A Streaming Guide to The Monkey

Stephen King adaptations continue to captivate audiences, and The Monkey is the latest addition to the horror expert’s cinematic legacy. Directed by Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), the film brings King’s 1980 short story to life with a distinctive blend of suspense and dark humor. The Monkey is now playing in theaters as of February 21.

The story follows the lives of twin brothers Hal and Bill, who discover a cursed wind-up monkey among their late father’s possessions, according to Variety. As children, the brothers are played by Christian Convery (Cocaine Bear, Sweet Tooth), while Theo James (The White Lotus, The Gentlemen) assumes their role as adults. When the toy is wound up, horrific deaths unfold around them. After discarding it as kids, the siblings believe they’ve escaped its grasp—until it resurfaces decades later, forcing them to confront their past in a desperate bid to break the curse.

The Monkey boasts a strong supporting cast, including Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Colin O’Brien (Wonka), Rohan Campbell (The Hardy Boys), and Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek). Perkins has described the film as “Robert Zemeckis on ecstasy,” blending an almost whimsical family story with excessive gore and over-the-top deaths.

“The movie has heart, but it’s also hyper dark and really funny,” James told Entertainment Weekly. Perkins, meanwhile, emphasized his unique approach to King’s story, saying, “It’s not M3GAN, the monkey doesn’t attack—it just exists. And that’s enough to make people die in insane ways.”

Is The Monkey streaming yet?

While an official streaming date has not yet been announced, The Monkey is expected to land on Hulu later in 2025, following the pattern of previous Neon releases, like Parasite and Cuckoo. For now, horror fans eager to see Perkins’s take on King’s short story should head to their nearest theater to watch.

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