'Obsession' Officially Returning to Theaters As It's Never Been Seen Before
2025's biggest horror movie is getting the immersive treatment
It appears that Obsession’s phenomenal theatrical run has one final stop.
The horror film is returning to theaters for a single day in October, just in time for Halloween season. However, there’s a big difference this time around: Theater chain Regal Cinemas is showing the movie in 4DX. “You wished for this. Obsession back in theaters in 4DX one day only,” an Instagram post announcing the news reads. Tickets for the rerelease are available now.
What is 4DX?
For those who’ve never heard of 4DX, it’s a film format that uses motion seats, wind, fog, strobe lights, scents, water sprays, and more to “immerse” the viewer in the film. If that sounds over-the-top and a bit ridiculous, it very much is. The format recently went viral alongside The Odyssey’s excellent theatrical run, which prompted audiences to think about different movie formats, like 70mm IMAX.
However, compared to The Odyssey, Obsession feels like a strange movie for 4DX. Most flicks that use the format lean into spectacle and big action sequences; for example, Godzilla Minus Zero and Avengers: Doomsday are two upcoming 4DX movies that make intuitive sense. That said, while 4DX movies are best known for particularly aggressive effects like seat shaking and water sprays, Obsession may use subtler methods like fog and lighting to amplify the film’s tension. For everyone’s sake, hopefully there won’t be any Smell-O-Vision involved.
How much did Obsession make at the box office?
Whether or not Obsession works in 4DX, the movie had an outstanding theatrical run. It grossed $520 million against a sub-$1 million budget, making it one of the most profitable movies ever made. The film proved a true phenomenon, driving Gen Z viewership and pulling off the difficult feat of making more in its second weekend than its first, thanks to positive word of mouth.
Obsession's director, Curry Barker, has already been tapped for multiple upcoming films. He has a horror comedy slated for 2027 called Anything but Ghosts. He’s also writing and directing a reboot of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for A24 and helming an original horror movie for Universal Pictures.
2026 has been a comeback year for the box office, with lower-budget success stories like Backrooms alongside blockbuster hits such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which became the highest-grossing film in domestic box office history. Hollywood is on track for its first $10 billion year since before the COVID-19 pandemic. It may not be as culturally unassailable as in its glory days, but the film industry seems to be back.