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2025 has been one of the weaker years for the film industry as high-budget films like Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White have failed at both impressing the audience and at the box office. While there have been many disappointments this year, it does not mean that there have been no good movies released this year, and to prove that, we have compiled a list of the best movies that have come out in 2025 so far.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (In Theaters) Credit – Marvel Studios

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a superhero sci-fi action film directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay co-written by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. The 2025 MCU film is set in an alternate universe, and it revolves around the Fantastic Four as their world comes under attack...

The Life of Chuck, the latest Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan, who has previously been at the helm of the Stephen King adaptations Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep (and is also working on series adaptations of The Dark Tower and Carrie for Amazon Studios) reached theatres at the start of June (you can read our 7/10 review Here). This one is not a horror movie, and JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray even described it as a “bittersweet tearjerker.” Less than two months after it started playing on the big screen, The Life of Chuck was given a digital release, and you can watch it on Amazon, where it can be rented for $9.99 or purchased for $19.99. But if you’ve been waiting for the physical media release, we have good news for you today: the 4K Uhd, Blu-ray, and DVD release is set for September 30th, and copies are available for pre-order Here.

“Weapons” (2025) is a potent, precise breed of psychological terror that makes no apologies for itself. Between its creative storytelling structure and its truly shocking ending, it is a film that is intended to initiate conversations. Zach Creggar’s previous film, “Barbarian,” was a clever satire of toxic relationships within the horror genre, whereas “Weapons” is a subversion of suburban horror that carefully weaves its scares into a nuanced character study.

Creggar shows an outstanding clarity within his vision, as the tone of “Weapons” can switch between darkly hilarious, utterly terrifying, and completely bizarre on a moment’s notice without ever feeling inconsistent. Given the complexities that will surely make “Weapons” even more fascinating upon a second watch, it’s safe to say that Creggar has joined the likes of Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Mike Flanagan as one of the true trailblazers of modern horror.

“Weapons” opens with...

Chris Stuckmann’s directorial debut, Shelby Oaks, which originally started as a Kickstarter campaign, is finally heading to theatres this spooky season, and Neon has unveiled the official trailer for the movie, backed by Mike Flanagan.

Having premiered at Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 to critical acclaim, the movie, as of writing, boasts an Rt score of 81%, a remarkable feat for a first-time director. But beyond the horror’s promising reception, it’s Stuckmann’s journey to writing and directing his first movie that stands out as truly inspiring for aspiring filmmakers.

Chris Stuckmann’s Journey Is a Testament to the Power of Cinema

Starting out in the late 2010s, when film criticism was still in its infancy on YouTube, Stuckmann, alongside some other notable creators, pioneered the format on the platform. What separates Stuckmann from the rest of the pack is his sincerity, as from the get-go, it’s evident...

Now available on Digital, The Life of Chuck will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 30 via Neon.

It may not be a horror movie, but the genre-bender is written and directed by Mike Flanagan and based on Stephen King’s novella from his 2020 collection If It Bleeds.

Special features:

Audio commentary by writer- director Mike Flanagan The Making of The Life of Chuck On-set interviews with actors Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Mark Hamill Trailers Teasers TV Spots And more

An extraordinary story of an ordinary man, the film celebrates the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz as he experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, and Benjamin Pajak each play the titular character at different points in his life.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Annalise Basso, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly,...

Almost a decade ago, Universal Pictures released the follow-up to the critically panned horror film, Ouija, which was met with rave reviews from critics thanks to Mike Flanagan's brilliance. Directed and co-written by Flanagan, Ouija: Origin of Evilserved as a prequel to its 2014 predecessor and was not only a critical success but also made waves at the box office. The hit movie was released in theaters on October 21, 2016, and years later has found a streaming home in the U.S., where fans can finally revisit it for free.

Ouija: Origin of Evil will begin streaming on Tubi on August 16, reminding fans of Flanagan’s remarkable work, which is regarded as a significant improvement over Ouija. The film starred Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, and Annalise Basso as Alice, Doris, and Lina, making up the unfortunate Zander who encountered a menacing spirit summoned from a Ouija board. Henry Thomas, a frequent Flanagan collaborator,...

