Obsessed (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Obsessed is a 2009 American thriller film directed by Steve Shill
. The Screen Gems
production stars Idris Elba
, Beyoncé Knowles
and Ali Larter
. Obsessed tells the story of Lisa, an office temp who falls in love with her male boss, Derek, and attempts to seduce him.
Screen Gems
president Clint Culpepper conceived the basic idea of Obsessed, which was then developed by writer David Loughery
and filmed in the summer of 2008, with a production budget of US$
20 million. The film's set was inspired by the work of directors Roman Polanski
and Alfred Hitchcock
, and its score
was written by James Dooley
. Lisa and Sharon were dressed in contrasting styles to reinforce their conflicting characters. Obsessed opened in US theaters on April 24, 2009, and UK theaters on May 29, 2009.
Film critics gave Obsessed generally negative reviews. Many were disappointed in the absence of an explanation behind Lisa's obsession with Derek. Others noted that the potential theme of interracial conflict between the Charles family and Lisa was untouched. The storyline of Obsessed has been compared with that of Fatal Attraction
(1987), although film critics were bored by the fact that Derek did not at all yield to Lisa's seduction. The fight scene finale between Sharon and Lisa, however, was commended by reviewers, and won the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
at the 2010 awards ceremony
.
Obsessed spent its first week atop the US box office, and has grossed $73,830,340 from theaters, internationally. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
first released the film for home viewing on August 4, 2009 via DVD and Blu-ray in the US, and it was later made available in other countries. In the US, Obsessed has sold 1,208,077 home media copies, worth $20,601,427 of consumer spending, bringing its total gross revenue to $94,431,767.
) is the Executive Vice President of Gage Bendix, and works under Joe Gage (Bruce McGill
). He and his wife Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles
) have an infant son, Kyle (Nathan and Nicolas Myers). At work, Derek briefly flirts with temp Lisa Sheridan (Ali Larter
), who later attempts to seduce Derek. Derek repeatedly rejects her, however Lisa continues to advance on Derek, and attempts to make out with him at the no-spouse Christmas party and flashes him in his car. Intending to report Lisa to his firm's human resource management
, Derek discovers that she has quit her job.
Weeks later Derek and his workmates visit a resort for a conference, where he spots Lisa. He confronts Lisa, who spikes Derek's drink. Incapacitated, Derek is somewhat helpless when Lisa follows him into his hotel room and kisses Derek. He confronts Lisa again the following day, and hours later discovers her lying in his bed after attempting suicide through drug overdose
. After repeated attempts to reach Derek on his phone Sharon finds Derek at the hospital, and suspects that Derek and Lisa had an affair, as Lisa claims. Detective Monica Reese (Christine Lahti
) interrogates Derek and becomes skeptical of Lisa's claims, and informs Derek of her belief in him. Sharon kicks Derek out of their house, and he moves into a separate apartment.
Three months later, while Derek and Sharon are out reconciling their relationship, Lisa breaks in their house and tricks the babysitter Samantha (Scout Taylor-Compton
) into letting her in under the pretense of being one of Sharon's friends, and flees with Kyle. When Derek and Sharon return to their house, Samantha informs them that their friend "Kate" came by to give Kyle a present. In panic, Derek and Sharon rush to Kyle's room and discover that Kyle has been abducted
. Derek goes to his car with the intent to pursue Lisa, and finds Kyle sitting safely in the back seat. Derek and Sharon immediately take Kyle to the hospital for a check-up. When they return home, Derek and Sharon find that Lisa has trashed their bedroom and removed Sharon's face from their family portrait, after which Sharon leaves a threatening voice mail on Lisa's phone. Derek and Sharon set up a home alarm system, while Lisa spies on the house from outside.
Days later, Lisa learns that Derek and Sharon will be away from town, with Sharon leaving that afternoon and Derek the next morning. While Sharon is on her way to pick up Kyle, she realizes that she forgot to set the alarm system and returns home. Meanwhile, Lisa breaks into their house and decorates the master bedroom seductively. While setting the alarm, Sharon hears Lisa in the bedroom. Sharon tells Lisa that she is calling the police, but Lisa stops her and the two engage in a fistfight. Derek calls his house and Lisa answers; Derek calls Detective Reese and immediately leaves his office.
