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Timeline

Obsessed (2009) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2009 · 108 min
JustWatch #12,305 12
Directed by
Steve Shill
Starring
Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles, Ali Larter
Budget
$20M

A successful executive finds his perfect life and loving marriage jeopardized by a persistent and unsettling admirer. This woman’s unwanted attention escalates, creating a dangerous situation that threatens his career, his family, and his sense of safety. He must fight to protect everything he holds dear and confront the escalating threat she poses.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Obsessed
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Obsessed (2009)

Where can you watch Obsessed? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Kanopy and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Obsessed Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Obsessed (2009) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Family Moves In

    The film opens with the African-American family, including Derek Charles, his wife Sharon, and their baby Kyle, settling into their new home. As they remove the sold sign, the family explores their new surroundings, bonding through a playful hide-and-seek game.

  2. Derek's Office Encounter

    Derek heads to his office where he meets Lisa Sheridan, a temporary worker who catches his attention. Their initial interaction is charged with chemistry, setting the stage for future complications in Derek's life.

    Where
    Derek's Office
  3. Growing Tension

    As Lisa continues to work at the firm, she becomes a more significant presence in Derek's professional life. Despite his attempts to maintain professionalism, their chemistry intensifies, leading Derek to feel increasingly uneasy about her advances.

    Where
    Derek's Office
  4. Confiding in Friends

    Derek shares his worries about Lisa's clinginess with his friend Ben, revealing the uncomfortable situation he finds himself in. This conversation highlights Derek's internal struggle to balance his marriage and professional life amidst growing tension with Lisa.

  5. Christmas Party Incident

    During an office Christmas party, Lisa inappropriately corners Derek, further blurring the lines of professionalism and personal boundaries. This event is a pivotal moment that forces Derek to confront the escalating situation head-on.

    Where
    Office Christmas Party
  6. Work Retreat Surprise

    Things spiral out of control when Derek discovers Lisa unexpectedly in his accommodation during a work retreat. What follows is a series of fateful decisions that lead to unintended consequences that jeopardize his marriage.

    Where
    Work Retreat
  7. Marital Fallout

    The aftermath of Derek's regrettable night with Lisa creates tension and misunderstandings with Sharon. As the emotional strain builds, Derek struggles to reconnect with Sharon, who is dealing with her own familial issues.

  8. Escalating Schemes

    While Derek tries to mend his relationship with Sharon, Lisa's schemes grow bolder, putting the family at risk. The plot thickens as Lisa becomes increasingly dangerous, manipulating situations to her advantage.

  9. Hospital Crisis

    An alarming incident involving their baby prompts Derek and Sharon to rush to the hospital. The incident highlights the stakes and pressures facing the family and escalates the tension in the narrative.

    Where
    Hospital
  10. Confrontation with Lisa

    In a gripping climax, Sharon confronts Lisa about her obsession, leading to a fierce physical struggle. The confrontation escalates dramatically, showcasing the intensity of emotions and the perils of obsession.

    Where
    Family Home
  11. Tragic Outcome

    The struggle between Sharon and Lisa culminates in a tragic turn when Lisa meets her demise. This event leaves both families reeling and signifies the devastating consequences of unchecked obsession.

    Where
    Family Home
  12. Aftermath of the Conflict

    In the wake of the confrontation, both families are left to deal with the emotional fallout from the events. The loss and fractured relationships present a haunting atmosphere of uncertainty and vulnerability.

  13. Rebuilding Together

    Despite the tumultuous experiences, Sharon's resilience leads her to reconnect with Derek. They emerge from the devastating events stronger, suggesting that love can endure even the most trying circumstances.

  14. Fragility of Love

    The film concludes on a haunting note, emphasizing the fragility of love as it intertwines with obsession. The final moments reflect on the complexities of relationships shaped by external pressures and emotional turmoil.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 12:17

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Timeline questions answered

Obsessed Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Obsessed (2009): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Lisa become obsessed with Derek?

