The Monkey Returns as Global Streaming Hit for Halloween Season
Stephen King's The Monkey, a film adaptation of his 1980 short story directed by Osgood Perkins, has climbed streaming charts worldwide and become a major success on HBO Max. The horror-comedy film, which earned King's personal praise for being "bats--t insane," grossed nearly $69 million against an $11 million budget during its theatrical run. Nearly two years after its original release, the film featuring Theo James, Elijah Wood, and Adam Scott is experiencing renewed popularity during the Halloween season.
The film's resurgence comes during a particularly active period for King adaptations hitting screens. Beyond The Monkey's streaming success, October 2026 sees the release of Mike Flanagan's Carrie remake on Prime Video, while King simultaneously launches the third book in his Talisman series. This convergence demonstrates sustained audience appetite for King's work across multiple formats and platforms, from legacy television series to contemporary streaming releases.
The Monkey's box office performance established it as a significant commercial achievement for independent distributor Neon. With a nearly $69 million global gross against an $11 million budget, it ranks third in Neon's catalog behind only Parasite and director Osgood Perkins' own Longlegs film, positioning it among the studio's most profitable releases to date.
The Monkey's streaming momentum may influence how studios approach horror adaptations during seasonal viewing periods, potentially encouraging strategic timing of releases around Halloween. Its sustained popularity nearly two years after theatrical release could signal how audiences engage with horror content across platforms over extended timeframes. Additionally, the film's success might affect decision-making regarding sequels or expanded universes for King adaptations, though director Perkins' stated creative preferences appear to constrain such expansion regardless of commercial performance.