Lisa runs to the attic, and Sharon pursues her. Sharon leads Lisa to a weak spot in the attic floor, which she falls through. Sharon reaches out and takes Lisa's hand to lift her up, but Lisa pulls Sharon down with her instead of accepting her help. Seeing that the floor is starting to buckle, Sharon pries Lisa off of her arm. Lisa falls onto a chandelier, stopping her fall, but lets go and falls onto the glass table below. Lisa opens her eyes, only to have a chandelier fall and kill her. Derek and Detective Reese arrive as Sharon comes out of the front door. The film ends when Derek and Sharon embracing while Detective Reese enters their house to investigate Lisa's actions.
, and was shared with David Loughery
who wrote the screenplay
. Director Steve Shill
signed on after reading the script and hearing that Knowles was on board.
Obsessed was allocated a budget of US$
20 million. Shill stated that the intended effect of the film was to have the audience discuss and argue about characters' motivations. Writer David Loughery
designed Lisa as "not a villain in a traditional sense; she's not setting out to wreck a marriage or ruin somebody's life. She really believes that [Derek] is in love with her." Sharon was Knowles' first film portrayal of a non-singer, therefore she found it challenging to concentrate purely on "the emotion and the psychology of the relationship". Furthermore, Knowles had never taken part in a fight scene prior to Obsessed, however she quickly picked up the skill due to its similarities to dance choreography. For the film, Larter was inspired by actresses such as Rita Hayworth
, Barbara Stanwyck
and Faye Dunaway
, all of whom previously portrayed femme fatale
s. Obsessed was filmed over the summer of 2008, and the final fight scene between Sharon and Lisa was shot over one week.
and Alfred Hitchcock
when constructing the set
, and attempted to make it look both frightening and suburban. Shill stated, "It didn't look like typical Hollywood; it didn't look cosmetic". The Charles family home was set in a 1923 Altadena, California
house, however the action scenes were shot on a purpose-built set. The set was customized from a house built for The Stepfather, which in turn was adapted from a block of apartments for Quarantine
. The Charles' living room had a ceiling 25 feet (7.6 m) high, and a custom-built chandelier for the climactic ending of the film.
Costume designer Maya Lieberman attempted to contrast the costumes of Sharon and Lisa to reinforce the conflict between the two characters. She said, "With Ali, our discussion started with wanting really clean, classic and sharp lines, whereas Beyoncé's character is more soft, more textural cashmeres and knits." Derek was dressed in Dolce & Gabbana
and Versace
suits to create a "prestigious yet contemporary" look.
for Obsessed was written by James Dooley
. The beginning of Obsessed, where the Charles are seen in their home, plays adult contemporary music
in the background. The remainder of the film's first act is supported by light piano
instrumentation, and occasional "low-register whoosh-thump noises, of the kind you might hear in a stalker movie," according to Sady Doyle of guardian.co.uk
.
Studio recorded songs for the soundtrack
of Obsessed are "Any Other Day" (Wyclef Jean
and Norah Jones
), "Black and Gold
" (Sam Sparro
), "Soul Food" (Martina Topley-Bird
), "American Boy
" (Estelle
), "Jolly Holly (Deck the Halls)" (Mike Strickland), "I'm Gonna Getcha" (Crudo
), "The Christmas Song
" (Marcus Miller
), "Play That Funky Music
" (Wild Cherry
), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
" (Ruben Studdard
and Tamyra Gray
), "Wild Thing
" (Tone Lōc
), "Oye Al Desierto" (With the Quickness), "Destiny" (Zero 7
), "Meet the Brilliant" (Draque Bozung), "Golden
" (Jill Scott
), "Bambool Wall" (Patch) and "Smash into You" (Knowles).
d at the School of Visual Arts
, New York City
on April 23, 2009, and opened at US cinemas the following day. The film began showing in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2009.
, the film has a "Rotten" rating from critics with 20% of reviews being positive and an average rating of 3.7 out of 10. Another review aggreatator, Metacritic
, gave the film an average score of 25 out of 100, based on ten reviews from mainstream critics. A common complaint about the film was that unlike most 'deranged stalker'-themed films, Obsessed made no attempt to explain why Lisa was so determined to seduce Derek, who never showed any interest whatsoever in taking her up on her offer. According to Variety
John Anderson, "David Loughery's screenplay never provides any explanation for why [Lisa] is who she is: She has no motives other than mad obsession ... and she has no backstory". The Hollywood Reporter
Kirk Honeycutt criticized the fact that "Loughery makes no attempt to supply a motive or even a misunderstanding for the young woman's aberrant behavior."
