Just finished Obsession (2025) and can’t stop thinking about it? You’re not alone. Curry Barker’s low-budget horror phenomenon—made for roughly $750,000 and racing past $450 million worldwide—has left audiences reeling with its mix of magical wish-fulfillment gone wrong, violent possessiveness, and body horror. In the film, a shy music-store employee named Bear uses a mysterious “One Wish Willow” charm that twists affection into something dark and uncontrollable. What begins as longing curdles into toxic control, moral ambiguity, and escalating dread.

If you’re searching for the best movies like Obsession, you’ve come to the right place. This list gathers the strongest films similar to Obsession 2025—psychological thrillers and toxic-relationship horror movies that explore obsession, manipulation, dark romance, and the terrifying side of desire. Whether you want pure body horror, classic erotic tension, or modern satirical takes, these Obsession movie recommendations will keep the unease going long after the credits roll.

Why You’ll Love These Movies

What makes psychological thrillers like Obsession so addictive is the way they weaponize intimacy. Shared themes across these films include:

• Toxic and obsessive relationships that start with genuine (or manufactured) affection
• Psychological manipulation and power imbalances
• Body horror or visceral physical consequences of emotional fixation
• Dark romance laced with moral gray areas
• Standout performances, especially from women navigating (or embodying) dangerous desire
• An atmosphere that feels intimate, claustrophobic, and increasingly unsettling

These aren’t just jump-scare machines. They’re stories about control, agency, and what happens when love refuses to stay within healthy bounds—exactly the territory Curry Barker’s film explores so effectively.

Best Movies Like Obsession (2025): 12 Must-Watch Thrillers About Toxic Love & Obsession

1. Companion (2025) – Directed by Drew Hancock

A weekend getaway at a remote cabin turns nightmarish when one guest—an android built for companionship—begins to push against the role she was designed to play.

Why it feels similar: Like Obsession, it digs into co-dependency, manufactured affection, and a relationship that becomes lethally controlling. Both films examine what happens when one partner treats the other as an object to shape and own.

Standout elements: Sophie Thatcher’s layered performance and the film’s sharp mix of dark comedy, sci-fi, and sudden violence. Runtime: 97 minutes. Commonly available on major VOD platforms and select streamers after its theatrical run.

2. Pearl (2022) – Directed by Ti West

An ambitious young woman trapped on an isolated farm dreams of stardom while her isolation and darker impulses slowly consume her.

Why it feels similar: Both films chart a character’s obsessive desire transforming into something monstrous. Pearl shares Obsession’s interest in suppressed longing that erupts into violence and a strong, unforgettable female performance at the center.

Standout elements: Mia Goth’s tour-de-force acting and the film’s vibrant, almost fairy-tale visual style that clashes beautifully with the horror. Runtime: approximately 102 minutes. Widely available on streaming and VOD.

Also Read: Pearl Movies in Order

3. Fatal Attraction (1987) – Directed by Adrian Lyne

A married man’s brief affair spirals into a dangerous fixation when the other woman refuses to be dismissed.

Why it feels similar: This is the classic template for toxic, obsessive romance. Obsession has been widely compared to a supernatural, body-horror update of Fatal Attraction’s central dynamic of desire turning lethal.

Standout elements: Glenn Close’s iconic, unhinged performance and the film’s slow-burn tension. Runtime: 119 minutes. Frequently available on major streaming services and classic-film platforms.

4. Audition (1999) – Directed by Takashi Miike

A widower holds a fake audition to find a new wife, only to discover that the seemingly perfect candidate harbors far darker depths.

Why it feels similar: Both films lure viewers with the promise of connection before revealing the horrific cost of idealizing or controlling a partner. The shift from quiet drama to extreme psychological and physical horror is masterfully handled.

Standout elements: Eihi Shiina’s unforgettable performance and Miike’s patient, devastating escalation. Runtime: approximately 115 minutes. Available on specialty horror streamers and physical media.

5. Possession (1981) – Directed by Andrzej Żuławski

A marriage collapses into chaotic, almost supernatural emotional and physical breakdown amid Cold War Berlin.

Why it feels similar: Few films match Obsession’s raw intensity around toxic love and bodily transformation. Possession delivers operatic body horror and a relationship so destructive it feels otherworldly.

Standout elements: Isabelle Adjani’s legendary, physical performance and the film’s feverish, nightmarish energy. Runtime: roughly 124 minutes. Cult classic status makes it available on arthouse and horror platforms.

6. Get Out (2017) – Directed by Jordan Peele

A young Black man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate and slowly realizes something is very wrong beneath the polite surface.

Why it feels similar: Both films use genre trappings to explore control, agency, and the horror of being reshaped by someone else’s desires. Obsession has been described by some as sharing thematic DNA with Peele’s breakout hit.

Standout elements: Sharp social commentary, masterful tension, and a career-making performance from Daniel Kaluuya. Runtime: 104 minutes. Widely available across major streamers.

7. Misery (1990) – Directed by Rob Reiner

A famous author is rescued after a car crash by his “number one fan,” who soon reveals a terrifying level of devotion.

