Entertainment
These 2026 Horror Movies Are Better Than ‘Obsession’
Between indie breakouts, experimental hits, and legacy franchises, horror cinema has expanded to unpredictable dimensions in 2026. The supernatural psychological horror, Obsession, further reinforced that the genre will continue to evolve in surprising ways. YouTube creator Curry Barker’s theatrical feature debut, the movie puts a new spin on the “careful what you wish for” trope with a young man’s earnest wish for his friend to fall in love with him turning into a deadly nightmare. On its release, the film became a cult hit and has already been called an instant classic.
While Obsession has been sweeping acclaim and accolades for its standout performances and production, the year has also seen the releases of several other remarkable films that rival (and in some cases, surpass) the new horror hit. Many of these are films that earned critical acclaim, but haven’t had quite the same cultural footprint or mainstream traction, overshadowed by Obsession’s viral success. So, without further ado, here’s our selection of 2026 horror movies that are arguably better than Obsession.
1
‘Hokum’ (2026)
Written and directed by Damian McCarthy and starring Adam Scott, Hokum is a supernatural horror film about Ohm Bauman, a novelist who travels to Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes. While staying at a remote hotel full of secrets and ghost stories, Ohm encounters a murder, horrifying visions, and disturbing events that force him to uncover the truth while also dealing with his personal demons. The movie’s cast also includes Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, and Austin Amelio.
First screened at the 2026 South by Southwest Film Festival, Hokum is an atmospheric blend of good old haunted house motifs, folk horror, murder mystery, and self-awareness, woven together with jump scares and psychological dread. Adam Scott plays against type and is riveting as a genuinely detestable character, a performance that earned him widespread acclaim. The film is a terrifying metaphor for guilt and trauma that can scare you just as much as Obsession.
2
‘Backrooms’ (2026)
Backrooms marks the feature directorial debut of YouTuber and visual artist Kane Parsons, who adapts his internet phenomenon into a chilling sci-fi psychological horror film. Set in the 1990s, the film follows Clark, a furniture store owner who discovers a hidden portal in the basement that opens into an endless maze of yellow-walled rooms. When Clarke goes missing in the labyrinth, his therapist sets out to find him, only to discover her own reality distorting. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve lead the cast, with Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell in other key roles.
Claustrophobic and confusing, Backrooms successfully adapts a viral internet concept into a creepy cinematic experience. The film’s unusual concept comes to life with terrific camerawork and surreal effects that make the horror feel all the more intimate. Since its release, the movie has been phenomenally successful, both critically and commercially, and it even became A24’s highest-grossing film of all time, making Parsons the youngest filmmaker to reach number one at the United States box office.
3
‘Send Help’ (2026)
Sam Raimi returns to horror after 17 years with this chilling survival horror thriller that once again proves his mastery of the genre. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as the central characters, Send Help follows Linda, a finance employee, and Bradley, her newly appointed boss, who survive a plane crash and get stranded on a deserted island. While they wait for help, their desperate attempts to survive increase tensions between them, sparked by their professional hostility, leading to dangerous outcomes. The movie’s cast also includes Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, and Dennis Haysbert.
Filled with madness, gore, and a menacing employee-employer chemistry, Send Help makes for a welcome return for Raimi to his signature style and genre. McAdams is riveting as the overlooked employee-turned-survivor, evenly matched by O’Brien’s arrogant boss. Simultaneously frightening and darkly funny, Send Help has garnered critical acclaim for its clever writing and performances, which often surpass those of Obsession, even if it didn’t exactly shatter box office records.
4
‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (2026)
The fourth entry in Alex Garland’s 28 Days film series, directed by Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later: Bone Temple is a direct sequel to 2025’s 28 Years Later and follows Spike, a young survivor from the previous film, who is now adopted into Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’s Satanic cult. Simultaneously, the isolated Dr. Ian Kelson comes closer to finding a cure with his Alpha Infected friend, Samson. Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Chi Lewis-Parry reprise their roles from the previous film, appearing alongside Robert Rhodes, Erin Kellyman, Emma Laird, and Sam Locke.
The 28 Days Later film series has become the definitive modern zombie horror franchise, and Bone Temple successfully expands on that reputation. Alongside deeper dread and more gruesome violence, the latest installment also boasts thought-provoking themes and emotional moments. Powered by its compelling performances, the film escapes every expectation and predictability of the genre and easily ranks among the best films of 2026.
5
‘Exit 8’ (2026)
Directed by Genki Kawamura, Exit 8 is a Japanese psychological mystery horror film based on the 2023 video game The Exit 8 by Kotake Create. The film follows an anonymous man, dubbed the Lost Man, who is stuck in a time loop inside a Tokyo Metro corridor and must find the anomalies in each loop to escape the endless repetition. Kazunari Ninomiya plays the central character, with Yamato Kochi, Nana Komatsu, Naru Asanuma, and Kotone Hanase in notable roles.
Exit 8 premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Feature Film and earned rave reviews from critics. The film eliminates all visual distractions with its simplistic, sterile environment and minimal, unnamed characters, allowing the audience to feel as helpless and hopeless as the protagonist. Released in the U.S. a year later, Exit 8 has earned praise from reviewers and fans alike for successfully translating the original experience of the game onto the screen.
6
‘Faces of Death’ (2026)
Image via IFC
A meta-horror reimagining of the 1978 film, Faces of Death follows Margot, a content moderator for a video platform called Kino, who comes across a series of videos depicting brutal executions and deaths recreated from the titular cult horror film. When she investigates the veracity of the content, she discovers a sadistic serial killer obsessed with the movie who’s chasing online fame by posting gruesome murders. Barbie Ferreira stars as Margo, with Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Aaron Holliday, Jermaine Fowler, and Charli XCX in supporting roles.
Directed by Daniel Goldhaber, Faces of Death sits right at the intersection of fiercely untraditional, deviant, and heavily meta, drawing from the exploitative nature of the original film. While its narrative is morbid and gory, it is also an intelligent and well-performed depiction of the current social media landscape and internet sleuthing. First screened at the 2026 Beyond Fest, Faces of Death earned praise for its smart meta-commentary on digital desensitization, as well as its thrilling performances, though it did face some criticism for its use of generic slasher tropes.
7
‘Leviticus’ (2026)
An Australian coming-of-age romantic supernatural horror film written and directed by Adrian Chiarella in his feature directorial debut, Leviticus follows two teenage boys in a tight-knit, religious community who are forced to undergo a supernatural conversion therapy ritual. Following the ritual, each of them gets terrorized by a terrifying shapeshifting entity that turns into the person they desire the most: each other. The film stars Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, and Mia Wasikowska.
As a tense supernatural horror built around a tender teenage romance, Leviticus is affecting in the most unexpected ways. The film’s horror does not come from the unseen entity but from how the entity’s presence causes a creeping dread in the characters, and by extension, in the audience. At the time of its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Leviticus earned sweeping praise for its story and performances, surpassing the critical acclaim of Obsession, even if it does not match the latter’s record-breaking success.
- Release Date
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June 18, 2026
- Runtime
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88 minutes
- Director
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Adrian Chiarella
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