As I prepare to watch this highly anticipated film at the theater, early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes suggest it’s resonating with audiences just as much as it has with critics. Remarkably, both groups have given it identical praise.
The movie in question is Obsession, which boasts a remarkable 95% approval rating from critics, based on 137 reviews. Audiences from early screenings have mirrored this enthusiasm, also granting it a 95% score. This outstanding rating positions Obsession as the highest-rated movie of 2026 on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing not only other horror films but any widely released movie this year, including the popular Project Hail Mary.
In fact, Obsession leads the pack by a slim margin, setting the bar for the highest-scored movie of the year so far. It’s nearly topped by the unexpected hit Sheep Detectives, co-written by Craig Mazin, known for his work on Chernobyl and The Last of Us.
- Obsession – 95% critic score, 95% audience score
- The Sheep Detectives – 94% critic score, 96% audience score
- Project Hail Mary – 94% critic score, 95% audience score
- Hoppers – 94% critic score, 93% audience score
- Send Help – 93% critic score, 87% audience score
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – 92% critic score, 88% audience score
- Hokum – 89% critic score, 82% audience score
- Crime 101 – 88% critic score, 84% audience score
- GOAT – 84% critic score, 93% audience score
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 – 78% critic score, 85% audience score
The real question is whether major award shows, such as the Academy Awards, will recognize a film with a modest budget and relatively unknown cast if it continues to garner such acclaim. This film is nearing the success of Sinners, which managed to break through in a genre often overlooked by prestigious awards. While Sinners featured a high-profile lead, and films like Frankenstein, Bugonia, and The Substance included A-list actors, Obsession could challenge this norm.
Could Obsession defy expectations? A Best Actress nomination for Rachel McAdams in Send Help might also be warranted. Horror is one of the most lucrative and beloved genres, and Obsession deserves its moment in the spotlight, potentially launching lead actress Inde Navarrette into stardom. With minimal competition at the box office this weekend, its modest budget is bound to translate into significant financial success. As for critical and audience reception, the film is already a triumph on all fronts.
Could Obsession defy those odds? I even think a Best Actress nomination for Rachel McAdams in Send Help is justified as well. Horror is one of the biggest, most profitable genres in film, and a movie like Obsession deserves a spotlight despite a lack of stars (well, it might be star-making for its lead, Inde Navarrette). We’ll see how it does at the box office this weekend with relatively little competition. By default, its tiny budget is going to make it a huge success financially, at least, and we can already see what critics and audiences think of it as well. A slam dunk on every front.
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