Reviewers also noted that the potential for interracial conflict remained unexplored; Entertainment Weekly
Owen Gleiberman wrote, "The movie wants to tease us with intimations of a steamy biracial liaison; it just doesn't want to actually go there." Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe
was disappointed that "Obsessed basically plays it safe. The obvious racial buttons are never pushed". Greg Quill from the Toronto Star
agreed, and wrote that Shill and Loughery "stripped the drama of its potentially gripping – and obvious – racial overtones". However, Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer
pointed out that having the two female roles of differing races "creates racial tension", and noted similarities to "the racially charged" Lakeview Terrace
(2008), which Loughery also wrote. Jam!
Liz Braun was of the impression that a well-written script was replaced by the film's "racial politics". When Derek confronts Lisa at the business conference, she threatens him with a sexual harassment
complaint; Sady Doyle from guardian.co.uk wrote that this alludes to "the history of black men being lynched for their perceived threat to white women". Doyle pointed out that historically white women are more revered for their beauty than black women, which is a side theme of the fight between Sharon and Lisa. Melissa Anderson of LA Weekly
suggested that awkwardness of the interracial relationship of Derek and Lisa as a reason why the filmmakers did not have the two characters partake in any sexual activity.
Critics drew close comparisons between Obsessed and Fatal Attraction
(1987). However, it was noted that unlike Fatal Attraction, Obsessed contains no bunny boiling-like incidents, and that Derek and Lisa did not actually have sexual intercourse. John Anderson of Variety wrote, "If Derek had actually slept with Lisa, a la Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction, Obsessed would at least have had the spurned-woman gambit to play, however hoary." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone
gave the film zero out of four stars, and wrote that Derek's lack of interest in Lisa allowed for no conflict in the film. Travers concluded, "Everything you need to know is in the trailer." The Daily Telegraph
Tim Robey thought that Obsessed would have been more entertaining had Lisa's character been fiercer like Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction.
The final fight scene between Sharon and Lisa was commended by critics. Marjorie Baumgarten from The Austin Chronicle stated that Obsessed caters to "the American moviegoers' appetite for a juicy catfight." E! Online's Natasha Vargas-Cooper described the "remarkably well-choreographed final fight scene" as the climactic highlight of Obsessed. Jason McKiernan of Filmcritic.com wrote, "the film crescendos in what I can safely say will be 2009's best knock-down, drag-out girlfight".
, Obsessed was nominated in the category of Choice Movie: Drama, while Knowles was a nominee for the Choice Movie Actress: Drama award. The fight scene between Sharon and Lisa garnered Knowles and Larter a nomination in the Teen Choice Awards' Choice Movie Rumble category. Knowles and Larter were nominated in the categories of Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 30th Golden Raspberry Awards
("Razzies"). Idris Elba
was a nominee for the award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
at the 41st NAACP Image Award
s, but lost to Morgan Freeman
's portrayal of Nelson Mandela
in Invictus
(2009). The only award that Obsessed won was that for Best Fight
at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards
, for the fight between Sharon and Lisa.
and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Obsessed closed in US cinemas on June 14, 2009, having grossed $68,261,644 domestically in its eight weeks of availability, which made up 92.5% of its gross takings. Internationally, the film grossed an additional $5,568,696, bringing its total gross box office revenue to $73,830,340.
on August 4, 2009, in the US. It is also available through digital distribution
. The DVD and Blu-ray were released by Columbia Pictures
and TriStar Pictures
in Canada on August 4, 2009, and by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2009. It was released in Australia on September 9, 2009. The film was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment
via DVD and Blu-ray in France on October 21, 2009. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the film for home viewing in Germany by DVD and Blu-ray on December 10, 2009. The DVD of Obsessed was made available on January 13, 2010 by Sony Pictures in Italy, and on August 25, 2010 by Sony Pictures Entertainment in Japan. In its first week of release in the US, Obsessed sold 540,925 copies, worth $8,806,259 of sales. To date it has sold 1,208,077 copies in the US, worth $20,601,427 of consumer expenditure.
