Regardless of the horror film lineup for 2025 being stacked with so many extremely anticipated releases, from Sinners to Weapons, followers of the horror style are nonetheless wanting to see yet one more Stephen King book-to-movie adaptation. 2025’s The Monkey, which is predicated on a 1980 brief story written by the legendary horror writer, follows two twin brothers (each performed by Theo James) who discover a cursed toy monkey tucked away of their father’s attic. Unexpectedly, a collection of unexplained murders begin to occur, and it results in a dying that tears the twins’ household aside, inflicting them to get separated. Years later, the twins reunite to cease the evil toy monkey as soon as and for all.
Following its launch in February, The Monkey grew to become considered one of Stephen King’s high 10 highest-grossing variations ever on the field workplace, incomes a complete of $68.9 million worldwide towards a funds of $10-11 million. And now, the Stephen King horror flick has taken over the streaming charts on 
Hulu. Arriving on the streaming platform on August 7, The Monkey rapidly climbed to the primary spot on Hulu’s High 15 At the moment checklist. The movie, helmed by Longlegs author and director Osgood Perkins, at the moment occupies the checklist alongside Ryan Coolger’s documentary Hurricane Katrina: Race In opposition to Time, the brand new King of the Hill reboot, The Satan Wears Prada, Undertaking Runway, Bachelor in Paradise, Fairly Girl, Bob’s Burgers and extra.
Whereas The Monkey carried out pretty nicely on the field workplace, critics and audiences had contrasting opinions concerning the newest Stephen King adaptation. On the one hand, critics appear to fairly take pleasure in The Monkey. As per Rotten Tomatoes, the horror film earned a stable 78% on the Tomatoemeter. Even Stephen King himself had nothing however good issues to say concerning the film adaptation of his brief story. Earlier than The Monkey premiered in theaters, King attended a complicated screening and shared his response on his Threads account. He wrote, “You have by no means seen something like THE MONKEY. It is batshit insane. As somebody who has indulged in batshittery every now and then, I say that with admiration.” Nonetheless, viewers had a totally completely different tackle the Theo James-led horror flick: audiences gave The Monkey a 56% ranking on the Popcornmeter. Yikes.
Will There Be ‘The Monkey 2’? Director Osgood Perkins Weighs In
With The Monkey experiencing a sudden resurgence in reputation on Hulu, it appears solely proper to ask whether or not there’s a sequel to The Monkey within the works. Being that Stephen King wrote The Monkey as a brief story, there can be no supply materials for the sequel to construct on. Moreover, the movie obtained blended opinions from viewers and critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Nonetheless, the field workplace numbers inform one other story: there’s a fanbase for The Monkey. It might be small, however it’s there. And with a newfound curiosity within the horror comedy, a sequel might occur. However would The Monkey director Osgood Perkins be on board? Shortly after the movie premiered in theaters, Osgood appeared on an episode of The Kingcast podcast and shared that he has no real interest in doing one other Stephen King adaptation after The Monkey. On the time, he mentioned:
“So, if there was going to be one other King factor…actually, I can not think about. It feels so full. It appears like a transfer that we made, we landed the airplane because it had been, and folks actually dig it, and do not f*ck with it. Do not put your head within the tiger’s and lion’s mouth once more. We tried one thing very chancy, as a result of I believe all people is aware of as quickly as you say the phrases horror and comedy collectively to folks within the enterprise, they are saying ‘I believe not.'”
Whereas Osgood does not wish to do one other Stephen King adaptation, followers can depend him out of collaborating in a doable The Monkey sequel. However that does not imply all hope is misplaced for The Monkey 2. Though a sequel hasn’t been confirmed, perhaps the movie’s newfound reputation on Hulu might assist change that.
The Monkey
4
/5
- Launch Date
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February 21, 2025
- Runtime
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97 minutes
- Director
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Osgood Perkins