When it comes to authors who have had their works adapted into major feature films,Stephen Kinghas few equals. 1976’sCarriefrom director Brian De Palma marks the first of the author’s works to get the big-screen treatment, and it paved the way for dozens more in the decades that followed.Stanbley Kubrick’sThe Shiningwas released in 1980 and now stands as one of the most iconic and beloved adaptations of King’s work, even if the author himself infamously doesn’t care for it.
Rob Reiner’sStand By Mehit theaters in 1986, marking the first non-horror King adaptation. It would ultimately be followed by movies likeThe Running Man(1987),Misery(1990),The Shawshank Redemption(1994), andThe Green Mile(1999). More than two decades later, new King movies continue to release at a regular cadence, including titles likeGerald’s Game(2017),Pet Sematary(2019),Mr. Harrigan’s Phone(2022),The Boogeyman(2023), andSalem’s Lot(2024). King’s name alone, however, isn’t enough to guarantee box office success, and not all of these adaptations have been wins commercially.
Aremake ofThe Running Manstarring Glen Powell is now on the way from director Edgar Wright.
The Monkey Enters A Prestigious Stephen King Top 10 List
Osgood Perkins' Film Achieves Another Milestone
The Monkeyhas just passedThe Shiningat the worldwide box office. Directed by Osgood Perkins, who just found major success last year with horror hitLonglegs, the newest King adaptation tells the story of twin brothers Hal and Bill (Theo James, on double duty) and their troubled relationship with a toy monkey that causes a series of gruesome deaths.Reviews forThe Monkeyhave been generally positive from critics, and the film, which was made on a budget of around $10 million, got off to a strong start at the box office.
Every Stephen King Movie Ranked, From Worst To Best
Stephen King is one of the most adapted authors of all time, and the bestselling horror writer has over 50 movies released to his name.
About three weeks after hitting theaters,The Monkeyhas now grossed an impressive $53 million worldwide, according toBox Office Mojo. This total comprises $31.9 million domestic and $21.1 million internationally. That meansThe Monkeyhas now surpassedThe Shining’s $47.9 million worldwide. It is also only a hair away from passingStand By Me’s worldwide total, which is just a few thousand higher. It’s worth noting, however, that these totals do not account for inflation. Check out a chart comparing the three movies below:
$53.5
What The Monkey’s Box Office Means For The Film
Osgood Perkins & Neon’s Partnership Explained
With a budget around $10 million,The Monkeywas probably looking at a break-even point of $20 million or perhaps $25 million. Clearly, it has far surpassed both of those figures, becoming a major success for Neon.This marks another successful collaboration between Perkins and Neon afterLonglegs, which went on to gross a staggering $126 million on a budget of less than $10 million.
Perkins and Neon already have their next collaboration lined up withKeeper, a horror film that starsThe Monkeycastmember Tatiana Maslany. Keeper was actually teased in the King adaptation’s post-credits scene, and it’s a strong sign thatPerkins and Neon could continue to work together for years to come. It’s unclear whether another adaptation of King’s work is in Perkins' future, butThe Monkey’s success certainly suggests he may eventually return to tell another of the author’s tales at some point down the road.
