Inde Navarrette is having a year that most actors only dream of. After exploding onto the scene with her breakout role in the horror sensation Obsession, she's now adding another milestone to her resume: hosting the biggest Saturday Night Live episode of the season.
According to recent reports, Navarrette's Halloween-themed episode of the iconic sketch show pulled in 5.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of the current season. That's a significant feat, especially considering the show's long history and the stiff competition it faces in the late-night landscape. The numbers also stack up well against recent seasons, with only a handful of episodes in the past few years managing to top that viewership.
Navarrette was joined by musical guest Gracie Abrams, and together they delivered a night of comedy and music that clearly resonated with audiences. The next test for SNL will be this Saturday's episode featuring Druski and The Strokes, but Navarrette has set a high bar.
This SNL success is just the latest in a string of record-breaking achievements for Navarrette. Her film Obsession, in which she stars as Nikki Freeman, has been a box office phenomenon. The movie, which famously outperformed the latest Star Wars installment, has become the highest-grossing non-animated original film of the past decade and the highest-grossing original horror movie of this century. It also ranks as the fifth highest-grossing horror film of all time, all while being made on a budget of less than $1 million.
Beyond those impressive numbers, Obsession also achieved a rare feat by growing its ticket sales across three consecutive weekends, something not seen since E.T. That kind of sustained audience interest is almost unheard of in today's blockbuster-driven market.
Navarrette's performance has earned critical acclaim, with some calling it one of the year's best. She's currently considered a strong contender in the awards conversation, though she remains the second favorite behind Julianne Moore for her role in Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut. But regardless of how the Oscars shake out, Navarrette's future is bright—she's set to play Rogue in the MCU's X-Men reboot, ensuring she'll be a major presence on screens for years to come.
For those who haven't yet seen the film that started it all, Obsession will be available to stream on Netflix starting November 17. It's a perfect opportunity to catch the performance that has everyone talking. And if you're looking for more on the film's journey, check out our coverage of its Netflix debut.
Navarrette's rapid rise is a testament to her talent and the power of a great story. From a relatively unknown actress to one of the most talked-about names in Hollywood, she's proven that with the right role, anything is possible. And with her SNL ratings win, she's shown she can conquer the small screen as well as the big one.
As the awards season heats up and her Marvel debut approaches, all eyes will be on Navarrette. If her recent track record is any indication, we can expect more records to fall.