Steve Shill
Steve Shill is a British television and film director, actor, screenwriter, and television producer.-Career:He attended Keswick Grammar School in Keswick,Cumbria,England in the 70's....
. The Screen Gems
Screen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
production stars Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
, Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and Ali Larter
Ali Larter
Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the dual roles of Niki Sanders and Jessica Sanders on the NBC science fiction drama Heroes as well as her guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s.Larter's screen debut came in the 1999 film...
. Obsessed tells the story of Lisa, an office temp who falls in love with her male boss, Derek, and attempts to seduce him.
Screen Gems
Screen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
president Clint Culpepper conceived the basic idea of Obsessed, which was then developed by writer David Loughery
David Loughery
David Loughery is an American screenwriter and producer. Born in Chicago, Loughery attended Ball State University and the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. His first produced screenplay was Dreamscape in 1984...
and filmed in the summer of 2008, with a production budget of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
20 million. The film's set was inspired by the work of directors Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
and Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, and its score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
was written by James Dooley
James Dooley (composer)
James Michael Dooley is a film score composer. Dooley studied music at New York University, majoring in music composition. After finishing the university he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied music with prolific film score composers Christopher Young, Elmer Bernstein and Leonard Rosenman...
. Lisa and Sharon were dressed in contrasting styles to reinforce their conflicting characters. Obsessed opened in US theaters on April 24, 2009, and UK theaters on May 29, 2009.
Film critics gave Obsessed generally negative reviews. Many were disappointed in the absence of an explanation behind Lisa's obsession with Derek. Others noted that the potential theme of interracial conflict between the Charles family and Lisa was untouched. The storyline of Obsessed has been compared with that of Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
(1987), although film critics were bored by the fact that Derek did not at all yield to Lisa's seduction. The fight scene finale between Sharon and Lisa, however, was commended by reviewers, and won the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
The MTV Movie Award for Best Fight is an award presented to actors and characters for quality fight scenes in films at the MTV Movie Awards, a ceremony established in 1992. Honors in several categories are awarded by MTV at the annual ceremonies, and are chosen by public vote...
at the 2010 awards ceremony
2010 MTV Movie Awards
The 2010 MTV Movie Awards was the 19th annual ceremony which took place on June 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Aziz Ansari served as a host for the 19th annual ceremony. Voting the nominees began from a list of eligible contestants on March 29, 2010, and ended on April 9, 2010...
.
Obsessed spent its first week atop the US box office, and has grossed $73,830,340 from theaters, internationally. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
first released the film for home viewing on August 4, 2009 via DVD and Blu-ray in the US, and it was later made available in other countries. In the US, Obsessed has sold 1,208,077 home media copies, worth $20,601,427 of consumer spending, bringing its total gross revenue to $94,431,767.
Plot
Derek Charles (Idris ElbaIdris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
) is the Executive Vice President of Gage Bendix, and works under Joe Gage (Bruce McGill
Bruce McGill
Bruce Travis McGill is an American actor who has an extensive list of credits in film and television. He is perhaps best known for his role as Jack Dalton on the television series MacGyver and as Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day in National Lampoon's Animal House.-Early life:McGill was born in San...
). He and his wife Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
) have an infant son, Kyle (Nathan and Nicolas Myers). At work, Derek briefly flirts with temp Lisa Sheridan (Ali Larter
Ali Larter
Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the dual roles of Niki Sanders and Jessica Sanders on the NBC science fiction drama Heroes as well as her guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s.Larter's screen debut came in the 1999 film...
), who later attempts to seduce Derek. Derek repeatedly rejects her, however Lisa continues to advance on Derek, and attempts to make out with him at the no-spouse Christmas party and flashes him in his car. Intending to report Lisa to his firm's human resource management
Human resource management
Human Resource Management is the management of an organization's employees. While human resource management is sometimes referred to as a "soft" management skill, effective practice within an organization requires a strategic focus to ensure that people resources can facilitate the achievement of...
, Derek discovers that she has quit her job.
Weeks later Derek and his workmates visit a resort for a conference, where he spots Lisa. He confronts Lisa, who spikes Derek's drink. Incapacitated, Derek is somewhat helpless when Lisa follows him into his hotel room and kisses Derek. He confronts Lisa again the following day, and hours later discovers her lying in his bed after attempting suicide through drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
. After repeated attempts to reach Derek on his phone Sharon finds Derek at the hospital, and suspects that Derek and Lisa had an affair, as Lisa claims. Detective Monica Reese (Christine Lahti
Christine Lahti
Christine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
) interrogates Derek and becomes skeptical of Lisa's claims, and informs Derek of her belief in him. Sharon kicks Derek out of their house, and he moves into a separate apartment.
