Summary

The Institute is a well-received adaptation with strong performances and a compelling story.
Stephen King shared that the idea for The Institute stemmed from exploring the moral issues of kids with psychic powers.
Mike Flanagan's unconventional adaptation of Carrie for Amazon Prime Video is highly anticipated.

Stephen King fans ask one major question when faced with a new adaptation: is it true to the original story? In the case of many 2025 movies and TV shows based on the beloved author's work, the answer seems to be yes. Although Osgood Perkins's The Monkey is a wild and gory take on the short story, Mike Flanagan captured the right emotional and joyful tone for The Life of Chuck. Several of King's upcoming adaptations look compelling and memorable, especially The Long Walk, which is in theaters next month.

One of King's most exciting new adaptations came out this summer, and while some of the TV shows based on his work have been lackluster (like Under the Dome), this one is great.

Stephen King's The Institute Is An Excellent Adaptation With A 68% Rotten Tomatoes Score

Kids With Powers, A Creepy Setting, And Great Performances

Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) in The Institute

Stephen King's The Institute TV adaptation has a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 69% on the Popcornmeter and is a compelling take on the novel. Published in 2019, it follows Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old with telekinetic powers. When Luke's parents are killed and he's taken to an odd and scary place called The Institute, he learns that the people in charge have collected a group of kids just like him. The series stars Joe Freeman in the main role of Luke, Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby as The Institute's director, and Ben Barnes as police officer Tim Jamieson. George R.R. Martin is a huge fan of the book and talked about how it's hard to put down King's novels.

But, because The Institute is streaming on MGM+, not all of King's fans have watched it. Many people subscribe to more than one streaming service, and while most subscribe to Netflix and enjoy checking out the latest shows on that platform, not everyone has MGM+. Some in Canada have also noted on Reddit that they've had trouble finding the series.

If King fans subscribe to MGM+ and check out The Institute, they can watch another exciting sci-fi series: From. Fans are eagerly awaiting From season 4, as the mysterious story about residents who can't leave a small town is gripping and unsettling. Both The Institute and From have engaging characters and unique settings.

King never hides what he really thinks about adaptations of his work. If he doesn't like an actor or an ending, he'll be honest about it. The horror/fantasy/sci-fi author said that the most well-done adaptations remain true to his work, but noted that changes are sometimes necessary. He had positive words for The Institute and told The Associated Press and said, "you expect some changes and, sometimes, man, they’re really good." The biggest change is making Luke a teenager instead of 12. While some fans aren't pleased about this, the main part of the story remains the same.

Stephen King Shared Why He Wrote The Institute

The Author Always Has A Fascinating Creative Process

Mary-Louise Parker, Julian Richings, and Jason Diaz in The Institute

In an interview with The Associated Press, Stephen King explained how the idea for The Institute came about.

“I thought to myself, what would happen if a bunch of kids that had psychic powers could see enough of the future to tell when certain moments were going to come along,. But the kids would be wrecked by this process and they would be kept in a place where they could serve the greater good. It was a moral problem that I really liked.”

King also noted that he "tried to write a book about kids the way that kids really act" and thought about William Golding's iconic novel Lord of the Flies. You can see the roots of that iconic story in many other TV shows, including the short-lived Netflix series The Society which finds teenagers alone in their small town and wondering where all the adults went.

Many of King's stories are about adults who are trying to control kids who have special powers, which is one reason why several fans are comparing The Institute to the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. When Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) shows up in Hawkins, Indiana and her new friends give her a new name, she's spent years being controlled and experimented on at Hawkins Lab. Eleven and Luke are both strong-willed and believe they can escape their fate, and it's both heartbreaking and fascinating to watch.

Another Beloved Stephen King Story About A Teenager With Powers Is Getting An Adaptation

Mike Flanagan's Work Is Always Moving, Memorable, And Well-Done

Stephen King's Carrie doesn't shy away from the horrors of high school or the cruelty of being bullied, and Brian De Palma's 1976 film adaptation is a classic. Mike Flanagan is adapting Carrie for Amazon Prime Video and it's not going to be what people expect to see. He teased, "it's about much more than Carrie White" and "we're not making a show about telekinesis." Summer Howell has been cast in the main role, and Katee Sackhoff also joined the show.