Following the immense success of his film *Longlegs*, writer/director Oz Perkins is back with another chilling horror adaptation from Stephen King's repertoire. *The Monkey* features Theo James portraying a pair of twins tormented by a sinister cymbal-banging monkey toy. The film also stars an impressive cast including Tatiana Maslany (known from *Orphan Black*), Elijah Wood (famous for *Lord of the Rings* and *Yellowjackets*), and Adam Scott (of *Severance* fame), all entangled in the eerie world of this cursed toy.
IGN critic Tom Jorgenson praised *The Monkey* in his review, labeling it 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." It seems *The Monkey* strikes a perfect balance between horror and humor.
If you're eager to see *The Monkey* in theaters or curious about its streaming release, here's all the information you need:
How to Watch The Monkey - Showtimes and Streaming Release Date
**The Monkey** premiered in 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 be available to stream on Hulu, rather than on Netflix or Max. This is due to Neon's distribution deal with Hulu, which secures streaming rights for its theatrical releases. However, Neon's independent films typically take some time to transition to streaming platforms. For instance, Oz Perkins' previous film, *Longlegs*, hit theaters on July 12, 2024, and didn't reach Hulu until February 14, 2025, about seven months later.
You may need to wait several months for *The Monkey* to appear on Hulu, but it should be available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Prime Video by early May.
What Is The Monkey About?
Skeleton Crew: Stories
*The Monkey* is adapted from Stephen King's short story of the same name, first published in 1980 and later revised for the 1985 *Skeleton Crew* collection, which also includes the novella *The Mist* and other chilling tales. You can find the collection on Amazon.
The film's official synopsis reads: "When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy."
Does The Monkey Have a Post-Credits Scene?
Although *The Monkey* doesn't feature a traditional post-credits scene, there is a "surprise" that's worth sticking around for. Be cautious of spoilers, but you can discover more about it in IGN's guide to The Monkey's ending.
The Monkey Cast
*The Monkey* was both written and directed by Oz Perkins. The cast includes:
- **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.