Following the immense success of Longlegs, writer/director Oz Perkins dives back into horror with a new Stephen King adaptation, The Monkey. Starring Theo James as twin brothers haunted by a sinister cymbal-smacking monkey toy, the film also features a talented cast including Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Elijah Wood (Lord of The Rings, Yellowjackets), and Adam Scott (Severance). These actors find themselves entangled in the chilling saga of the cursed monkey toy.
IGN critic Tom Jorgenson hailed 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 review cements The Monkey's status as a standout horror-comedy.
If you're eager to see The Monkey in theaters or curious about its streaming release, here are the details you need:
How to Watch The Monkey - Showtimes and Streaming Release Date
**The Monkey premiered in theaters** on February 21. You can find showtimes near you at the following major theater chains:
- Fandango
- AMC Theaters
- Cinemark Theaters
- Regal Theaters
**The Monkey Streaming Release Date**
**The Monkey will eventually be available to stream on Hulu**, not on Netflix or Max. Neon, the film's distributor, has a deal with Hulu that secures streaming rights for its theatrical releases.
Unlike the recent trend of movies going straight to streaming, Neon’s independent films take longer to hit the service. For instance, Oz Perkins' previous film, Longlegs, which premiered in theaters on July 12, 2024, didn't appear on Hulu until February 14, 2025, a delay of about seven months.
While you may have to wait several months for The Monkey to be available on Hulu, you can expect to rent or purchase it through digital marketplaces like Prime Video by early May.
What Is The Monkey About?
Skeleton Crew: Stories
0Featuring the short story “The Monkey," the novella The Mist, and many more haunting tales. See it at Amazon
The Monkey is an adaptation of Stephen King’s short story first published in 1980 and later revised for his Skeleton Crew collection in 1985. Here's the film's official synopsis:
When twin brothers discover a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of bizarre deaths devastates their family. Twenty-five years later, the monkey reignites its killing spree, compelling the now-estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy once more.
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 both written and directed by Oz Perkins. The film boasts a stellar cast including:
- 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 due to strong bloody violent content, gore, pervasive language, and some sexual references. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes.