Back in 2021, filmmaker Mike Flanagan let it be known on social media that he was interested in making a “standalone horror/thriller/tragedy” movie that would center on the Clayface character. A while after that, he confirmed that he had met with veteran DC movie producer Jon Berg to pitch a “horror-leaning” take on Clayface, as well as ideas for the DC properties Scarecrow, Justice League Dark, and Constantine. The meeting “kind of went nowhere.” But then, in March of 2023, Deadline broke the news that Flanagan had scheduled another Clayface pitch meeting, this time with DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran. And at the end of last year, it was announced that Flanagan is officially writing a Clayface movie that will be part of the DC Universe film franchise that’s being overseen by Gunn and Safran. A few months ago, Speak No Evil director James Watkins was hired to take the helm,...

Stephen King fans have already had a wild year thanks to the arrival of not just one but two masterfully done adaptations, courtesy of Oz Perkins’ The Monkey and Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck. But the year of the King isn’t quite done yet, as The Hunger Games filmmaker, Francis Lawrence, will soon unveil his cinematic makeover of the legendary author’s dystopian thriller, The Long Walk. Today, as part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event, we’re thrilled to share a bit more information about the production courtesy of not only an email chat with its helmer, Lawrence, but also with its scribe, Jt Mollner (Strange Darling). Together, the pair paint a clear — albeit dark — image of how the project came together and what audiences can expect to walk into when it trots onto screens on September 12.

Set in a dystopian version of the United States,...

Clayfacehas continued to round out its cast with one of the stars of The Social Network. Less than a year ago, it was announced that Mike Flanagan's Clayface script would be getting a Dcu movie, with a release date set for September 2026. Director James Watkins, best known for Speak No Evil, signed on to direct Clayface, aiming to be an R-rated body horror movie.

Nexus Point News is reporting that Max Minghella has been cast in Clayface. Minghella is best known for his work in films like The Social Network, The Ides of March, Babylon, and the hit television series The Handmaid's Tale. He will play an original character, a detective named John, who is the fiancé of Caitlin Bates (Naomi Ackie), the doctor who gives Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) the serum that turns him into Clayface.

A body-horror comic book adaptation like Clayface seems more like Minghella's...

Neon has released the first red band trailer for Shelby Oaks, and based on what we see here, the movie is shaping up to be a highly unsettling watch.

Produced by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, the paranormal mystery thriller marks the feature directorial debut of popular YouTube film critic-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann. Shelby Oaks was met with a (mostly) positive reception when it screened at Fantasia and FrightFest last year (it's currently sitting at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes), and is set to release in theaters on October 3rd, 2025.

There's still quite a bit about the story that's being kept under wraps, but the movie follows a woman named Mia (Camille Sullivan), who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her sister Riley, a paranormal investigator who vanished without a trace with her crew back in 2008. Mia's search leads her to the foreboding town of Shelby Oaks, where some seriously messed-up stuff appear to be going on.

El crítico de cine Chris Stuckmann debuta como director y guionista. © Neon

Neon ha desvelado el primer tráiler y póster de la película de terror Shelby Oaks, que marca el debut en la dirección del crítico de cine youtuber Chris Stuckmann.

En Shelby Oaks, a medida que Mia, una famosa YouTuber que investiga sucesos paranormales, descubre nuevas e inquietantes pistas relacionadas con la desaparición de su hermana Riley, comienza a sospechar que el demonio imaginario de su infancia pudo haber sido real, un misterio que está decidida a resolver, aunque todo parece indicar que debería mantenerse lo más lejos posible de Shelby Oaks.

El filme, que combina elementos de found footage con una narrativa de corte sobrenatural, está protagonizado por Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter), Brendan Sexton III (Ballard), Michael Beach (La pareja perfecta), Robin Bartlett (Shutter Island), Keith David (The Thing), Charlie Talbert (Rebel Ridge), Emily Bennett (Alone With You...

The new horror mystery Shelby Oaks is getting ready to scare audiences this October, and the official trailer has just dropped. The movie is the feature directing debut of YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann, who also wrote the script. It’s produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead, with Neon set to release it in the United States on October 3, 2025.

Who took Riley Brennan?

Official trailer for Shelby Oaks. A new horror from writer/director Chris Stuckmann and executive producer Mike Flanagan. In theaters 10.3. pic.twitter.com/plALnZ2mfE

— Neon (@neonrated) August 4, 2025

The story follows Mia Brennan, played by Camille Sullivan, who has been searching for her sister Riley for over a decade. Back in the 2000s, Riley ran a YouTube channel called The Paranormal Paranoids with her friends, visiting haunted locations and filming their ghost-hunting adventures.

During one trip to the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks,...

The upcoming supernatural horror mystery Shelby Oaks is already building buzz ahead of its release later this year. Written and directed by YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, the movie marks his first time behind the camera for a feature film.

