Leviticus Just Dethroned Obsession as 2026's Highest-Rated Horror Movie — And the RT Rankings Are Wild

Obsession Held the Crown for Months — Until Now

If you have been following the 2026 horror scene, you already know that Obsession has been the year's undisputed heavyweight. Produced by Blumhouse and directed by Curry Barker, the film not only became a box office megahit but also sat at the top of the Rotten Tomatoes horror leaderboard with a verified 94% critic score. It held dozens of records — until this week, that is.

Enter Leviticus, a new horror film directed by Adrian Chiarella that just quietly slipped past Obsession with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, ahead of its wide theatrical release on June 19. With nearly four dozen critic reviews on board and only a single negative review in the entire lot, Leviticus has earned its spot at the top.

What Makes Leviticus Special?

Leviticus follows two boys in a relationship who must face a violent, supernatural entity that takes the form of themselves — taunting and haunting each other in deeply unsettling ways. Think psychological horror meets queer narrative, and you are in the right ballpark.

The cast is mostly fresh faces, which mirrors Obsession's own unknown-heavy lineup. The one recognizable name is Mia Wasikowska (known for Alice in Wonderland and Crimson Peak), but the real breakout star is Joe Bird — the same young actor who delivered that chilling face-bashing scene in Talk to Me, A24's breakout horror sensation from a couple years back.

2026 Horror Movie RT Rankings: The Full Picture

Here is where things get really interesting. The top of the 2026 horror Rotten Tomatoes leaderboard is stacked with genuinely excellent films. Here is the rundown:

• Leviticus – 95% (the new #1)
• Obsession – 94% (dethroned but still incredible)
• Send Help – 93% (a surprise critical darling)
• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – 92% (the fifth 28 Days Later entry, and it deserved more box office love)
• Backrooms – 88% (another record-smashing phenomenon)
• Hokum – 88%
• We Bury the Dead – 88%
• Primate – 78%
• Undertone – 74%
• Forbidden Fruits – 74%

And then the list gets rough. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come scored a mediocre 73%, Faces of Death dropped to 69%, They Will Kill You landed at 65%, and the bottom three are rough: Iron Lung (59%), Passenger (49%), The Mummy (46%), and the absolute cellar-dweller, Scream 7, at just 30%. Return to Silent Hill rounds out the bottom at a brutal 18%.

Will Leviticus Be the Next Obsession?

Here is the reality check: probably not. Not because it is bad — far from it. But Obsession and Backrooms overperformed so wildly at the box office that following them is almost impossible. Even Forbes analyst Paul Tassi noted that Obsession will almost certainly outgross Leviticus this weekend, despite Leviticus being the fresh release.

But with a 95% RT score, a unique premise, and Joe Bird's breakout performance, Leviticus has a real shot at becoming the year's most talked-about horror film among critics. Whether audiences follow the critics is the million-dollar question.

Bottom line: if you are a horror fan, 2026 has been an incredible year. The top five alone — Leviticus, Obsession, Send Help, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and Backrooms — give you more quality horror content than most years deliver in a decade. Grab your popcorn and get to the theater.