Curry Barker‘s Obsession, the TIFF Midnight horror title that we first told you Focus Features snapped up for $15M+ in the first deal of this year’s fest, will release in cinemas on May 15, 2026.
Obsession will play against Amazon MGM Studios’ Is God Is and Row K’s Maude Apatow title Poetic License.
Pic’s blurb: After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. Barker directed off a screenplay he also wrote.
Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter star in the movie. Pic is produced by James Harris (Teashop Productions), Haley Nicole Johnson (Under the Shell) and Christian Mercuri on behalf of Capstone Pictures.
Post TIFF, the movie went on to sold-out screenings at Fantastic Fest and also won Sitges’ People’s Choice Award. Thirty-three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have Obsession at 97% fresh.
Universal Pictures International will handle international distribution on Obsession.
Focus Features’ fall slate includes Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, based the New York Times bestselling novel, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley on Nov. 26, and Song Sung Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson on Christmas Day. Currently in theaters is Yorgos Lanthimos’ fifth collaboration with Emma Stone, Bugonia, which also stars Jesse Plemons; that pic counting a current running cume of $13M+ at the global box office, now in its second week in theaters. Looking to 2026, Focus will release Werwulf, its third collaboration with director, Robert Eggers, on Christmas Day.