The film is inspired by a viral online found footage campaign about a fictional ghost-hunting group called The Paranormal Paranoids, and now it’s headed to theaters, with Neon set to release it in the United States on October 3, 2025.

The movie stars Camille Sullivan as Mia Brennan, a woman who has spent over a decade looking for her missing sister Riley, played by Sarah Durn. Back in the 2000s, Riley ran a YouTube channel with her friends, visiting haunted spots and filming their adventures.

But during a trip to the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio, Riley’s three friends were murdered, and a chilling tape hinted that she may have been taken,...

Following the recent news that Naomi Ackie is in talks to join the cast of DC Studios' Clayface movie, we're hearing that Max Minghella is also being eyed for a key role.

According to Nexus Point News, Minghella would play a character named John, "a detective and fiancé to Caitlin Bates, who’s suspicious of his fiancée’s relationship with Matt Hagen/Clayface."

We're not sure if Minghella is actually in negotiations as of yet, but Ackie is now believed to have been officially offered the role of Bates, while Tom Rhys Harries will play Hagen.

Though this is just a rumor for now, the source has been scooping the trades with major casting news for months at this stage, so we're inclined to believe this is on the level.

Clayface's story will reportedly "center on an ascending actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. As a last resort,...

Finally, we have an official trailer for Shelby Oaks, the feature film debut of writer/director Chris Stuckmann. Plus, it’s executive produced by none other than Mike Flanagan. After a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign (where they raised over $1 million) and a well-received world premiere, the film now has an official trailer and release date.

In the found footage film, “When a documentarian uncovers a disturbing new lead, a woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real.“

Shelby Oaks premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in 2024 to generally positive reviews and the news that Neon had acquired the film. Then, after months of radio silence, IndieWire reported that Neon sent Stuckmann and his team back to Ohio for reshoots “with an undisclosed amount of supplemental funding that allowed Stuckmann to ramp up the ‘gore and violence.

Chris Stuckmann just made the jump from film critic to full-blown horror filmmaker, and if the first trailer for Shelby Oaks is any clue, we’re in for a wild, spine-tingling ride this spooky season. Is this the found footage fright-fest to bury the others? Or will Stuckmann’s debut be another casualty in the haunted woods? Let’s break down why this first look at Shelby Oaks has everyone talking—and clutching their nightlights.

Chris Stuckmann Brings VHS Horrors Back with “Shelby Oaks” Trailer

The Shelby Oaks trailer wastes no time pulling you into its web of missing persons, haunted videotapes, and raw, escalating dread. The setup? Mia is obsessed with finding her sister Riley, who disappeared after claiming to see something lurking outside her window. Cue the arrival of a creepy, blood-stained VHS tape and the start of Mia’s harrowing descent into Shelby Oaks, an abandoned town...

Neon’s trailer for the indie horror film Shelby Oaks introduces the titular town and a search for a paranormal investigator who went missing while visiting it. The crowdfunded movie, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Fantasia Festival marks the directorial debut of YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann.

The film stars Michael Beach, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, Camille Sullivan, Emily Bennett, and Rob Grant. Executive producers include Mike Flanagan, Trevor Macy, and Melinda Nishioka, with Cameron Burns, Aaron Koontz, and Ashleigh Snead serving as producers.

During a panel at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con, first-time feature filmmaker Chris Stuckmann spoke about his lifelong love of films. “Movies have always been my passion. Ever since I was a kid, they legitimately saved my life. I do not think I would be alive this day if I didn’t have the movies experience, something to look forward to every single weekend of being here.

Heading into theaters on October 3rd is director Chris Stuckmann’s horror film Shelby Oaks. Fans, including this one, can’t wait to see what the filmmaker has in store and on Monday, Neon dropped the first trailer and new posters. Check it out.

With over 2 million YouTube subscribers, Stuckmann has provided his fans various updates for the much-anticipated movie: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisStuckmann/search?query=shelby The movie had its world premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024.

A woman’s desperate search for her long-lost sister, a famous YouTuber who investigated paranormal happenings, falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real. After a successful Kickstarter campaign that broke records across the platform, the highly anticipated feature debut feature from YouTube creator Chris Stuckmann is finally here and ready to scare the pants off the world. Shelby Oaks delivers in all departments.

