Stephen King’s The Institute Series Debuts on MGM+ July 2025

The new MGM+ series "The Institute," based on Stephen King's 2019 novel, explores the dark world of superpowered children imprisoned in a secretive facility, focusing on the gifted teenager Luke Ellis. The eight-episode sci-fi horror thriller remains largely faithful to the book's plot, depicting unsettling experiments on the children and the sinister intentions of the adults running the facility. While the show has been praised for its cast, including Joe Freeman as Luke and Mary-Louise Parker as Mrs. Sigsby, some critics note that it lacks the nuanced hope and emotional depth characteristic of King's storytelling, resulting in a plodding pace and underdeveloped characters. King himself has expressed approval of the adaptation despite some changes, such as aging up the protagonist and setting the series entirely in Maine, highlighting the influence of young characters facing pressure and his cinematic storytelling roots. The series has drawn comparisons to "Stranger Things" due to similar themes but distinguishes itself through a grittier, more suspenseful tone. Overall, "The Institute" is a chilling, atmospheric series that may engage viewers more with its premise and performances than with its narrative execution.