2026’s biggest horror movie could have ended up being absent from cinemas entirely based on comments from the film’s director. Thus far, 2026 has been a bumper crop year for the horror genre, as plenty of the most critically and commercially well-received movies of the year have been those intended to provide a suitable amount of spooks and scares for audiences.
Indeed, the box office results of 2026 have seen plenty of new horror franchises become this time period’s most successful, which is particularly exciting given the track record of pre-established franchises dominating this kind of space. In a similar vein, 2026’s Resident Evil appears to have flipped the franchise’s track record when it comes to movie adaptations, thanks to its own positive fiscal and review results.
With this landscape in mind, it’s even more interesting to note that 2026’s biggest horror movie hit to date has a history that means it was very much possible for it to have not released in cinemas whatsoever. Indeed, in an alternate reality wherein things went only a little differently, Obsession would have been a film that released on streaming first and foremost instead, though this would arguably not have suited the movie as much as its actual theatrical release did.
Obsession Got Streaming Offers Before It Released In Cinemas
In an interview with Q with Tom Power, Obsession director Curry Barker delved into the various offers made regarding the movie before the decision was cemented for the film to release theatrically. Barker explained that, after the film’s September 2025 premiere at the Toronto Film Festival – which came some time before the movie’s May 2026 theatrical release – a range of different offers were made by those eager to acquire the project after its stellar reception at the film festival.
Notably, Barker references how Obsession could have become a streaming-first movie rather than releasing in cinemas first, mentioning that: “I think Netflix was in the conversation at one point. They put in an offer to just put it straight on Netflix.“
This is interesting, as it means what has become one of 2026’s biggest box office hits – and the biggest horror movie of the year – could have ended up never emerging in theaters at all had different avenues been taken when it came to this stage of the movie’s release process.
Why Releasing In Cinemas First Was Better For Obsession
While the potency of Obsession‘s story and performances mean it could have arguably succeeded in any release format it was given, the movie having netted itself an impressive $520 million worldwide at the box office does seem to help cement its status as a hit in a way that even a notable number of weeks in Netflix’s most-watched movie list couldn’t have as clearly communicated.
Similarly, the nature of Obsession‘s story does appear to have been assisted by its initial theatrical release. Audiences having to go to the cinema to get the answers to the questions they had about the movie from its trailers and initial reviews does seem to have helped make it an event movie, and added a layer of mystique to its events that would have perhaps been undermined if audiences could skip to the end of the horror film on streaming to see what happens from day one.
