Cory Barke's horror film Obsessed will be available on Netflix starting November 17, allowing viewers to watch it via streaming. The film has already grossed over $500 million worldwide in theaters, with this streaming launch occurring approximately six months after its theatrical release.
Netflix had proposed skipping theatrical release and launching the film directly on its platform during the early bidding stage, but the producers ultimately rejected this plan. Focus Features later took over the film and pushed it into theaters. Starting as an original screenplay and independent production, Obsessed went on to become one of the highest-grossing original films of the past decade.
The film currently holds critic and audience scores of 93% and 94%, respectively. Reviews have praised its blend of classic and modern horror elements, its atmosphere of fear, and the authenticity brought by lesser-known actors.
Audience reviews specifically highlighted Inde Navarrette's performance as Nikki, noting that the film consistently keeps its narrative focus on this female character. After a successful theatrical run, Obsessed is finally returning to Netflix, the platform that had initially suggested a direct-to-streaming release.
Detailed report from Comicbook:
Obsessed has taken the world by storm. It began as just an independent film with an original script and a very ambitious dream. But its final achievements far exceeded director Cory Barke's expectations. It became one of the highest-grossing original films of the last decade, earning over $500 million globally during its theatrical run, and ranking among the best-performing horror films in history.
Now, after achieving these successes, Obsessed is coming to Netflix. Interestingly, Netflix had previously boldly suggested bypassing theatrical release entirely in favor of a direct streaming launch, but Focus Features secured the rights first.
Netflix's initial proposal was to skip theaters entirely and premiere Obsessed directly on its own platform. Someone recalled, "They made an offer to just put it on Netflix." Now, the film is finally coming to Netflix. Fans are certainly happy to see it on such a widely used platform, but no one wants Netflix to have won that initial bidding war. After all, without a theatrical release, its subsequent box office success would never have been possible.
Six months after its theatrical release, Obsessed continues to receive high praise from both critics and audiences, with scores of 93% and 94% respectively. Critic Simon Thompson said, "If you care about original horror films in any way or on any level, see Obsessed as soon as you can. It is a top-tier horror film that cleverly combines old and new ideas while creating a truly palpable sense of fear."
Obsessed's performance truly demonstrates the power of original cinema and shows that audiences still crave original works. In a market saturated with established franchises and endless sequels, viewers seem to have been waiting for a film like Obsessed.
Speaking to the audience's demand for original and horror films, one viewer summed up the reason for Obsessed's success in a single paragraph: "Cory Barke's choice to cast fresh and mostly unknown faces is exactly why Obsessed works. Without the baggage of stardom, every character feels authentic, and every scare hits harder."
This viewer also believes the film truly belongs to Inde Navarrette. Barke kept the story centered on Nikki, and Navarrette completely mastered the role, allowing her to shift naturally between gentleness and a deeply unsettling state.
The viewer also noted that through the character of Bell, the film accurately captures a painful yet all-too-familiar phenomenon: no matter the situation, men always find a way to portray themselves as victims. In this viewer's opinion, Obsessed powerfully demonstrates two things: taking bold risks on new talent pays off, and letting a woman carry the weight of an entire story also pays off.
Overall, Obsessed deserves all the attention and praise it has received since its release. It proves that audiences will always want to see original stories, especially original horror stories with women at the core.