone else in the world.

Made on a budget of $750,000, Obsession earned $17.2 million in its first week in theaters and $23.9 million in its second. According to Box Office Mojo, it ranks as the tenth most profitable film of 2026 at the worldwide box office, with a reported theatrical gross of $523 million.

When is Obsession leaving Peacock?

Obsession leaves Peacock on Nov. 17, 2026, the same date it is expected to arrive on Netflix in the United States. The film began streaming on Peacock on July 17, 2026. Nielsen data reported that it drew 456 million minutes of viewing in its first two days on the service. It also spent more than 150 days on JustWatch’s U.S. streaming Top 10 list.

The film’s success extended beyond the box office and streaming charts. In the months after its release, viewers discussed its themes of bodily autonomy and consent online. The character Nikki Freeman drew thousands of visitors to California’s Halloween Horror Nights this fall, including Navarrette, as The Hollywood Reporter reported. In November 2026, Fortnite added a Nikki Freeman skin, along with a “No, No, No…” emote.

Barker had built an audience through sketches and short films on YouTube, but he did not expect Obsession to become a sensation. In a June 2026 interview with the Associated Press, he said, “That’s when you start to feel this impostor syndrome of like: What? It’s not that good. All I see when I watch ‘Obsession’ is the problems.”

In the film, Bear is a lonely, awkward man with unrequited feelings for his friend Nikki. After he fails to confess his feelings, he finds a One Wish Willow in a novelty shop. Its instructions are simple: make a wish, break the willow stick, and watch your deepest desires come true. Bear wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world, and his dream quickly becomes a nightmare.

Critics and audiences have praised the film. Polygon writer Jesse Hassenger wrote in his review: “Navarrette gets plenty of time to believably and charmingly establish who Nikki is before the wish takes her true self away. Once that happens, she does bravura work as this imitation version, regularly flying off the handle with panicked eagerness or cackling mania, creating an unusual combination of fear and pity — a true movie monster crossing possession with a Bride of Frankenstein figure.”

Obsession is moving to Netflix as awards season approaches. Focus Features, the film’s production company, is seeking consideration for the upcoming Academy Awards. The Focus Features awards website lists Obsession for Best Picture, Navarrette for Best Actress, and Barker for Best Original Screenplay, among other categories.

Source: Polygon