Obsession is the movie your teen is currently begging to see because their entire TikTok feed is a wall of "reaction" videos to the trailer. It’s Blumhouse doing what they do best: taking a low-budget psychological concept and making it inescapable. It carries a PG-13 rating, and while it skips the slasher-style gore, it leans heavily into "ruin your life" psychological terror and the dark side of internet fame.
TL;DR: Obsession (2026) is a psychological thriller about a fan's parasocial relationship gone nuclear. It’s basically Fatal Attraction for the TikTok era, focusing on stalking and emotional manipulation rather than jump scares. It’s a solid pick for most teens 14 and up, provided they can handle intense themes of toxic obsession—just expect a long conversation afterward about why "stan culture" is actually terrifying. Check out our best movies for kids list for more age-appropriate picks.
Screenwise Parents
See allBlumhouse has a knack for finding the exact thing that keeps people up at night and turning it into a $15 million box office juggernaut. With Obsession, they’re targeting the specific anxiety of the creator economy. The plot follows a mid-tier influencer whose life starts unravelling when a "top fan" decides that their digital connection is a real-world romance.
From the clips released so far, it looks like the film will avoid the campy "killer doll" energy of M3GAN and instead go for a grounded, claustrophobic vibe. It’s less about things jumping out of closets and more about the horror of realizing someone has been tracking your location through your Instagram stories.
The marketing for this movie has been a masterclass in viral engineering. Between the "Nice Date" official clip and the cryptic social media accounts supposedly "run" by the film's antagonist, the hype is being built specifically for a generation that lives in the comments section.
The film stars a cast of Gen Z favorites who actually look and talk like the people your kids follow. This isn't a "Hollywood version" of the internet; it looks like a genuine critique of how the algorithm rewards vulnerability—and how that vulnerability can be weaponized by the wrong person. If your teen is already deep into influencer culture, they’re going to see this as a "must-watch" cultural event.
While we’re still waiting for the full theatrical drop, the trailers and early reviews from the festival circuit give us a clear picture of the content:
- Violence: It’s PG-13, so don't expect Saw-level carnage. The violence is expected to be brief, impactful, and mostly occurring in the final act.
- Psychological Stress: This is the big one. The movie thrives on gaslighting, stalking, and the feeling of being watched. For kids who are sensitive to "cringe" or social humiliation, this might actually be harder to watch than a standard horror flick.
- Toxic Relationships: The core of the movie is a parasocial relationship—a one-sided bond where a fan feels they "know" a celebrity. It’s a great opportunity to talk about the "machine" of social media that’s designed to make you feel connected to people you’ve never met.
If you decide to head to the theater for this one, don't let it just be 90 minutes of popcorn and jump scares. The movie is a perfect springboard for talking about digital boundaries:
- The Parasocial Trap: Ask them why they think the antagonist felt "owed" a relationship. How does the algorithm encourage that feeling?
- Privacy as a Skill: The movie highlights how much data we leak every day. Talk about what "oversharing" looks like in their own lives—not from a place of fear, but from a place of intentionality.
- The "Stunt" Culture: Discuss the marketing. Why did the "reaction" videos make them want to see it? Helping them see the marketing machine behind the movie is the first step toward them building their own internal algorithm.
The hardest part of Obsession isn't the scares; it's the relatability. For a kid who spends hours a day watching creators, the idea that those creators aren't actually their friends can be a tough pill to swallow. The movie takes that realization and turns it into a nightmare. If your kid is on the younger side of the teen spectrum (12-13), you might want to watch the trailer together first to see if the "creepy fan" energy is something they actually want to spend two hours with.
Q: Is Obsession 2026 too scary for a 13-year-old? It depends on what they find "scary." If they hate jump scares and monsters, they might be fine, as this is a psychological thriller. However, if they are sensitive to themes of stalking or intense social pressure, it might be a bit much.
Q: What is the age rating for Obsession? The movie is rated PG-13. It earns that rating through "thematic material involving stalking and obsession, some violence, and strong language."
Q: Are there a lot of jump scares in the movie? Based on the Blumhouse track record and the trailer, there will likely be a few "stingers," but the focus is clearly on building a sustained sense of dread rather than constant startling.
Obsession looks like it will be the defining "social media horror" movie of the year. It’s intentional, it’s stylish, and it’s actually about something. If your teen is in high school, it’s a great "intro to thrillers" movie that will actually give you something real to talk about on the drive home.
- Check out our digital guide for high schoolers for more on navigating social media boundaries.
- Looking for something a little less intense? See our best movies for kids list.
- Ask our chatbot for more horror recommendations
