2026 has been a banner year for horror, with blockbusters like Obsession dominating both the box office and critical conversation. But while Curry Barker's breakout hit has been grabbing headlines, a smaller, more subversive gem is quietly building a devoted following on streaming. Meredith Alloway's feature directorial debut, Forbidden Fruits, is proving that sometimes the sweetest rewards come from the most unexpected places.
Released earlier this year to positive reviews but a disappointing limited theatrical run, Forbidden Fruits seemed destined for obscurity. The film, which blends the teen witch energy of The Craft with the sharp social satire of Mean Girls and Heathers, stars Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Lola Tung. Its Gen Z-centric story of forbidden desires and supernatural consequences didn't find a wide audience in theaters, but it's now finding its tribe on AMC+.
As of July 2026, Forbidden Fruits has cracked the top ten most-streamed titles on AMC+ in the U.S., a remarkable feat given the platform's strong lineup. It's competing with heavy hitters like The Day After Tomorrow, The Crow Girl, The Vampire Lestat, and even Brad Pitt's Troy, which has seen a resurgence thanks to Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. This streaming success is turning Forbidden Fruits into a sleeper hit, and many are already calling it a future cult classic.
The film's rise mirrors that of other under-the-radar horror titles that have found second lives on streaming. For example, Cold Storage became MGM+'s sleeper hit earlier this month, proving that audiences are hungry for fresh, original genre fare. Similarly, Forbidden Fruits is benefiting from word-of-mouth and the convenience of streaming, allowing it to reach viewers who missed it in theaters.
Alloway's film is part of a larger trend in 2026 horror, where big-budget spectacles like Obsession coexist with more intimate, character-driven stories. Obsession itself has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing non-animated original film of the past decade and the first film with a sub-million production budget to earn over $200 million this century. But Forbidden Fruits proves that success isn't always measured in box office dollars.
For fans of fun horror movies that blend camp and chaos, Forbidden Fruits is a must-watch. Its mix of supernatural thrills, teenage angst, and biting humor has resonated with a generation that grew up on the films it pays homage to. The cast's chemistry and Alloway's confident direction have earned comparisons to the best of the genre, and the film's streaming numbers suggest it's only going to grow from here.
If you're looking for something to watch on AMC+ this July, Forbidden Fruits is the perfect pick. It's a reminder that sometimes the most forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest—especially when you discover it on your own terms.