James Gunn is leading the Dcu with elegance and, of course, sealed lips. Fans are still buzzing over the new Dcu's first film, Superman, but that hasn't stopped the influx of questions and rumors about what's next for DC Studios. While The Batman Part II is expected to start filming sometime in the near future, with an October 1, 2027, release date confirmed, there are still many projects that fans are primed to believe could be in the works. Gunn is not one to reveal his hand, which fans are well aware of, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill. While being careful to not confirm or deny any specific information about the Dcu's unreleased future, Gunn recently dispelled all rumors about his upcoming plans.

With Peacemaker Season 2 coming up soon, Gunn has already hinted at the fact that some Superman characters could come into play in the John Cena-led show.

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Any horror fan worth their screams must have some love for at least one Stephen King tale that was adapted to the big screen. Since 1976, the beloved author responsible for some of the most iconic horror stories in history has been seeing his works earn the same amount of love in theaters. Over the years, these have accumulated a box-office take of over $3 billion. While the likes of "Stand By Me" and "The Shawshank Redemption" (which is considered by IMDb as the greatest film ever made) have stood the test of time, there has been a varied collection of horrors that have stood as filmic favorites and earned a different kind of love, as a result. Sorry, Andy Dufresne, but your prison break from Shawshank might still bring tears, but there are other stories from the esteemed writer's works that...

These days, it's rare to find a horror movie that's truly terrifying. A lot of them promise to be "the scariest movie ever made," but end up falling flat in their delivery. However, there is one coming along later this year from Neon that could end up being the sleeper hit of 2025, and while it doesn't tout itself as a terrifying classic, the new trailer released today definitely shows hints of greatness.

Titled Shelby Oaks, the supernatural horror mystery features the directorial debut of Chris Stuckmann, a popular YouTuber and film critic with more than 2 million subscribers. Starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, and Keith David, the film follows a woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister, which turns into obsession when she comes to believe the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real all along.

Procured by Mike Flanagan, the trailer (seen below...

Neon has officially turned on the television and hit play on the official trailer for Shelby Oaks. Directed by prominent YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann in his feature debut, the supernatural horror is slated to release just in time for the spooky season on October 3, and it unravels a chilling mystery that connects a missing paranormal investigator, her sister, and a small town with a haunting past. The first footage takes viewers on a trail through the woods and back to the abandoned town in the search for Riley Brennan (Sarah Durn), as her sister Mia (Camille Sullivan) sinks into obsession in hopes that she's still alive. What she finds, however, are horrors that go beyond the bounds of reality and extend into her worst nightmares.

The opening moments of the trailer begin ominously with a man walking to Mia's house, claiming someone finally let him go before taking his...

As long as there have been VHS tapes, there have been creepy VHS tapes in movies – most notably, the cursed video in Ring. And it’s a pesky reel that seems to kick off the events of Shelby Oaks, an incoming horror from YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Chris Stuckmann, that comes with some impressive backing – it’s been picked up by Neon, and boasts a producer in the great Mike Flanagan. Check out the spooky teaser.

Eerie stuff! This one looks a little Blair Witch, a little Silent Hill, a little Ringu – with Camille Sullivan’s Mia encountering a bloody tragedy, a creepy tape, and venturing to the mysterious ‘Shelby Oaks’ in search of her sister Riley. By the looks of things, her search doesn’t end in sunshine and rainbows. Stuckmann writes and directs this one in his feature debut, and the film has had positive reactions out of its early festival screenings.

If you’re a superhero movie fan, the next couple of years are going to be absolutely wild. We’re talking about the kind of movie lineup that makes you want to start camping outside theaters already. The MCU is finally reaching the explosive finale of its Multiverse Saga. Meanwhile, DC Studios is building something completely fresh!

Both studios are entering critical phases that could define superhero cinema for the next decade. So let’s dive into every confirmed Marvel and DC movie hitting theaters in 2026 and 2027, because trust us, you’re going to want to know what’s coming.

1. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (DC) Release Date: June 26, 2026 Director: Craig Gillespie Cast: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley Announcement Poster of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow | Credits: @jamesgunn/Instagram

Okay, can we talk about how excited we are for this one? Milly Alcock absolutely killed it in that brief Superman appearance,...

Four have gone by since Chris Stuckmann, a movie critic and author with a channel on YouTube that has over 2 million subscribers, signed a deal with Paper Street Pictures to write and direct the mystery horror film Shelby Oaks. Three years ago, the project became the most-funded horror film project in Kickstarter history, with its crowdfunding campaign pulling in over $1 million. Filming took place in the Cleveland, Ohio area back in 2022, genre regular Mike Flanagan came on board as an executive producer last year, and Neon not only picked up the distribution rights, they also dropped more money into the budget for reshoots that included adding more “gore and violence.” Now, Shelby Oaks is finally set to reach theatres on October 3rd, and a trailer has made its way online. You can watch it in the embed above.

