The 2026 horror film "Obsession," directed by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Curry Barker, has become a runaway streaming success, topping the Prime Video, Apple TV and Google VOD charts simultaneously after its home release. This marks the latest milestone in what has been one of horror's strongest years in recent memory, with the low-budget creator-led project outperforming even major studio titles available on rival platforms, underscoring how films made outside the traditional Hollywood system can achieve mainstream commercial and critical success.

Made for a reported $750,000, "Obsession" has grossed $512.6 million globally, making it one of the most profitable films ever produced relative to its budget, and stars Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette in breakout roles. It follows the story of a man named Bear whose wish for his crush Nikki to love him unconditionally spirals into horrific consequences. Its digital chart success came despite also being available on Peacock, and it outperformed titles such as Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" and Antoine Fuqua's "Michael" on the same charts. Off the back of its success, Barker has been signed to write and direct the next "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" film for A24, has a further project, "Anything But Ghosts," already completed for 2027, and has sold another horror pitch to Universal and Blumhouse, while Navarrette has reportedly landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.