After the remarkable success of "Longlegs," writer/director Oz Perkins is back with another chilling horror adaptation from Stephen King's repertoire. "The Monkey" features Theo James portraying a pair of twins haunted by a sinister cymbal-clanging monkey toy. Joining the eerie ensemble are Tatiana Maslany, known for her role in "Orphan Black," Elijah Wood from "Lord of the Rings" and "Yellowjackets," and Adam Scott of "Severance" fame, all entangled in the disturbing tale of the monkey.
In his review for IGN, critic Tom Jorgenson praises "The Monkey" as "one of the best horror-comedies (and Stephen King adaptations) in recent memory, exploding off the screen with both gory kills and big laughs." This sounds like a perfect blend of horror and humor.
If you're eager to see "The Monkey" in theaters or curious about its streaming availability, here's everything you need to know:
How to Watch The Monkey - Showtimes and Streaming Release Date
"The Monkey" hit theaters on February 21. To find showtimes near you, visit the following theater links:
- Fandango
- AMC Theaters
- Cinemark Theaters
- Regal Theaters
The Monkey Streaming Release Date
"The Monkey" will eventually be available to stream on Hulu, rather than Netflix or Max. Distributed by Neon, which has an exclusive deal with Hulu, the film will follow the path of Neon's other theatrical releases. For instance, Oz Perkins' previous film, "Longlegs," premiered in theaters on July 12, 2024, and didn't make its way to Hulu until February 14, 2025, a delay of about seven months.
While fans may have to wait a few months for "The Monkey" to appear on Hulu, you can likely rent or buy the film through digital marketplaces like Prime Video by early May.
What Is The Monkey About?
Skeleton Crew: Stories
Featuring the short story "The Monkey," the novella "The Mist," and many more haunting tales. See it at Amazon
"The Monkey" is based on Stephen King's short story of the same name, first published in 1980 and later revised for the "Skeleton Crew" collection in 1985. Here's the official synopsis:
When twin brothers discover a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of bizarre deaths begins to tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey resumes its killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy once more.
Does The Monkey Have a Post-Credits Scene?
While "The Monkey" does not have a traditional post-credits scene, there is a "surprise" worth staying for. Be wary of spoilers, but you can find more details in IGN's guide to The Monkey's ending.
The Monkey Cast
"The Monkey" was written and directed by Oz Perkins. The film boasts an impressive cast:
- Theo James as Hal and Bill Shelburn
- Christian Convery as young Hal and Bill
- Tatiana Maslany as Lois Shelburn
- Colin O'Brien as Petey
- Rohan Campbell as Ricky
- Sarah Levy as Ida
- Adam Scott as Capt. Petey Shelburn
- Elijah Wood as Ted Hammerman
- Osgood Perkins as Chip
- Danica Dreyer as Annie Wilkes
- Laura Mennell as Hal's ex-wife and Petey's mother
- Nicco Del Rio as Rookie Priest
The Monkey Rating and Runtime
"The Monkey" is rated R for its strong bloody violent content, gore, pervasive language, and some sexual references. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes.