Combining documentary, found footage, and traditional film styles, Shelby Oaks centers on...

YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann makes his feature debut with the Neon horror movie Shelby Oaks, and the hotly-anticipated official trailer has been released this afternoon.

A traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements, the supernatural horror film hits theaters on October 3. Watch the official trailer for Stuckmann’s Shelby Oaks below.

Shelby Oaks is about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later. The film’s official synopsis continues…

“As Mia uncovers new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to her and Riley’s childhood.”

Horror master Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, “The Fall of the House of Usher”) recently came on board the upcoming Shelby Oaks as an executive producer. Flanagan, Trevor Macy and...

A new horror from writer/director Chris Stuckmann and executive producer Mike Flanagan.

Youtube film critic Chris Stuckmann steps into the director role with his long-awaited found footage horror film, Shelby Oaks. After garnering an overwhelming amount of online support through a kickstarter campaign, Shelby Oaks has gained an unprecedented following with critics calling it “one of the best horror debuts” and “creepy as all hell”. Stuckmann co-wrote the script about a woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister. She falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real. Stuckmann’s directorial debut will be in theaters October 3rd.

In Theaters October 3rd



The post Watch the New Trailer for Shelby Oaks appeared first on Daily Dead.

The cool, soothing tone of Hamish Linklater has been disarming audiences since he first came onto the scene more than two decades ago. That’s why he was the perfect man to don the top hat and beard of President Abraham Lincoln for Apple TV+’s Manhunt and why he was the right choice to portray a priest attempting to shepherd his followers towards the truth in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series, Midnight Mass. Once again stepping into the spotlight and allowing his mild-mannered tone to lull us into a false sense of security, the actor is set to join the cast of Gen V for its second season, which arrives next month. Linklater will be taking on the role of Dean Cipher, the new leader at Godolkin University — a place for young superheroes to grow their powers. But, as the trailers have told us, there’s nothing safe about...

The second official teaser trailer for the upcoming HBO series "It: Welcome to Derry," a prequel to the events of the 2017 and 2019 "It" films, looks as creepy as we could've hoped for. It not only features the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but also marks the return of Andy Muschietti, director of those recent "It" films. The show seems to be going for all the same vibes as the more popular first movie, with the added benefit of a TV show that has more time to delve into the characters. 2017's "It" felt like a speedrun through the book; "It: Welcome to Derry" may have a more natural pace.

For a lot of Stephen King fans, the most intriguing moment from that teaser is a brief shot of a couple of convicts in a bus labeled "Shawshank State Prison." That's the same prison featured in the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption,...

Stephen King adaptations historically have varying quality, but one critical darling has become a bonafide hit on streaming following its underwhelming box office run. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Hamill, and Matthew Lillard, The Life of Chuckfollows the events of Charles "Chuck" Krantz' life in reverse chronological order.

The Life of Chuck, directed by Mike Flanagan, is based on King's novella of the same name. The film scored an impressive 80% from critics and 88% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, though it ultimately only earned $11.5 million in theaters globally. It made its streaming debut on July 29, 2025, reaching the top 10 shortly thereafter.

According to FlixPatrol, The Life of Chuck is currently sitting at ninth place on the streaming charts. This situates it behind bigger 2025 releases such as 28 Days Later, Lilo & Stitch, Thunderbolts*, Materialists, and How to Train Your Dragon. Notably, 2015's Vacation, which stars Superman's Skyler Gisondo, is...

Welcome to the Gold Ticket, your VIP guide to the best of pop culture for the weekend ahead, curated by the Gold Derby team of experts.

The Main Stream

28 Years Later: One of the year's best films so far, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's long-awaited follow-up to their revolutionary zombie flick is now available on VOD. This leaves you plenty of time to brush up on your Alphas and Jimmys before the sequel, subtitled The Bone Temple, arrives next year.

"The Subway" by Chappell Roan: A year after debuting "The Subway" during her Gov Ball set, Chappell Roan has officially released a studio version of the single, along with a music video, which sees her chasing a green-hair Cousin Itt around the New York City subway system.

Final Destination Bloodlines: Another prime example of how 2025 has been a banner year for studio horror, the sixth entry in the...

