Curry Barker’s Obsession, made on a shoestring budget of under $1 million (reportedly around $750,000), has turned into a landmark box-office success. The film bucked typical horror trends, delivered rising ticket sales over successive weekends, and ultimately became the most lucrative film acquisition ever. Now, movie fans are eagerly waiting to find out when Obsession will be available on streaming.
When does Obsession come out on streaming?
Obsession was originally slated for streaming on June 2, 2026, but its distributor, Focus Features, has postponed the digital release in light of the film’s exceptional box office success.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal Pictures, the parent company of Focus Features, reached an agreement with theaters that allowed the studio to release films digitally 17 days after their theatrical debut, as long as they earned under $50 million at the box office. Obsession premiered with a $17 million opening, leading many to anticipate that its earnings would decline in the subsequent weeks.
However, on May 31, Focus Features canceled the digital release of Obsession after the film’s box office earnings continued to climb week after week. On the very day it was supposed to debut on streaming, it earned $5.7 million in theaters, according to Movieweb.
This year, Universal Pictures changed its approach to the 17-day theatrical rule, pledging that all of its movies will now have a minimum five-week exclusive theatrical run before becoming available for digital purchase. Focus Features remains an exception and is still permitted to follow the 17-day theatrical model.
If Focus Features were to follow Universal Pictures' five-week release model for Obsession, the film could begin streaming as early as June 16. However, given its strong ongoing performance at the box office, it is improbable that it will be made available for streaming that quickly..
Obsession, featuring Michael Johnston as Bear and Inde Navarrette as Nikki, became the first film since 1982’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial to grow its box office in both its second and third weekends, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie has surpassed $200 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing release in Focus Features’ history.