The Monkey Has Climbed Global Streaming Charts
Stephen King adaptation The Monkey has reached the number six spot on the HBO Max Global Top 10 Movies chart.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Science Fiction
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching older hit movies on streaming services over seeing new releases in theaters?
The film The Monkey has secured the number six position on the HBO Max Global Top 10 Movies chart. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the project is an adaptation of a 1980 short story written by Stephen King.
Why it matters
The strong streaming performance follows a successful theatrical run for the horror film. The production serves as one of the most profitable projects for distributor Neon based on its budget-to-gross ratio.
The film grossed nearly $69 million globally against a production budget of $11 million. It currently ranks as the third highest-grossing film for its distributor, Neon.
The players
Osgood Perkins
He is the director and screenwriter who led the production of The Monkey.
Stephen King
He is the acclaimed horror author whose 1980 short story serves as the source material for the film.
Neon
This is the independent film production and distribution company responsible for the theatrical release of the movie.
Theo James
He is a lead actor who stars in the film alongside Christian Convery and Tatiana Maslany.
The details
The Monkey features performances by Theo James, Christian Convery, and Tatiana Maslany. Following its 2024 theatrical premiere, the film became available on Disney+ and Hulu in the United States in mid-2025.
Timeline
1980: The original Stephen King short story was published.
2024: The Monkey premiered in theaters globally.
Mid-2025: The film was released on Disney+ and Hulu in the United States.
October 2026: The film reached the number 6 spot on the HBO Max Global chart.
Industry Dynamics
The success of this adaptation follows the momentum of Neon's commercial performance, extending the trend established by the 2024 theatrical success of Longlegs. Such results illustrate how mid-budget horror films continue to anchor the studio's portfolio against larger franchise competitors.
Viewers can now access the title through their existing subscriptions to HBO Max, Disney+, or Hulu. This availability allows subscribers to watch the production at no additional cost beyond their monthly platform fees.
The takeaway
The successful transition of this film from theatrical release to streaming platforms highlights the enduring audience demand for horror adaptations of classic literature. Future sequels remain a possibility given the film's strong return on its $11 million production budget.
What happens next
While no specific date is set, the commercial performance of the film may lead to the development of a potential sequel in the future.
Further reading
Explore more industry trends on the Science Fiction section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ScreenRant.
Live Poll
Do you prefer watching older hit movies on streaming services over seeing new releases in theaters?