Stephen King's new sci-fi thriller series continues its streaming chart dominance nearly three weeks after the series first started airing. Adaptations of Stephen King's work range across various movies and TV shows, all of varying quality. This includes critically praised films like 2017's Itto the critically less-successful outings, such as The Dark Tower movie. TV shows are another matter.

There have been several successful TV shows based on King's work in recent years. This includes miniseries like 11.22.63 and The Outsider, to multi-season shows like Mr. Mercedes. There's also even more adaptations in the works, like Mike Flanagan's upcoming Carrie series. However, one ongoing show has become a massive success on streaming, and has continued a lengthy streak.

The Institute Has Been A Massive Success On MGM+ For Almost 3 Weeks The Miniseries Is An Adaptation Of King's 2019 Novel

Since its debut on MGM+, The Institutehas been successful on the streaming platform's charts.

The latest Stephen King adaptation has become a hit on streaming. The Institute, which premiered on July 13 and is currently still airing new episodes, has topped the charts over on MGM+.

According to FlixPatrol, as of Aug. 1, The Institute is still the No. 1 movie or show on MGM+, topping the streamer's Top 10 Overall list. The series adaptation of King's 2019 sci-fi horror novel of the same name has been in the top spot for the past week, an impressive streaming statistic that not too many shows can boast about having achieved. With new episodes of The Institute dropping until Aug. 24, there's a good chance that the MGM+ original will remain at the top of the chart until the end of the month.

First announced in June 2024, The Institute centers around teen genius Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), who "wakes up in a strange place full of children who got there the same way he did,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

28 Years Later (Danny Boyle)

Armed with a bevy of iPhones, 28 Years Later is definitely an “I’ve still got the moves” gesture from Boyle. It’s a case where his frenetic energy, paired with returning writer Alex Garland’s structurally odd screenplay, creates a film that one never feels a step ahead of––a deep compliment for something about to be unleashed on multiplexes. Even if that doesn’t necessarily result in a great film, per se. – Ethan V. (full review)

Where to Stream: VOD

Celebrating Michael Roemer

Although he passed just a few months ago, Michael Roemer was thankfully alive to see much of his work restored and embraced. The director’s stellar features are now available to stream on the Criterion Channel,...

This week’s streaming premieres have something to offer for just about everyone. Two of the best movies of the year have made their video-on-demand debuts this week. Meanwhile, a pair of exciting, wildly different action epics are set to premiere on Apple TV+ and Disney+ on Friday. The week’s other TV premieres include the return to a beloved animated world and a promising HBO true-crime docuseries as well.

Here are the eight best new movies and shows that you can stream this weekend.

“The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball” (Hulu/Disney+) “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball” Season 1 (Hulu/Disney+)

Would it be hyperbole to call “The Amazing World of Gumball” one of the most striking, distinct shows of the 2010s? Maybe. But all it takes is one look at the series’ new spin-off revival, “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball,” to come to the conclusion that there...

Neon has released a series of cryptic teaser posters of Shelby Oaks, the feature debut of YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann.

The trailer is set to make its way online on Monday, but it’s reportedly attached to screenings of Together in theaters now.

A traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements, the supernatural horror film hits theaters on October 3.

Shelby Oaks is about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the far-reaching effects their investigation has as Mia searches for her sister Riley, the lead paranormal investigator, 12 years later.

As Mia finds new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s disappearance, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to their childhood.

Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, and Derek Mears star.

Shelby Oaks is the highest-funded horror film in Kickstarter history with over $1.3 million raised. Following the campaign,...

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for the new horror series Wayward starring Toni Collette. The streamer is known for its terrifying series, particularly those overseen by Mike Flanagan, and though the director now calls Prime Video home, Netflix is still looking to frighten audiences this fall.

The trailer for Wayward reveals a mysterious school of some sort, and it looks like there will be some strange goings-on. Collette makes an appearance as one of the school's officials, briefly popping in at the end of the trailer to deliver a devious smile. Check it out below:

In addition to the trailer, EW spoke with star Mae Martin, star, co-showrunner, and executive producer for Wayward, who revealed their inspiration for the series:

"As a teenager, my best friend got sent to a troubled teen institute. We grew up in Canada, and she was sent to the States. I was so shocked by...

As we draw closer to the Earth completing another orbit of the sun in the year known as 2025, movie fans can start looking forward to another upcoming slate of big-budget superhero blockbusters. Marvel and DC Studios will be out to score big at the box office with their respective releases in 2026, but the new approach is to focus on quality over quantity, all while treating fans to an eclectic mix of flicks.

