Stephen King’s Streaming Domination: 2026 Just the Beginning

Stephen King Adaptations Are Gaining Momentum in 2026

2026 is proving to be a strong year for Stephen King adaptations, especially this week. Following the successful run of It: Welcome to Derry season 1, which aired from late October to mid-December, the author’s works continue to captivate audiences. While shows and movies based on King’s books have long been a staple in the entertainment industry, 2025 was a standout year for adaptations.

As the focus turns to 2026, it wasn’t expected that projects based on King’s work would be among the top trends, given the lack of new releases. However, the momentum from 2025 has carried over into the new year, with a surprising title from a decade ago experiencing a resurgence in popularity on streaming platforms.

Three Stephen King Adaptations Are Dominating Streaming Services

At the time of writing, there are three Stephen King adaptations currently dominating streaming platforms in the US, according to FlixPatrol.

The Running Man, which stars Glen Powell in the lead role, came to Paramount+ on January 13, and it’s already sitting at the #1 spot in the US and Canada. While The Running Man is the most recent film adaptation to release, it’s not the only Stephen King movie trending.

The Long Walk is the top trending movie on the official Starz streaming app, and it’s been a hit since the title was made available on January 10. The movie, based on King’s dystopian novel from 1979, was originally released in September for its theatrical run. It was actually the third film based on King’s work to be released in 2025, following The Monkey and The Life of Chuck.

As for the TV side, the adaptation of King’s 11.22.63 has seen a resurgence on Netflix ever since being added to the streamer on January 7. So far, it has topped out at the number two spot in Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows list despite debuting in 2016 on Hulu. The sci-fi thriller involving JFK’s assassination was well-received when it first debuted, but it’s finally getting attention from a wider audience.

Stephen King’s 2026 Streaming Success Helps Redeem Last Year’s Adaptation Worries

In total, 2025 featured the release of six Stephen King adaptations: four movies and two TV shows. The Monkey kicked off the year with a February release, while It: Welcome to Derry closed out 2025, with its first season coming to an end in December.

It: Welcome to Derry season 2’s renewal seems inevitable due to the popularity of the show on HBO and its streamer, HBO Max. The Institute was already renewed for season 2 at MGM+, so there’s nothing to worry about with that horror adaptation at the moment. In terms of concerns with King adaptations, most have been aimed at the feature films, so it’s good to see more adaptations finding success on streaming after struggling at the box office.

While The Monkey did relatively well at the box office, earning nearly $70 million from a $10 million budget, The Life of Chuck was too small a release to make a big splash, earning just $19 million total. The Long Walk was thought to have broken even at the box office, and The Running Man, which carried the highest expectations, became the biggest underperformer, earning around $68 million with a $110 million budget.

One New Stephen King Adaptation Is Expected To Release In 2026

Even though 2026 is starting well with so many Stephen King adaptations getting attention on streaming, the year will look a lot different compared to 2025. With It: Welcome to Derry‘s future still unannounced, The Institute season 2 is the only returning King project that could potentially debut in 2026. There are also no movie adaptations based on King’s work slated for release this year, but a highly anticipated TV adaptation is nearing release.

After being adapted into movies twice, Carrie is officially being turned into a TV show at Prime Video. The adaptation by Mike Flanagan is expected to debut at some point in 2026, making the title the most exciting King adaptation for 2026. Though it’s based on King’s 1974 horror novel, the miniseries will be a reimagining of sorts, giving fans of the original story a fresh take on Carrie White. When Carrie does get a release date, it will surely give Stephen King another 2026 streaming hit.