Three months later, while Derek and Sharon are out reconciling their relationship, Lisa breaks in their house and tricks the babysitter Samantha (Scout Taylor-Compton
Scout Taylor-Compton
Scout Taylor-Compton is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous small television roles and in feature films that range from dramas to those in the horror genre....
) into letting her in under the pretense of being one of Sharon's friends, and flees with Kyle. When Derek and Sharon return to their house, Samantha informs them that their friend "Kate" came by to give Kyle a present. In panic, Derek and Sharon rush to Kyle's room and discover that Kyle has been abducted
Child abduction
Child abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
. Derek goes to his car with the intent to pursue Lisa, and finds Kyle sitting safely in the back seat. Derek and Sharon immediately take Kyle to the hospital for a check-up. When they return home, Derek and Sharon find that Lisa has trashed their bedroom and removed Sharon's face from their family portrait, after which Sharon leaves a threatening voice mail on Lisa's phone. Derek and Sharon set up a home alarm system, while Lisa spies on the house from outside.
Days later, Lisa learns that Derek and Sharon will be away from town, with Sharon leaving that afternoon and Derek the next morning. While Sharon is on her way to pick up Kyle, she realizes that she forgot to set the alarm system and returns home. Meanwhile, Lisa breaks into their house and decorates the master bedroom seductively. While setting the alarm, Sharon hears Lisa in the bedroom. Sharon tells Lisa that she is calling the police, but Lisa stops her and the two engage in a fistfight. Derek calls his house and Lisa answers; Derek calls Detective Reese and immediately leaves his office.
Lisa runs to the attic, and Sharon pursues her. Sharon leads Lisa to a weak spot in the attic floor, which she falls through. Sharon reaches out and takes Lisa's hand to lift her up, but Lisa pulls Sharon down with her instead of accepting her help. Seeing that the floor is starting to buckle, Sharon pries Lisa off of her arm. Lisa falls onto a chandelier, stopping her fall, but lets go and falls onto the glass table below. Lisa opens her eyes, only to have a chandelier fall and kill her. Derek and Detective Reese arrive as Sharon comes out of the front door. The film ends when Derek and Sharon embracing while Detective Reese enters their house to investigate Lisa's actions.
Cast
- Idris ElbaIdris ElbaIdrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
as Derek Charles - Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
as Sharon Charles - Ali LarterAli LarterAlison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the dual roles of Niki Sanders and Jessica Sanders on the NBC science fiction drama Heroes as well as her guest roles on several television shows in the 1990s.Larter's screen debut came in the 1999 film...
as Lisa Sheridan - Nathan and Nicolas Myers as Kyle Charles, Derek and Sharon's son
- Christine LahtiChristine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
as Detective Monica Reese, policewoman who investigates Lisa's case - Scout Taylor-ComptonScout Taylor-ComptonScout Taylor-Compton is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous small television roles and in feature films that range from dramas to those in the horror genre....
as Samantha, the Charles' babysitter - Jerry O'ConnellJerry O'ConnellJeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
as Ben, an office colleague of Derek's - Bruce McGillBruce McGillBruce Travis McGill is an American actor who has an extensive list of credits in film and television. He is perhaps best known for his role as Jack Dalton on the television series MacGyver and as Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day in National Lampoon's Animal House.-Early life:McGill was born in San...
as Joe Gage, Derek's boss - Matthew Humphreys as Patrick, Derek's assistant
- Richard RuccoloRichard Ruccolo-Early life:Ruccolo was born in Marlton, New Jersey. He attended Cherokee High School in Evesham Township, New Jersey. It was there Ruccolo first discovered his love of acting while starring as the lead in the high school's production of Oklahoma! After graduating he moved to Los Angeles to find...
as Hank, the human resource manager of Gage Bendix
Background
The concept of Obsessed was thought up by Clint Culpepper, president of Screen GemsScreen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
, and was shared with David Loughery
David Loughery
David Loughery is an American screenwriter and producer. Born in Chicago, Loughery attended Ball State University and the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. His first produced screenplay was Dreamscape in 1984...
who wrote the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
. Director Steve Shill
Steve Shill
Steve Shill is a British television and film director, actor, screenwriter, and television producer.-Career:He attended Keswick Grammar School in Keswick,Cumbria,England in the 70's....
signed on after reading the script and hearing that Knowles was on board.
