Obsession: Netflix wanted a straight-to-streaming deal, Focus Features won distribution
In brief
- Curry Barker told Q with Tom Power that Netflix wanted to send Obsession straight to streaming, but Focus Features ultimately got distribution.
In the end, the distribution deal went to Focus Features. The available sources do not mention contract details, the order of the bids, or any financial terms.
What happened
In his conversation on Q with Tom Power, Curry Barker said Netflix wanted to take Obsession directly to streaming. According to Barker, that meant the film would not get a traditional theatrical release, but would debut on the platform itself. The video description from Q with Tom Power makes the same point and also says Focus Features later helped turn the film into a major box office success in 2026.
Barker also said several distributors came calling after an early screening of the film. In the reporting provided, Neon, Focus Features and A24 are named as companies that were interested in Obsession. That paints a picture of a film that was not picked up by just one buyer, but drew attention from multiple companies at the same time.
The distribution deal ultimately went to Focus Features. Box Office Mojo lists Focus Features as the domestic distributor of Obsession and notes an early release in May 2026. The sources in this dossier do not confirm the exact negotiation round, the timing of the bids, or any changes to the deal. It also remains unclear whether Netflix made its offer before or after the other bids.
Timeline
2026-09-25: The Playlist reports that Netflix made a straight-to-streaming offer for Obsession and ties it to Barker’s recollection of the distribution talks.
2026-09-27: IGN reports on Barker’s comments and says Focus Features won the distribution, while Neon and A24 also showed interest.
2026-09-27: The Q with Tom Power video featuring Curry Barker circulates as a source for his comments on the distribution talks; the video description explicitly says Netflix wanted to take the film straight to streaming.
2026-05-13: Box Office Mojo lists this date as the earliest release for Obsession in EMEA and names Focus Features as the domestic distributor.
2026: The supplied reporting positions Obsession as a notable box office hit in 2026, but this dossier does not independently verify that ranking.
Background
Obsession is described in the supplied sources as a low-budget film that later performed strongly in theaters. Box Office Mojo names Focus Features as the domestic distributor and lists an early May 2026 release. That confirms the film did not end up as a streaming-exclusive title, but instead reached the market through a traditional distribution path.
One of the supplied summaries calls Obsession the biggest box office success story of 2026, but that ranking is not independently confirmed in this dossier. The available figures do confirm that the film had a notable theatrical release, but not that specific superlative claim. The external context also includes a box office overview that cites a domestic total of $263.5 million and a worldwide total of $516.8 million, though those numbers are not confirmed here by a primary source.
The available information mainly shows how broad the interest in the film was. Alongside Netflix, Neon, Focus Features and A24 are all mentioned as parties that came forward after an early screening. That suggests Obsession was seen as a title with potential for multiple distribution models, from streaming to theaters.
The sources do not provide details on the contents of the bids, the length of the negotiations, or any creative conditions. It is also not confirmed whether the interest from Netflix, Neon or A24 came at the same time or in a specific order. What is clear is that Barker looked back on a competitive distribution process, and that Focus Features ultimately became the company that released the film.
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Sources
- IGN: "Netflix Tried to Bring Obsession Straight to Streaming Before It Exploded in Theaters"
- The Playlist: "Curry Barker Says Netflix Tried To Buy 'Obsession' With A Straight-To-Streaming Offer"
- Box Office Mojo: Obsession
- Q with Tom Power: "Curry Barker on Obsession's success: 'What the hell?'"