Following the success of "Longlegs," writer/director Oz Perkins is back with another chilling horror adaptation from Stephen King's works. "The Monkey" stars Theo James as twin brothers haunted by a cymbal-smacking monkey toy. The film also features a stellar cast including Tatiana Maslany from "Orphan Black," Elijah Wood known for "Lord of the Rings" and "Yellowjackets," and Adam Scott of "Severance" fame, all entangled in the eerie monkey saga.
IGN critic Tom Jorgenson praised "The Monkey" in his review, calling it "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 comedy for fans of the genre.
If you're eager to see "The Monkey" in theaters or curious about its streaming availability, here's what you need to know:
How to Watch The Monkey - Showtimes and Streaming Release Date
"The Monkey" hit theaters on February 21. You can find showtimes near you at the following links:
- Fandango
- AMC Theaters
- Cinemark Theaters
- Regal Theaters
The Monkey Streaming Release Date
"The Monkey" will eventually stream on Hulu, thanks to a distribution deal with Neon, which gives Hulu exclusive rights to its theatrical releases. Unlike the recent trend of movies going straight to streaming, Neon’s independent films take longer to become available online. For instance, Oz Perkins' previous film, "Longlegs," was released in theaters on July 12, 2024, and didn't appear on Hulu until February 14, 2025, about seven months later. While "The Monkey" may not be on Hulu for several months, you can expect it to be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Prime Video by early May.
What Is The Monkey About?
"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 outrageous deaths begins to tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey starts a new killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy.
Does The Monkey Have a Post-Credits Scene?
While "The Monkey" doesn't have a traditional post-credits scene, there is a "surprise" worth sticking around for. Be cautious 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 and features the following 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 strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout, and some sexual references. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes.
