Curry Barker’s unexpected summer blockbuster Obsession (2026) has completely rewritten the rulebook for modern psychological horror. Made only for $750,000, it is inching close to $200 million this week (via The Hollywood Reporter).
By brilliantly blending grounded relationship anxieties with a dark supernatural twist, the film leaves audiences spellbound by Michael Johnston’s desperate portrayal of Bear and Inde Navarrette’s deeply unsettling, violent performance as Nikki.
Well, if you loved the toxic supernatural romance, we’ve curated a list of 10 films that capture a similar sense of toxic energy, psychological tension, desperate longing, and boundary-pushing thrills.
1. Fatal Attraction (1987)
Few movies have influenced the obsession-thriller genre more than Fatal Attraction. Directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, the film follows a married man whose brief affair turns into a nightmare when his lover refuses to accept that the relationship is over.
The reason why it is so impactful is because of how the ‘obsession’ gradually escalates. Both stories explore how seemingly ordinary relationships can become emotionally destructive. While some aspects of the film may have sparked debate, its influence on modern psychological thrillers is impossible to ignore, and that is why it is a must-watch!
Fatal Attraction can be streamed on Paramount+.
2. Fear (1996)
Fear | Credits: Universal Pictures
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Mark Wahlberg delivered one of his most unsettling performances in Fear. The story follows a teenage girl, played by Reese Witherspoon, who begins dating a charming young man only to discover he is a sociopath who is extremely possessive.
Its slow reveal of its antagonist’s true nature is horrifying. The tension comes from realizing that what seemed romantic at first was actually something much darker. What makes it a must-watch is how realistic it is, and Wahlberg’s performance makes us believe that someone like him could genuinely exist.
Fear can be streamed on Tubi.
3. Stalking Laura (1993)
Stalking Laura | Credits: CBS
Also known as I Can Make You Love Me, it is based on a true story and tells the harrowing tale of a woman whose life is upended by a persistent stalker. The film explores the emotional toll of being watched, pursued, and manipulated by someone unwilling to let go.
Unlike fictional thrillers, in which events can feel exaggerated for dramatic effect, Stalking Laura reminds viewers that such situations do happen. That sense of realism makes the story even more unsettling, keeping us on edge as the film’s catastrophic events slowly unfold.
Stalking Laura can be streamed on Tubi or Sling TV.
4. The Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man | Credits: Universal Pictures
This science fiction horror film is loosely based on H. G. Wells’ classic 1897 novel. While it has been adapted before, this version reinvents a classic monster tale as a modern story about abuse, surveillance, and control.
Starring Elisabeth Moss, the film follows a woman who believes her abusive ex-boyfriend continues to terrorize her despite his apparent death. It closely mirrors Obsession in the way the antagonist takes control of another person’s life. Despite its sci-fi premise, it is essential viewing for the way it transforms itself into an emotionally grounded thriller.
The Invisible Man is available to rent on Prime Video.
5. The Perfect Guy (2015)
The Perfect Guy | Credits: Screen Gems
This underrated thriller stars Sanaa Lathan as a woman who enters a relationship with a seemingly ideal man, only to discover his darker side. As the relationship ends, his behavior becomes increasingly possessive and threatening.
Just like Obsession, the film focuses on how attraction can evolve into fixation when one person refuses to accept rejection. The movie perfectly explains how some people cannot respect boundaries and always put their needs first over others. This makes the story feel relatable even when the stakes become extreme.
The Perfect Guy can be streamed on Starz.
6. Lolita (1997)
Based on Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel, Lolita explores obsession in one of its most disturbing forms. The film follows Humbert Humbert, a man whose fixation on a young girl leads him down a morally destructive path.
Both films examine the dangers of unchecked desires and the ways such feelings can distort reality and lead to moral decay. What sets it apart from other films in this list is that it is not an easy watch, nor is it intended to be. We see how it exposes self-delusion in a masterful, heavy cinematic examination of that exact internal darkness.
Lolita can be streamed on Tubi, Pluto TV, or Prime Video.
7. Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
Sleeping with the Enemy | Credits: 20th Century Fox
Starring Julia Roberts, Sleeping with the Enemy follows a woman who fakes her death to escape an abusive husband, only to discover that he’s determined to find her. The film remains one of the most influential thrillers about control and emotional manipulation.
Both films explore how difficult it is to escape from someone who considers another person as their possession. It perfectly depicts the feeling of suffocation while being trapped by someone. It is a beautifully made survival thriller, and you can feel the sheer terror of being constantly watched and controlled.
Sleeping with the Enemy can be rented on Prime Video or Apple TV.
8. The Boy Next Door (2015)
The Boy Next Door | Credits: Universal Pictures
Directed by Rob Cohen, the film follows an older woman, played by Jennifer Lopez, who has a one-night stand with her 19-year-old neighbor. The brief affair spirals into an obsession when the young boy becomes dangerously attached, leading to a highly aggressive escalation.
It captures that same frantic, claustrophobic descent, where a single mistake destroys the safety of everyday life for everyone involved. The film makes no attempt to disguise what it is, delivering exactly the kind of tension that fans of Obsession and other thrillers will enjoy.
The Boy Next Door can be streamed on Starz.
9. Companion (2025)
Companion | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
Written and directed by Drew Hancock in his directorial debut, Companion is a sci-fi thriller and one of the freshest entries in the psychological thriller genre. The film subverts traditional thriller tropes to look at a highly toxic, forced relationship where control is absolute and involves ‘companion robots.’
Like Obsession, the film explores how unhealthy attachments can evolve into something dangerous. While a sci-fi flick, it uses psychological elements to ask bigger questions about relationships, consent, and dependency. It is pretty entertaining to watch once the companion robots break loose and assume control.
Companion can be streamed on HBO Max.
10. Single White Female (1992)
Single White Female | Credits: Columbia Pictures
A psychological erotic thriller, it may be the perfect film to capture the true idea of obsession. Single White Female follows the story of a woman who takes in a new roommate, only to discover that the newcomer is becoming increasingly fixated on her life, appearance, and identity.
She starts copying her hair, clothes, and mannerisms, eventually trying to violently replace her entirely. Jennifer Jason Leigh captures the exact same unhinged, tragic, and terrifying energy that Inde Navarrette channels so beautifully as Nikki. Sometimes obsession isn’t about love at all but about becoming someone, which can be just as dangerous.
Single White Female can be streamed on Netflix.
RankMovieRatings (as of June 2026)#10Single White Female (1992)53% / 44% RT6.4 IMDb#9Companion (2025)93% / 88% RT6.9 IMDb#8The Boy Next Door (2015)12% / 35% RT4.7 IMDb#7Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)24% / 60% RT6.3 IMDb#6The Perfect Guy (2015)19% / 51% RT5.6 IMDb#5Lolita (1997)69% / 75% RT6.8 IMDb#4The Invisible Man (2020)91% / 88% RT7.1 IMDb#3Stalking Laura (1993)NA / 45% RT6.4 IMDb#2Fear (1996)47% / 63% RT6.3 IMDb#1Fatal Attraction (1987)74% / 72% RT6.9 IMDb
What connects all of these films is not simply stalking or unhealthy romance. It is the exploration of how obsession changes people. Each of these films depicts it in its own way. So, which of these films will you be watching next? Let us know in the comments below.
Obsession is in theaters now.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
