The beginning of 2025 has already brought us a collection of excellent horror films in every shape and size — from the savage and silly Companion to the genre-transcending vampire flick Sinners to the delightfully gory The Monkey. Based on a Stephen King short story of the same name, The Monkey was originally published in Galley magazine in 1980. Now it's been adapted into a feature film full of "gonzo and gory displays of ultra-violent death," as Mashable's film editor put it. King himself called it "batshit insane," and that's saying something.
If you missed the cymbal-banging monkey murderer in theaters, now's your chance to catch the gruesome horror comedy on the small screen. Here's everything you need to know to watch The Monkey at home.
What is The Monkey about?
Written and directed by Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), The Monkey follows twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (both played by The White Lotus's Theo James, who find their father's old monkey toy in the attic. It's not just a quirky toy; it's a cursed drum-playing monkey that kills without mercy anytime his crank is turned.
The horror comedy also stars Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Adam Scott, Elijah Wood, and others.
Check out the official trailer for a sneak peek:
Is The Monkey worth watching?
The Monkey brought home an impressive $68.4 million at the worldwide box office when it launched in theaters in February. Critics love the sick sense of humor and stomach-churning gore, including Mashable's own film editor, Kristy Puchko. "All in all, it’s a vicious and hysterical spectacle of blood and brain matter that’ll make you laugh, gasp, gag, and even think," she writes in her review of the film. She adds that it feels "like a challenge, as if the monkey — be it his unblinking gaze or the truly outrageous gore he unfurls — dares you to look away."
Audiences are a bit more torn, with only a 57 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as opposed to the 79 percent critics rating. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide.
Check out our full review of The Monkey.
How to watch The Monkey at home
The Monkey hit theaters in late February, but is now officially available to watch at home as of April 4. You can purchase it for your digital collection through on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV or rent it for 30 days. Fair warning: With rentals, once you start watching, you'll only have 48 hours to finish.
If you'd rather stream The Monkey at home, keep scrolling for more information.
Here are some of the platforms where you can purchase or rent the film online:
Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
YouTube — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
When and where is The Monkey streaming?
Since the indie film distributor Neon has a deal with Hulu, we can all but guarantee The Monkey will make its streaming debut on the service. The question is when. Based on the streaming trajectory of previous Neon films like Anora and Cuckoo, we can make an educated guess that The Monkey will join the Hulu library sometime in July.
Hulu is surprisingly one of the most generous streamers for newbies, as it offers a free 30-day trial. We suggest waiting until the release date is announced to sign up and watch for free. Otherwise, subscriptions start at $9.99 per month. We've also rounded up a few different ways you can save on your subscription below.
The best Hulu streaming deals
Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription
Opting for an annual Hulu plan instead of paying monthly can save you 16%. Paid upfront, it'll cost you just $99.99, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month rather than $9.99 per month. It's the best way to keep more money in your pocket in the long term.
Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 37% off
If you want to get more bang for your buck, sign up for the Disney Duo Basic bundle. You'll get both Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) for just $10.99 per month. That's only $1 more than paying for Hulu on its own — a savings of 45%. You could even throw ESPN+ or Max into the mix for just $16.99 per month total. That's 47% in savings on three different streamers.
Best for students: Hulu Student
Students can tune into Neon hits like The Monkey, Anora, and Longlegs with a Hulu Student subscription for just $1.99 per month. That's 80% off the typical cost of a Hulu with ads plan. The only requirement is that you can verify your college email address using SheerID.
Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for one year for Go5G Next customers
One of the best ways to get free streaming services, including Hulu, is to switch your phone plan to T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan. Customers on this plan get Hulu with ads for free (as well as Netflix and Apple TV+). Already on the Go5G Next plan? Just head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. You'll need to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.
Note: After your initial 12-month promotional period, you'll also have to take action in order to keep your subscription alive.
