How Obsession Director Curry Barker Avoided an NC-17 Rating

• Primary Subject: Blumhouse's horror movie Obsession (2026) rating
• Key Update: Director Curry Barker revealed he had to trim some of the film's most intense violence and gore to avoid a restrictive NC-17 rating from the MPA.
• Status: Confirmed / Premiering in theaters
• Last Verified: May 27, 2026
• Quick Answer: Obsession director Curry Barker cut several highly graphic gore sequences during post-production to successfully secure a theater-friendly R-rating instead of an NC-17.

The theatrical cut of Blumhouse's smash-hit horror film Obsession is already pushing audiences to their absolute limits, but it turns out the initial version was even more extreme. Director Curry Barker recently revealed that the film came dangerously close to landing a dreaded NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

How Obsession Director Trimmed the Movie Out of an NC-17 Rating

Credit: Blumhouse Productions

Obsession has already become notorious for its most disturbing scene, which sees Nikki (Inde Navarrette), who is not in control of her actions after being taken over by a mysterious entity, repeatedly smash her friend Sarah's (Megan Lawless) face into a brick until it turns into unrecognizable mush.

As shocking as that gory moment was, Barker recently revealed that this scene was originally even more taxing on the audience (via Dread Central).

"There was about six or seven more smashes," Barker told the outlet, "And we were getting an NC-17 rating. And so they were like, 'You've got to take out some of the smashes," and I was like, 'I'm not taking out a single bash.' But I did."

"It still feels really f***ing hardcore," Barker added, "I'd watch from the back of the theater and the way everyone reacted - whatever the number is now, it's the right number."

Earning an NC-17 would have been much more restrictive than an R-rating, considering that the former prohibits anyone 17 and under from admission, regardless of being accompanied by a parent.

But despite the reduced smashing numbers, Obsession still stands for what it is: a psychological horror movie not meant for everyone.

Curry Barker is Not Done Scaring Viewers with Obsession

Credit: Blumhouse Productions

Is it possible for fans to actually see an NC-17-rated Obsession? Barker teased the possibility of a director's cut in a separate interview with Popternative.

"I would love to do a director's cut of this just because there's so many things that are not in the movie. That would be really fun," However, Barker is also considering the amount of time and energy it would take them to fish out the content, "But it would literally be a project for me. I would have to set aside some time to really dive into the footage again. It would have to be something that Focus [Features] really wants, and I would be like, 'Yes, let's do it.'"

If you're expecting an Obsession 2 to revisit these specific characters, think again. As Barker said, "I don't think you'll ever see these characters again, but it would be cool to expand this world with different characters."

Perhaps the One Wish Willow is no one-trick pony, after all.

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