Stephen King’s 2025 Horror Movie Launches with Highest Rotten Tomatoes Score for a King Adaptation in 8 Years

Stephen King continues to dominate the horror genre, having produced a remarkable collection of novels and short stories over the past five decades. His diverse body of work has inspired numerous film adaptations, with classics such as Carrie (1976), The Shining (1980), Misery (1990), and It (2017) earning accolades from both audiences and critics alike. In addition to his horror masterpieces, adaptations like Stand by Me (1986) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) showcase his storytelling prowess in other genres.

Despite this legacy, not every screen interpretation of King’s work has been met with acclaim. Recent adaptations have struggled to impress, with films such as Salem’s Lot (2024), Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022), Firestarter (2022), Children of the Corn (2020), and In the Tall Grass (2019) receiving unfavorable critiques. Since 2017, the films that have managed to garner positive responses include It, 1922 (2017), Doctor Sleep (2019), and most recently, The Boogeyman (2023).

The Monkey’s Promising Start on Rotten Tomatoes

A High Critic Score for The Stephen King Adaptation

The monkey with one drumstick raised in The Monkey 2025

Recently, The Monkey made its debut on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting the best critic score for a King adaptation in eight years. Directed by Osgood Perkins, this adaptation dives into the chilling narrative of twin brothers Hal and Bill (portrayed by Theo James) who confront a haunted toy monkey responsible for a string of gruesome childhood deaths. This film follows Salem’s Lot and is Perkins’ follow-up to the unexpected horror success Longlegs, which resonated well with audiences last summer.

According to a recent post from Rotten Tomatoes, The Monkey has launched with an impressive 91% critic score based on 11 reviews. Currently, the percentage has slightly increased to 92% with a total of 13 reviews, a figure that is likely to change as more critiques come in. This score marks it as the highest-performing King adaptation since 1922 in 2017, which also holds a 92% rating.

The first reviews are in for #TheMonkey – currently it’s Fresh at 91% on the Tomatometer, with 11 reviews: https://t.co/fpoMtEoSkY pic.twitter.com/jQVZXDuPna — Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) February 3, 2025