Obsessed was allocated a budget of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
20 million. Shill stated that the intended effect of the film was to have the audience discuss and argue about characters' motivations. Writer David Loughery
David Loughery
David Loughery is an American screenwriter and producer. Born in Chicago, Loughery attended Ball State University and the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. His first produced screenplay was Dreamscape in 1984...
designed Lisa as "not a villain in a traditional sense; she's not setting out to wreck a marriage or ruin somebody's life. She really believes that [Derek] is in love with her." Sharon was Knowles' first film portrayal of a non-singer, therefore she found it challenging to concentrate purely on "the emotion and the psychology of the relationship". Furthermore, Knowles had never taken part in a fight scene prior to Obsessed, however she quickly picked up the skill due to its similarities to dance choreography. For the film, Larter was inspired by actresses such as Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
and Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
, all of whom previously portrayed femme fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
s. Obsessed was filmed over the summer of 2008, and the final fight scene between Sharon and Lisa was shot over one week.
Set and costumes
Shill and cinematographer Ken Seng were inspired by Roman PolanskiRoman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
and Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
when constructing the set
Set construction
Set construction is the process by which a set designer works in collaboration with the director of a production to create the set for a theatrical, film or television production...
, and attempted to make it look both frightening and suburban. Shill stated, "It didn't look like typical Hollywood; it didn't look cosmetic". The Charles family home was set in a 1923 Altadena, California
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
house, however the action scenes were shot on a purpose-built set. The set was customized from a house built for The Stepfather, which in turn was adapted from a block of apartments for Quarantine
Quarantine (film)
Quarantine is a 2008 American horror film, directed by John Erick Dowdle and starring Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Columbus Short, Steve Harris, Rade Šerbedžija, Greg Germann, Bernard White, and Johnathon Schaech. The film is a remake of the Spanish horror film REC with a few exceptions such...
. The Charles' living room had a ceiling 25 feet (7.6 m) high, and a custom-built chandelier for the climactic ending of the film.
Costume designer Maya Lieberman attempted to contrast the costumes of Sharon and Lisa to reinforce the conflict between the two characters. She said, "With Ali, our discussion started with wanting really clean, classic and sharp lines, whereas Beyoncé's character is more soft, more textural cashmeres and knits." Derek was dressed in Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
and Versace
Versace
Gianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
suits to create a "prestigious yet contemporary" look.
Music
The film scoreFilm score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for Obsessed was written by James Dooley
James Dooley (composer)
James Michael Dooley is a film score composer. Dooley studied music at New York University, majoring in music composition. After finishing the university he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied music with prolific film score composers Christopher Young, Elmer Bernstein and Leonard Rosenman...
. The beginning of Obsessed, where the Charles are seen in their home, plays adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
in the background. The remainder of the film's first act is supported by light piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
instrumentation, and occasional "low-register whoosh-thump noises, of the kind you might hear in a stalker movie," according to Sady Doyle of guardian.co.uk
Guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
.
Studio recorded songs for the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of Obsessed are "Any Other Day" (Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
), "Black and Gold
Black and Gold (song)
"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Sam Sparro's eponymous first album. The song has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes. The original version of the single was made available on iTunes on 23 March 2008, with the...
" (Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro is an Australian singer-songwriter, music producer, and former child actor. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot Sammy Sparrow...
), "Soul Food" (Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird is a British vocalist and songwriter who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye...
), "American Boy
American Boy
"American Boy" is the second single from the album Shine by British R&B singer Estelle and features American rapper Kanye West. The song is her first international single...
" (Estelle
Estelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
), "Jolly Holly (Deck the Halls)" (Mike Strickland), "I'm Gonna Getcha" (Crudo
Crudo (band)
Crudo is a new project featuring Mike Patton and Dan the Automator . Crudo made their stage debut playing a secret warm up show in San Francisco at Great American Music Hall on Thursday May 22...