Lisa's obsession with Derek stems from her psychological instability and inability to accept rejection. After their charged office interactions and the night they spent together at the work retreat, Lisa convinced herself that their connection was mutual and meaningful. When Derek tried to set boundaries and distance himself, Lisa interpreted his rejection as a challenge rather than a clear 'no,' escalating her behavior from persistent to dangerous as she refuses to accept that Derek will not leave his wife.

Foreshadowing: Lisa's inappropriate behavior at the office Christmas party, where she corners Derek, hints at her inability to respect personal boundaries.

  • Lisa obsession motivation
  • Derek Charles stalker
  • psychological obsession
Q2

What happens between Derek and Lisa at the work retreat?

During a work retreat, Derek discovers Lisa unexpectedly in his accommodation. Despite his attempts to maintain distance, Lisa pursues him relentlessly under the pressure of the moment. Derek makes a regrettable decision and they spend the night together. This one-night stand becomes the catalyst for all subsequent events, as Lisa uses this encounter to justify her belief that Derek wants a relationship with her.

Foreshadowing: Their earlier office interactions, especially the file mishap where their hands touched, established the underlying tension that culminated at the retreat.

  • work retreat affair
  • Derek Lisa night
  • one night stand
  • office retreat
Q3

What happens with the baby that sends Derek and Sharon to the hospital?

Lisa's escalating schemes reach a terrifying peak when she harms the baby, Kyle, to create chaos and opportunity. The infant's sudden medical crisis forces Derek and Sharon to rush to the hospital in desperation. This life-threatening incident involving their child represents the ultimate violation of the family's safety and marks the point where the threat becomes undeniably physical and immediate.

Foreshadowing: Lisa's earlier manipulations and increasingly erratic behavior foreshadow her willingness to do anything to separate Derek and Sharon.

  • Kyle hospital
  • baby emergency
  • Lisa harms baby
  • family danger
Q4

How does the final confrontation between Sharon and Lisa happen?

Sharon directly confronts Lisa in their home, leading to a violent physical struggle that begins in the bedroom and tumbles down the staircase before escalating into the attic. The confrontation showcases the intense emotions and perils of obsession. In a surprising turn, Sharon's compassion surfaces when she attempts to save Lisa from falling to her death, though the rescue ultimately proves futile.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Sharon's protective instincts over her family build toward this inevitable confrontation.

  • Sharon Lisa fight
  • attic confrontation
  • physical struggle
  • final showdown
Q5

Why does Sharon try to save Lisa when she's falling?

Despite Lisa's dangerous actions and the threat she posed to her family, Sharon attempts to save her because she's not fundamentally a violent person. Even in the heat of their violent confrontation, Sharon's moral compass remains intact and she cannot watch someone die, regardless of what they've done. This moment reveals Sharon's character strength and capacity for mercy, though the rescue ultimately proves futile.

Foreshadowing: Sharon's behavior throughout the film establishes her as the moral center, always handling situations with dignity despite being pushed to her limits.

  • Sharon mercy
  • save Lisa
  • compassion
  • moral character
Q6

Does Derek and Sharon's marriage survive at the end of Obsessed?

The film ends with Derek and Sharon potentially rebuilding their relationship, though it's bittersweet. After Lisa's death and the traumatic events, Sharon walks out to meet Derek, suggesting they may reconcile. However, their bond has been profoundly scarred by the affair, lies, and violence they've endured. The film emphasizes the fragility of love when tested by external threats and internal betrayals.

Foreshadowing: Despite Derek's mistakes, his fundamental commitment to his marriage remains evident throughout, providing the foundation for potential reconciliation.

  • marriage survive ending
  • Derek Sharon reconciliation
  • rebuild relationship
  • Obsessed ending
Q7

How does Lisa die in Obsessed?

Lisa dies during the physical confrontation with Sharon in their home. The struggle begins in the bedroom, continues down the staircase, and moves into the attic. While Sharon initially tries to save Lisa from falling, the fight ends tragically with Lisa's death. Her demise serves as the tragic consequence of her unchecked obsession and refusal to accept rejection.

Foreshadowing: The constant escalation of Lisa's dangerous behavior throughout the film logically leads to this fatal conclusion.

