Digital Release of Obsession Sparks Confusion Over Ratings

For fans who love a good horror flick, the wait has been short. The film Obsession just became available on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. However, there’s a bit of buzz around its rating—it’s labeled as “unrated” on Apple TV, which raises some questions about what that actually means.

Directed by Curry Barker, who gained some fame for his 2024 film Milk & Cereal, Obsession stars Michael Johnston as Bear, a young man who works in a music store with his best friend Nicky, played by Inde Navarrette. Bear is quite taken with Nicky but finds himself stuck in the friend zone. Things take a supernatural twist when he stumbles upon a magical object that claims to fulfill wishes and wishes for Nicky to fall in love with him. Well, let’s just say his wish is granted, but it’s not quite the fairytale he envisioned.

This film has turned into a box office sensation, bringing in over $371 million and making it Focus Features’ top-grossing film ever. As more people turn to digital streaming, it’s likely that even more eyes will be on this chilling tale.

When looking to purchase Obsession on Apple TV, you might be surprised to see it labeled “Unrated,” especially when both Amazon Prime and Fandango advertise it as “Rated R.” So, what’s the deal with that?

Apple TV’s “Unrated” Version: What’s the Real Story?

Currently, the version of Obsession available for purchase on Apple TV doesn’t appear to be an actual unrated cut or a director’s version. Instead, it shares the same runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes as the R-rated theatrical release, suggesting that any additional scenes for a more intense version have likely not been included. It’s unclear if this is simply a labeling error on Apple’s part.

Interestingly, you can’t find an R-rated version available for purchase on Apple TV, which makes the “unrated” label even more confusing. If this were a true unrated version, the lack of the R-rated option would indeed raise more questions. It seems we’re dealing with a bit of a mix-up here.

Attempts to clarify this with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment before publication did not yield a response, leaving fans in the dark about what to expect.

Director’s Cut: Is It Coming?

There are indeed more violent versions of Obsession rumored to exist, but they haven’t been made available yet. Earlier this year, Barker mentioned at the South by Southwest Film Festival that a darker NC-17 version had been shown at the Toronto Film Festival before Focus Features stepped in. He described moments from that version, emphasizing a particularly violent scene that had to be toned down to secure a lower rating.

Curiously, a comparison by a Forbes journalist found no noticeable differences between the so-called unrated Apple TV version and the R-rated cut, which further complicates matters. So, while a director’s cut might be on the horizon, we don’t have access to it yet. Perhaps it will arrive alongside the DVD or Blu-ray release on July 14, 2026.

Bonus Features in the Digital Release

As for what else you can look forward to in the digital version of Obsession, it includes a 19-minute bonus feature called “Obsession Unleashed,” offering a peek behind the scenes with Barker and the main cast. They delve into the creation of this eerie narrative and share insights about the most memorable parts of their performances, especially highlighting the chemistry between Johnston and Navarrette.

There’s also an audio commentary from Barker included, although it’s worth noting that the bonus features may differ based on the platform you choose to purchase the film from.

You can find Obsession available for rent or purchase on several platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Prices vary, but for instance, Amazon Prime lists the digital purchase price at $24.99, while renting it costs about $19.99. Just a heads up: if you go the rental route, you’ll have 48 hours to watch it once you hit play.