), "The Christmas Song
The Christmas Song
"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
" (Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
), "Play That Funky Music
Play That Funky Music
"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
" (Wild Cherry
Wild Cherry (band)
Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of...
), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane...
" (Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard , best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol...
and Tamyra Gray
Tamyra Gray
Tamyra Monica Gray is an American actress, singer and songwriter, who finished fourth place on the first season of the musical reality competition American Idol in 2002. Record and television executive Simon Cowell — who judged the show for nine seasons — was disappointed when she was voted off...
), "Wild Thing
Wild Thing (Tone Lōc song)
"Wild Thing" is the name of rapper Tone Lōc's 1988 single from the album Lōc-ed After Dark. The title is a reference to the phrase "doin' the wild thing," a euphemism for sex, unlike The Troggs' hit song, "Wild Thing", in which the "wild thing" was a girl.Tone Lōc's song peaked at number two on...
" (Tone Lōc
Tone Lōc
Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:...
), "Oye Al Desierto" (With the Quickness), "Destiny" (Zero 7
Zero 7
Zero 7 is a British musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The group members began their musical careers as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things was released in 2001 and received critical acclaim...
), "Meet the Brilliant" (Draque Bozung), "Golden
Golden (Jill Scott song)
Golden was the first single released by American soul and R&B singer-songwriter Jill Scott, from her third album Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2. The song peaked at 59 on the UK Singles Chart.-Tracklisting:US 12" PromoUK Maxi-Single...
" (Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
), "Bambool Wall" (Patch) and "Smash into You" (Knowles).
Release and reception
Obsessed premierePremiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
d at the School of Visual Arts
School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts , is a proprietary art school located in Manhattan, New York City, and is widely considered to be one of the leading art schools in the United States. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. Rhodes and Burne Hogarth as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on April 23, 2009, and opened at US cinemas the following day. The film began showing in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2009.
Critical response
Obsessed received generally negative reviews from critics. Based on 85 reviews collected by Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the film has a "Rotten" rating from critics with 20% of reviews being positive and an average rating of 3.7 out of 10. Another review aggreatator, Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, gave the film an average score of 25 out of 100, based on ten reviews from mainstream critics. A common complaint about the film was that unlike most 'deranged stalker'-themed films, Obsessed made no attempt to explain why Lisa was so determined to seduce Derek, who never showed any interest whatsoever in taking her up on her offer. According to Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
John Anderson, "David Loughery's screenplay never provides any explanation for why [Lisa] is who she is: She has no motives other than mad obsession ... and she has no backstory". The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
Kirk Honeycutt criticized the fact that "Loughery makes no attempt to supply a motive or even a misunderstanding for the young woman's aberrant behavior."
Reviewers also noted that the potential for interracial conflict remained unexplored; Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
Owen Gleiberman wrote, "The movie wants to tease us with intimations of a steamy biracial liaison; it just doesn't want to actually go there." Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
was disappointed that "Obsessed basically plays it safe. The obvious racial buttons are never pushed". Greg Quill from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
agreed, and wrote that Shill and Loughery "stripped the drama of its potentially gripping – and obvious – racial overtones". However, Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
pointed out that having the two female roles of differing races "creates racial tension", and noted similarities to "the racially charged" Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace is a 2008 American thriller film directed by Neil LaBute, co-produced by Will Smith, written by David Loughery and Howard Korder, and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. Jackson plays a racist LAPD sergeant who terrorizes his new next-door neighbors...
(2008), which Loughery also wrote. Jam!
Jam!
Jam! is a Canadian website, which covers entertainment news. It is part of the CANOE online portal, owned and operated by Quebecor through its Sun Media division....
Liz Braun was of the impression that a well-written script was replaced by the film's "racial politics". When Derek confronts Lisa at the business conference, she threatens him with a sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
complaint; Sady Doyle from guardian.co.uk wrote that this alludes to "the history of black men being lynched for their perceived threat to white women". Doyle pointed out that historically white women are more revered for their beauty than black women, which is a side theme of the fight between Sharon and Lisa. Melissa Anderson of LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
suggested that awkwardness of the interracial relationship of Derek and Lisa as a reason why the filmmakers did not have the two characters partake in any sexual activity.
Critics drew close comparisons between Obsessed and Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller blended with horror, directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film centers around a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end, resulting in emotional blackmail, stalking...
