Following the breakout success of Longlegs, writer/director Oz Perkins is back with another spine-chilling horror adaptation from Stephen King's works. The Monkey features Theo James portraying a pair of twins tormented by a menacing cymbal-banging monkey toy. The film boasts an impressive cast including Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Elijah Wood (Lord of The Rings, Yellowjackets), and Adam Scott (Severance), all drawn into the eerie world of the haunted toy.
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 blend of horror and comedy promises a thrilling cinematic experience.
If you're eager to see The Monkey in theaters or curious about its streaming release, 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 websites:
- Fandango
- AMC Theaters
- Cinemark Theaters
- Regal Theaters
The Monkey Streaming Release Date
The Monkey will eventually be available to stream on Hulu, thanks to Neon's distribution agreement with the service. Unlike the trend of immediate streaming releases, Neon's films typically take several months to transition from theaters to streaming. For instance, Oz Perkins' previous film, Longlegs, took about seven months to appear on Hulu after its theatrical release. Expect The Monkey to be available for streaming on Hulu around September 2025. In the meantime, you can rent or buy the movie on digital platforms like Prime Video starting in 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 adapted from Stephen King’s short story of the same name, first published in 1980 and later revised for the Skeleton Crew collection in 1985. The official synopsis reads:
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 deadly spree, compelling the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy.
Does The Monkey Have a Post-Credits Scene?
While The Monkey doesn't feature 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. The film stars:
- 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.
