Curry Barker’s Obsession Acquired by Focus Features
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to Obsession, Curry Barker’s debut horror film, which premiered in the midnight section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film will be released in 2026. Universal Pictures International is set to handle international distribution.
Hailed out of Toronto as a provocative and wildly entertaining vision with a sharp style, the film signals the arrival of a bold new voice in horror.
In Obession, 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.
Written and directed by Curry Barker, Obsession stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter.
The producers include James Harris for Teashop Productions, Haley Nicole Johnson for Under the Shell, and Christian Mercuri on behalf of Capstone Pictures. Capstone represented the world and fully financed the project. CAA Media Finance co-repped domestic rights with Capstone.
Obession will screen for fans at the inaugural FocusFest hosted on the iconic Universal Studios Lot. Hosted by TikTok star Juju Green, the event will spotlight a curated lineup of Focus’s most celebrated films, including cult classic The Big Lebowski, Academy Award-winning Promising Young Woman, and a special advance screening of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia.
Beyond the big screen, FocusFest attendees will step into the worlds of these films through immersive photo moments, themed food and beverage offerings, and a curation of exclusive merchandise drops inspired by the Focus library.
Attendees will also be among the first to step onto the F-Stop, Focus’s immersive traveling airstream featuring a rotating exhibit of costume and prop displays, a cinematic stills gallery, interactive backdrops, and exclusive merch. The event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, and tickets are available here.
Focus Features’ upcoming slate includes auteur-driven works like Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, based on the New York Times bestselling novel, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley; Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons; and Song Sung Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