(1987). However, it was noted that unlike Fatal Attraction, Obsessed contains no bunny boiling-like incidents, and that Derek and Lisa did not actually have sexual intercourse. John Anderson of Variety wrote, "If Derek had actually slept with Lisa, a la Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction, Obsessed would at least have had the spurned-woman gambit to play, however hoary." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the film zero out of four stars, and wrote that Derek's lack of interest in Lisa allowed for no conflict in the film. Travers concluded, "Everything you need to know is in the trailer." The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
Tim Robey thought that Obsessed would have been more entertaining had Lisa's character been fiercer like Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction.
The final fight scene between Sharon and Lisa was commended by critics. Marjorie Baumgarten from The Austin Chronicle stated that Obsessed caters to "the American moviegoers' appetite for a juicy catfight." E! Online's Natasha Vargas-Cooper described the "remarkably well-choreographed final fight scene" as the climactic highlight of Obsessed. Jason McKiernan of Filmcritic.com wrote, "the film crescendos in what I can safely say will be 2009's best knock-down, drag-out girlfight".
Awards and nominations
At the 2009 Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
, Obsessed was nominated in the category of Choice Movie: Drama, while Knowles was a nominee for the Choice Movie Actress: Drama award. The fight scene between Sharon and Lisa garnered Knowles and Larter a nomination in the Teen Choice Awards' Choice Movie Rumble category. Knowles and Larter were nominated in the categories of Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 30th Golden Raspberry Awards
30th Golden Raspberry Awards
The 30th Golden Raspberry Awards or Razzies were held on March 6, 2010 in Hollywood to honor the worst films of 2009. The nominations were announced on February 1...
("Razzies"). Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
was a nominee for the award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding African-American Actors in a Motion Picture:# of Performances that have won or been nominated for an Academy Award :*1. Louis Gossett Jr.- An Officer and a Gentleman...
at the 41st NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
s, but lost to Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
's portrayal of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
in Invictus
Invictus (film)
Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World...
(2009). The only award that Obsessed won was that for Best Fight
MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
The MTV Movie Award for Best Fight is an award presented to actors and characters for quality fight scenes in films at the MTV Movie Awards, a ceremony established in 1992. Honors in several categories are awarded by MTV at the annual ceremonies, and are chosen by public vote...
at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards
2010 MTV Movie Awards
The 2010 MTV Movie Awards was the 19th annual ceremony which took place on June 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Aziz Ansari served as a host for the 19th annual ceremony. Voting the nominees began from a list of eligible contestants on March 29, 2010, and ended on April 9, 2010...
, for the fight between Sharon and Lisa.
Box office
Obsessed was screened at 2,514 theaters and grossed $11,209,297 on its opening day of April 24, 2009; it ended its opening weekend at the top of the box office, with gross revenue of $28,612,730 in those three days, and became the second-biggest opening weekend for a Screen Gems film ever. The film spent its entire first week of release at number one and grossed $34,802,334, however it slipped to number three the following week, due to the release of X-Men Origins: WolverineX-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 American action film based on the Marvel Comics' fictional character Wolverine. The fourth installment in the X-Men film series, it was released worldwide on May 1, 2009...
and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Obsessed closed in US cinemas on June 14, 2009, having grossed $68,261,644 domestically in its eight weeks of availability, which made up 92.5% of its gross takings. Internationally, the film grossed an additional $5,568,696, bringing its total gross box office revenue to $73,830,340.
Home media
Obsessed was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Sony Pictures Home EntertainmentSony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
on August 4, 2009, in the US. It is also available through digital distribution
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
. The DVD and Blu-ray were released by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. is an American film production/distribution studio and subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, itself a subdivision of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, which is owned by Sony Pictures...
in Canada on August 4, 2009, and by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2009. It was released in Australia on September 9, 2009. The film was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production/distribution unit of Japanese multinational technology and media conglomerate Sony...
via DVD and Blu-ray in France on October 21, 2009. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the film for home viewing in Germany by DVD and Blu-ray on December 10, 2009. The DVD of Obsessed was made available on January 13, 2010 by Sony Pictures in Italy, and on August 25, 2010 by Sony Pictures Entertainment in Japan. In its first week of release in the US, Obsessed sold 540,925 copies, worth $8,806,259 of sales. To date it has sold 1,208,077 copies in the US, worth $20,601,427 of consumer expenditure.