Stephen King TV adaptations success is shaping the horror landscape in 2025, as recent shows set new streaming records and point to a promising future for upcoming Mike Flanagan projects. With television versions of King’s work now outperforming films at the box office, this shift introduces meaningful changes to the genre’s commercial dynamic and creative direction.
Recent Success of Stephen King Adaptations on Both Screens
This year has marked a dynamic period for the horror genre, seeing unique releases like Good Boy and Weapons, while also witnessing major successes from Stephen King adaptations. The Long Walk and The Monkey stood out on the big screen, gathering critical praise for their performances and storytelling, while other established franchises, such as Alien: Earth and The Last of Us season 2, continued building anticipation for sequels and future installments. As a result, both movie theaters and TV platforms became stages for new interpretations of major horror properties, engaging audiences and critics alike.
Upon examining adaptations due in 2025, it is evident that trends are already shifting. Formulas that once ensured success for Stephen King adaptations are evolving, influenced both by changes in viewership preferences and evolving streaming technologies. This has particular importance for creators like Mike Flanagan, who is set to helm several upcoming King-related projects. As audiences lean towards serialized storytelling, TV adaptations seem set to benefit.
Box Office Challenges for King’s Big Screen Stories
Despite critically strong entries, most recent Stephen King movies have encountered financial headwinds. The Monkey, for example, started 2025 on a high, achieving a 77% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and earning almost $69 million from a modest $10–11 million budget. The Life of Chuck broke new ground as a non-horror adaptation, again earning strong reviews but only managing $16.2 million against a $25 million budget.
Meanwhile, The Long Walk, celebrated for depicting the harsh realities of authoritarian regimes, took in $44 million from a $20 million budget. The Running Man, with the largest budget at $110 million, has so far earned $30.7 million, with its overall theatrical run still in progress. Even with favorable critic responses—The Running Man holds a 66% Rotten Tomatoes score—box office returns for most of these films have failed to match expectations. Only The Monkey delivered both commercial and critical success, while the remainder struggled to even recover their initial investments.
Television Adaptations Surpass Expectations
In contrast, the two King-based TV series of 2025, The Institute and It: Welcome to Derry, have flourished. The Institute secured a renewal for a second season, confirming strong audience engagement. Meanwhile, It: Welcome to Derry has set new viewership records on HBO. This represents a significant shift, since Stephen King’s television adaptations have historically produced mixed outcomes. The recent surge in popularity demonstrates that TV may now be the most effective medium for bringing King’s stories to life, as episode-based formats allow deeper character exploration and extended suspense.
Mike Flanagan’s Theatrical King Adaptations Struggle Financially
Mike Flanagan, recognized for blending psychological tension and horror, has directed three Stephen King adaptations: Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck. Gerald’s Game, after a premiere at BFI Southbank, went directly to streaming. Both Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck received traditional theatrical releases. Across all three projects, Flanagan achieved positive critical response, highlighting his respect for King’s material and his unique ability to translate disturbing narratives to the screen.
Yet, commercial performance did not reflect critical favor.
“Even after being hailed as one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time, The Life of Chuck could not even recover its production budget, let alone break even.”
These outcomes expose a troubling division: while Flanagan’s television works attract wide audiences, his feature films—even those that are critically lauded—fall short financially. This pattern reflects changing viewer habits, where streaming platforms and episodic TV increasingly trump theatrical runs for this genre.
Upcoming Flanagan Projects Likely to Benefit from TV Success
Mike Flanagan’s next two Stephen King projects, Carrie and The Dark Tower, are both moving forward as TV shows. Production on Carrie is already underway, with a planned 2026 release. The adaptation of The Dark Tower, an ambitious project given the scope of King’s work, will require more time before it appears on screen.
Given the strong performance of 2025’s King-based television series and Flanagan’s track record on the small screen, both Carrie and The Dark Tower appear well-positioned for future success. Their episodic nature might allow for richer storytelling, more faithful adaptation of complex source material, and better audience engagement. The growing demand for horror TV, combined with the genre’s storied past, suggests these adaptations could define the next era of Stephen King TV adaptations success—reshaping how audiences experience King’s distinct brand of suspense and horror in years to come.