  • Lisa death
  • how dies
  • final confrontation outcome
  • tragic ending
Q8

What was Lisa's plan with the baby?

Lisa's plan involving the baby appears to be a calculated move to create separation between Derek and Sharon. By harming Kyle and causing a medical emergency, Lisa aimed to create a situation where she could swoop in during the chaos, offer support to Derek, and further isolate him from Sharon. The incident shows her transformation from a persistent admirer into someone willing to directly target the family unit itself.

Foreshadowing: Lisa's earlier schemes, including appearing in Derek's accommodation, demonstrate her increasing willingness to manipulate situations to her advantage.

  • Lisa baby plot
  • harm Kyle
  • manipulate Derek
  • family attack
Q9

Why doesn't Derek stop Lisa's behavior before it escalates?

Derek's failure to stop Lisa earlier stems from underestimating the severity of her obsession, hoping the situation would resolve itself, and struggling to assert boundaries in a professional setting. His initial attraction to Lisa and the shame about their night together also make him reluctant to escalate matters publicly. When he attempts to address the issue with HR, it's too late as Lisa's psychological grip has already tightened.

Foreshadowing: Derek's initial reactions to Lisa's attention, being intrigued despite being unsettled, show he's already drawn to her, making it harder to take firm action.

  • Derek fails stop Lisa
  • ignore warnings
  • professional boundaries
  • prevention
Q10

How does Sharon find out about Derek's affair with Lisa?

Sharon discovers the affair during the period when Lisa's schemes are escalating and when Sharon is already dealing with her own family crisis. The discovery combines the pain of betrayal with the immediate danger posed by Lisa. The specific moment of discovery isn't detailed, but the marital fallout is immediate and severe, forcing Derek to struggle to reconnect with Sharon amid the escalating threat.

Foreshadowing: Lisa's increasingly bold behavior and presence in their lives would naturally lead to discovery, especially as Sharon becomes more vigilant about threats to her family.

  • Sharon discovers affair
  • find out about Lisa
  • betrayal
  • how she learned

Movie threads

More Movies Like Obsessed, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Obsessed tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Thrillers about home and family under threat like Obsessed

Stories where the safety of home is violated by a relentless external threat. This collection features movies like Obsessed where a stable domestic life is shattered by a dangerous intruder or stalker. If you enjoyed the high-stakes tension of protecting a family from an obsessive threat, you'll find similar stories of psychological terror and home invasion here.

  • suspenseful
  • claustrophobic
  • paranoid
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • dark
  • Tone: tense, dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with a protagonist enjoying a stable, seemingly secure life. An external threat, often an obsessive individual, begins to target them, escalating from minor intrusions to direct attacks on their home and loved ones. The plot follows the protagonist's increasingly desperate attempts to defend their world, culminating in a violent confrontation that leaves lasting scars.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their core premise of a domestic or personal sanctuary being violated. They share a high-intensity, tense tone, a steady pacing that methodically builds dread, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the themes of safety, trust, and survival.

Movies about fatal attraction and psychological unraveling like Obsessed

Tales of corrupted desire where obsession dismantles sanity and relationships. If you liked the dark erotic tension and psychological manipulation in Obsessed, this list curates similar thrillers about dangerous obsessions. These films explore themes of stalking, marital strife, and the corrosive effects of unwanted desire, delivering a heavy, suspenseful experience.

  • unsettling
  • erotic
  • suspenseful
  • dark
  • anxious
  • paranoid
  • Tone: dark, tense, erotic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central character—often in a committed relationship—becoming the target of an obsessed admirer. The story charts the methodical erosion of the protagonist's peace of mind, career, and personal relationships as the stalker's manipulations intensify. The journey is one of psychological siege, where the protagonist must fight to reclaim their life from the grip of a corrosive fixation.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their exploration of sexual obsession as a destructive force. They share a dark, tense tone, steady pacing that builds unease, and a straightforward yet heavy narrative about the violation of trust and the fragility of normalcy against relentless fixation.

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Movies Like Obsessed

Similar movies to Obsessed: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Obsessed (2009) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Obsessed in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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