It's no secret that Marvel and DC releases have struggled at the box office in recent years, suggesting that audiences are growing tired of comic book movies. Despite receiving positive reviews, 2025's "Thunderbolts*" lost millions for Marvel Studios and Disney, becoming one of the lowest-grossing films in the history of the MCU. DC, meanwhile, released a slew of flops (including "Black Adam" and "Shazam! Fury of the Gods") in the lead-up to this year, forcing the studio to...

The Life of Chuck, the latest Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan, who has previously been at the helm of the Stephen King adaptations Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep (and is also working on series adaptations of The Dark Tower and Carrie for Amazon Studios) reached theatres at the start of June (you can read our 7/10 review Here). This one is not a horror movie, and JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray even described it as a “bittersweet tearjerker.” Less than two months after it started playing on the big screen, The Life of Chuck has now been given a digital release, and you can watch it on Amazon, where it can be rented for $9.99 or purchased for $19.99.

Based on the short story from King’s 2020 anthology If It Bleeds, The Life of Chuck consists of three separate stories linked to tell the biography of Charles Krantz in reverse, beginning with...

Stephen King's overlooked horror series sporting a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score enjoys a noticeable streaming resurgence five years later. The number of Stephen King adaptations in recent years has included a multitude of TV series, some of which have become successful in their own right. This has included miniseries like 11.22.63 on Hulu, to multi-season shows like Mr. Mercedes.

These adaptations on TV have continued for quite some time, with MGM+'s ongoing thriller The Institute adapting King's 2019 book of the same name. There's also an upcoming Carrie TV show headed by horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, which will adapt King's first book for Prime Video. While more shows based on his work are being produced, older ones remain popular.

Such is the case with 2020's The Outsider, which, according to Flixpatrol, is currently ranked as the Number 8 show on HBO Max worldwide for July 30, 2025. This puts it above Colombian drama The Vortex...

The 2025 fantasy drama film, The Life of Chuck, feels like an amazingly fresh work, both due to Mike Flanagan’s commendable adaptation skills, and also due to Stephen King’s unique perspective in the original short story that the film is adapted from. Divided into three separate acts, the film’s plot deals with a teacher’s ordeal as the world is evidently being destroyed, a sudden but significant event in the life of an accountant, and the childhood experiences of the protagonist, Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz, which shaped his entire life. But the narrative style of presenting the three acts in reverse chronology fascinatingly holds off the right information for the right time, making The Life of Chuck a thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarmingly poignant watch.

Spoiler Alert

What is the film about?

The Life of Chuck begins inside a middle school classroom, with a student reading an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself,...

Praise Eywa! The new issue of Empire is nearly here, bringing a major dispatch from Pandora. Or, more accurately, James Cameron’s headquarters, where Avatar: Fire And Ash is entering its final stages. You can read all about the next chapter in the saga in the September 2025 issue – pre-order yours here – which hits shelves on Thursday 31 July.

For now, here’s a sneak peek inside.

Avatar: Fire And Ash

Ready for another all-out Na’vi epic? Empire joins James Cameron at Avatar HQ for two full days, watching him as he brings his next sci-fi behemoth into being. Plus, we speak to Jake Sully himself, Sam Worthington, and incoming villain Varang, Oona Chaplin, as the Avatar story gets ready to explore.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

Turn it up to 11: Spinal Tap are back in a long-awaited sequel mockumentary. Empire interviews the full band – David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls,...

“The Life of Chuck” (2025) is an existential fantasy directed by Mike Flanagan and based on a short story by Stephen King. It is bound to be a sultry, irresistible temptation. A director known for transforming genre horror into something intimate and immediate—never flashy, never hollow—Mike Flanagan, adapting an unpublished novella from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, feels, to a cinephile, like a film you can already see and feel before it even exists. The “Doctor Sleep” director takes the tale, embraces its unmathematical inquiries into mortality, and transforms it into one of the most light and feathery dramas in recent memory—about the vitality of relationships and the rhythm of dance.

Defying petty concerns about death and despair through some of the most stunning footwork captured on screen, “The Life of Chuck” uses reverse chronology to deliver a biopic-like portrait of Charles Krantz, an accountant who made...

It may not be a horror movie, but The Life of Chuck comes from two titans of terror: writer-director Mike Flanagan and author Stephen King.

If you missed it in theaters last month, the genre-bending film is now on Digital to rent for $9.99 or two buy for $19.99 via Neon.

Based on the novella from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, it celebrates the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz as he experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, and Benjamin Pajak each play the titular character at different points in his life.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Annalise Basso, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillen, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill co-star.

