Hollywood’s horror film ‘Obsession,’ which has been released in India on May 29, is receiving a great response from the audience. Since its release in India, the film has remained a topic of discussion for two reasons: its remarkable box office success and the controversy surrounding the deleted scenes ordered by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) before its theatrical release.
This has upset the viewers, and they are demanding to get back those scenes. Some are questioning CBFC, asking, “What’s the point of giving ‘A’ certificate to the film?”
This spine-chilling horror film, which is directed by Curry Barker stars Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. It is currently the highest-rated horror film of 2026 on Rotten Tomatoes, which increased expectations among Indian audiences.
Inde has played the role of Nikki Freeman in the film.
Why were several scenes removed before the film was released in India?
According to CBFC, the film ‘Obsession’ was given an ‘A’ certificate and has a runtime of around 1 hour and 50 minutes. Despite being approved only for adult audiences, the CBFC ordered cuts totaling 38 seconds.
Before receiving approval for theatrical release in India, films often have to make changes as suggested by the board. It may be edits or removals of scenes that can be inappropriate for public viewing.
For example, if the scenes have violence, gore, sexual or intimate content, excessive sensuality, strong profanity, and material that could hurt religious sentiments or offend certain groups, then such scenes are deleted from the film. This is done to meet the CBFC’s certification guidelines before being released in cinemas.
What was wrong in the scene of this movie?
The 38-second removed footage includes 24 seconds of what the CBFC described as “extreme violence” and 14 seconds showing “sexual activity.” A scene containing nudity was also removed from the film. While, mandatory anti-smoking, anti-tobacco, and anti-liquor warnings were added to the film.
Fans are reacting to the cuts and raising questions
These edits have upset many horror fans, who felt they failed to get the complete theatrical experience. Soon after the film’s release, social media was flooded with criticism and backlash.
One viewer posted on X that the cuts affected the story and made parts of the plot difficult to understand. The user questioned why such scenes were removed from a film that already carried an adult rating.
Another user criticized the CBFC’s decision, saying there was no point in giving an ‘A’ certificate if scenes still had to be cut or muted. The viewer also compared the situation to other recent films that reportedly faced similar censorship issues.
Many moviegoers argued that adults should be allowed to watch the original version of a horror film without excessive interference. The controversy has once again sparked debate over film censorship and creative freedom in India.
The criticism spread to Instagram as well. Some users said censorship is one reason they no longer spend money on cinema tickets or OTT subscriptions. Others sarcastically asked who is allowed to watch such scenes if even adults cannot. Many fans believe the cuts weakened the impact of the film.
The criticism extended to Instagram, where users also voiced their frustration. One person said they had stopped going to cinemas and paying for OTT subscriptions because of censorship issues. Another sarcastically asked who is allowed to watch such scenes if even adults are not permitted to see them.
What is the CBFC?
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), known as the Censor Board, is a statutory body under India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It regulates and certifies films under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Understand it’s working in pointers below-
- No film can be released to the public in India without being reviewed and certified by the CBFC.
- Before a movie is screened in theatres, filmmakers are required to obtain a certification from the board.
- This certificate evaluates the content and determines the appropriate category for audiences.
- The CBFC also has the authority to recommend modifications or cuts before granting a release certificate.
Huge collection worldwide
Since its international release on May 15, the film has earned more than $90 million worldwide, including nearly $68 million in North America.
One of the biggest highlights of ‘Obsession’s’ box office journey has been its exceptional performance during its second weekend. Unlike most films, which usually see a decline in ticket sales after the opening weekend, ‘Obsession’ managed to earn even more in its second weekend than it did during its debut.
The film’s strong word-of-mouth publicity, positive reviews, and growing popularity on social media played a major role in attracting more audiences to theatres.
Hollywood movies that faced major cuts from CBFC
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015): Film’s explicit sexual content was demanded by the board. Ultimately, the studio chose not to release the film in Indian theaters at all.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Filmmaker David Fincher refused to comply with the CBFC’s demands to cut scenes of sexual violence and nudity, resulting in the film being withheld from Indian theaters.
- The Da Vinci Code (2006): Film had faced state-level bans and was forced to include a prolonged disclaimer before and after the movie to secure a release, regarding its religious themes.
- Oppenheimer (2023): Universal Pictures had to digitally modify an intimate scene and add CGI clothing to the lead actress after CBFC objections. The film was eventually cleared with an A certificate.
- Deadpool 2 (2018) & Logan (2017): These R-rated superhero films were forced to trim graphic violence, decapitations, and profanity to secure theatrical clearances.
- Blue Jasmine (2013): This was banned from Indian theaters because the filmmaker outright refused to insert the mandatory anti-smoking disclaimers required by Indian law.