Why it feels similar: The ultimate story of obsessive fandom turning into captivity and violence. Both films examine one-sided love that becomes prison-like and increasingly brutal.

Standout elements: Kathy Bates’s Oscar-winning performance and the relentless claustrophobia. Runtime: 107 minutes. A staple on streaming services and classic thriller lineups.

8. Ingrid Goes West (2017) – Directed by Matt Spicer

A socially awkward young woman becomes dangerously obsessed with a popular Instagram influencer and moves across the country to insert herself into her life.

Why it feels similar: Modern, technology-fueled obsession and the hunger for connection that tips into stalking and self-destruction. It captures the same desperate need for belonging that drives much of Obsession.

Standout elements: Aubrey Plaza’s darkly funny yet unsettling lead turn and sharp social-media satire. Runtime: 98 minutes. Available on multiple streaming platforms.

9. Strange Darling (2023) – Directed by JT Mollner

A one-night stand quickly escalates into a twisted, violent cat-and-mouse game where nothing is quite what it seems.

Why it feels similar: Intense chemistry that curdles into danger, unreliable perspectives, and a relationship defined by power and survival. The film’s kinetic energy and moral ambiguity echo Obsession’s tone.

Standout elements: Strong performances from Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner plus clever structural twists. Runtime: approximately 97 minutes. Available on VOD and select streamers.

10. Don’t Worry Darling (2022) – Directed by Olivia Wilde

A 1950s housewife in an idyllic company town begins to suspect that the perfect life her husband provides hides a sinister secret.

Why it feels similar: Themes of control, manufactured happiness, and a partner who may be shaping reality itself. The slow unraveling of domestic bliss into something darker will feel familiar to Obsession fans.

Standout elements: Florence Pugh’s magnetic performance and stylish production design. Runtime: 123 minutes. Streaming on major platforms after its theatrical release.

11. Ruby Sparks (2012) – Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

A struggling novelist creates the perfect girlfriend on the page—and then she magically comes to life.

Why it feels similar: The fantasy of crafting an ideal partner and the ethical nightmare that follows when that partner develops her own will. It shares Obsession’s interest in wish-fulfillment and the consequences of controlling another person’s identity.

Standout elements: Zoe Kazan’s witty, heartfelt performance and the film’s blend of romance and existential unease. Runtime: 104 minutes. Available on various streaming and rental services.

12. Blink Twice (2024) – Directed by Zoë Kravitz

A young woman is invited to a billionaire’s private island getaway, only to discover the glamorous setting conceals something deeply predatory.

Why it feels similar: Power imbalances, manipulation disguised as hospitality, and a growing sense that consent and memory themselves are under threat. It complements Obsession’s exploration of toxic dynamics with a sharp, modern feminist edge.

Standout elements: Naomi Ackie’s grounded lead performance and Kravitz’s stylish, tense direction. Runtime: 102 minutes. Available on Peacock and major VOD platforms.

Quick Guide: Which Movie to Watch Next?

• Best pure body horror companion: Possession or Audition
• Best classic obsessive romance: Fatal Attraction or Misery
• Best modern satirical / sci-fi take: Companion or Get Out
• Best female-driven psychological descent: Pearl or Ingrid Goes West
• Best twisty, relationship-as-war thriller: Strange Darling or Blink Twice

Frequently Asked Questions About Movies Like Obsession

What movie is most similar to Obsession 2025? Companion (2025) is the closest contemporary match in tone, themes of control within a relationship, and the way affection becomes weaponized. Many viewers and critics have paired the two films as spiritual siblings.

Are there any movies like Obsession on Netflix, Hulu, or Prime? Availability rotates, but Get Out, Misery, Fatal Attraction, Don’t Worry Darling, and Ingrid Goes West frequently appear on major streamers. Companion, Pearl, Blink Twice, and Strange Darling are often available for rent or on specific platforms shortly after theatrical windows. Check your local JustWatch or streaming guide for current options.

Is Obsession based on a true story or book? No. Obsession (2025) is an original story written and directed by Curry Barker. It draws on classic tropes of toxic romance and folk-horror wish-fulfillment rather than a specific true event or published novel.

What should I watch after Obsession if I want more body horror? Start with Possession (1981) for raw emotional and physical intensity, then move to Audition (1999) for a slower, more surgical escalation. Pearl also delivers memorable physical and psychological extremes.

Are there lighter or more comedic takes on similar themes? Ruby Sparks and Ingrid Goes West lean more into dark comedy and satire while still exploring unhealthy obsession. Companion balances horror with sharp humor as well.

Final Thoughts: Keep the Obsession Going

Curry Barker’s Obsession proved that a tiny budget and a sharp idea about toxic love can still dominate the cultural conversation. The twelve films above expand that conversation in every direction—classic erotic thrillers, extreme Japanese horror, modern social satire, and stylish psychological mind-benders.

Pick the one that matches the flavor of dread you’re craving most, dim the lights, and prepare to question every “perfect” relationship on screen.

Which of these movies like Obsession are you watching first? Drop your ranking or hidden-gem recommendations in the comments—and share this list with any friend still reeling from Barker’s film. The best way to process a great horror experience is to keep the conversation (and the tension) alive.