The ensemble also includes Heather Langenkamp, Rahul Kohli, David Dastmalchian, Violet McGraw, Hamish Linklater, Lauren Lavera, and Nick Offerman as the narrator.

Meagan wrote in her review,...

Prime Video is celebrating the massive success for the launch of the third and final season of Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by asserting this is just the beginning of its long-term strategy for YA dominance.

“I have to really credit this show in particular for helping us really understand what’s possible with these kind of hits,” Amazon MGM Studios TV boss Vernon Sanders told Variety in an interview Monday. And what’s possible is reaching beyond a YA audience for a YA-centric story, with plenty of older adults now invested in the end of the love triangle between Belly and Fisher brothers Conrad and Jeremiah.

“I think in general, when we talk about series for young women, we are talking about shows that center characters of a certain age range,” Sanders said. “But as we see with ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ there’s a...

Prime Video is slowly but surely cementing its authority in the young adult genre.

The streamer’s incredibly popular adaptation of Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty returned for its third and final season earlier this month to stellar viewership. From Season 1 to Season 3, the premiere week-audience has tripled.

Tsitp is no doubt a juggernaut for Prime Video that, unfortunately, has to come to an end. But make no mistake, YA will continue to be alive and well at Amazon. In fact, the series returns in the middle of what feels like a moment for Prime Video’s YA slate, which has been growing slowly but surely over the past few years.

The streamer is currently home to titles including We Were Liars, Motorheads, Maxton Hall and Overcompensating, with more on the horizon including Legally Blonde prequel Elle, series adaptations of Elle Kennedy’s popular Off Campus college romance novels,...

At the start of 2023, the newly formed DC Studios announced an ambitious slate of movies and TV shows. The Hollywood strikes delayed things, and while a few projects have fallen by the wayside (including Waller and Paradise Lost), the Dcu is starting to take shape.

Creature Commandos was a critical hit, and Superman was a definite win for the studio, despite a sluggish run at the international box office.

Speaking at this weekend's San Diego Comic-Con, filmmaker and DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn shared an update on the immediate projects in development for the Dcu.

"We got Supergirl coming out in a year, we got Lanterns coming out, probably less than a year," the Superman helmer revealed. "We're making Clayface right now and that is, oh man, the script by Mike Flanagan is so good. Straight horror."

"We're working on The Brave and the Bold, Wonder Woman, The Batman 2 with Matt Reeves.

Mark Hamill rose to fame with his performance as the heroic Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, but his newest role takes the actor to the other end of the spectrum. He plays the villain in The Long Walk, a new dystopian horror film based on a Stephen King story that's coming to theaters on Sept. 12.

Per DiscussingFilm, Hamill was present at San Diego Comic-Con to help promote the film. He spoke about the dark nature of his "sadistic character," referred to in the story as the Major. While Hamill has voiced the Joker for many DC projects, he still feels like playing the Major was very dark in its own way, and that even attracted the actor to the role in the first place.

Mark Hamill tells us about playing potentially the most villainous character of his career in ‘The Long WALK’:“He’s sadistic and all those terrible things.

Among the various Stephen King adaptations released this year, none of them reach the deeply melancholic and emotional level that The Life of Chuck does. Originally released at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, The Life of Chuck is now set for a digital release, a couple of months after the film premiered in theaters. Mike Flanagan's most personal and intimate project yet, the movie should not be missed. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Tom HIddelston, Jacob Tremblay, Karen Gillian, Mark Hamill, Mia Sara, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and many more, The Life of Chuck will now be available to watch at home.

Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck will be heading to digital platforms starting Tuesday, July 29. Purchase and rent options will be available on services like Fandango at Home, Apple TV, and Prime Video, among others. The film tells the story of Charles "Chuck" Krantz and the significant moments...

MGM+’s newest show, The Institute, has received a positive streaming update, two weeks after it was released. It was based on acclaimed author Stephen King’s sci-fi horror novel of the same name.

Despite garnering mixed reviews following its premiere last July 13, it seems like the first season of The Institute is dominating the streaming charts so far. Per FlixPatrol, the latest Stephen King show has claimed the number 1 spot on MGM+’s Top 10 chart in both the U.S. and other countries as well. Although the series is being compared to Stranger Thingsin terms of its themes and story, The Institute is still far from the massive success that the Netflix show enjoyed when it first made its debut in 2016. At the moment, the new show currently holds a Tomatometer rating of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 21 reviews.

The official synopsis for The Institute reads, "It follows the...