Stephen King’s The Institute Bounces Back to No. 1 Spot
Stephen King’s terrifying supernatural series, The Institute, snatches back its No. 1 spot on MGM+. The TV show debuted on July 13 and is about a group of children with unique abilities who end up in a mysterious institution. The series follows three main characters, Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes), Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), and Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker)
The Institute (as of September 10) is in first place once again on the MGM+ Top 10 List. The popular King-inspired science fiction horror series was very briefly knocked down to the No. 2 spot on September 9 by the action-packed thriller, A Working Man.
What Does The Institute’s Success Rate Mean
Ben Barnes’ Tim talking angrily at Mary-Louise Parker’s Ms. Sigsby in The Institute episode 8 clip
Based on a King novel of the same name, The Institute has outperformed several MGM+ shows. Aside from A Working Man, the first season of the series also surpassed Let the Devil In, From, The Beekeeper, The God Father of Harlem, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Billy the Kid, Fall River, and The Magnificent Seven.
Sitting on a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer and 69% on its Popcornmeter, The Institute strangely received a lot of mediocre reviews despite its success. While it was well-received by many, an overwhelming number of negative critiques came in. Many thought the show did a disservice to King by taking a great story and turning it into something bland.
However, the show still received some glowing reviews that pushed it past the average mark. Critics called the show a refreshing addition to the genre. Others praised the performances of the cast and the writers’ abilities to keep them hooked.
Although many ratings of the show are barely passable across several sites, The Institute‘s actual performance did not disappoint the streaming service. This could be due to several factors. For example, not every single person who watched the show is going to review it online.
King is arguably one of the greatest horror writers of our time. And, with that, comes a huge fanbase, giving The Institute a head start with a pre-existing audience who loved the 2019 novel. The writer also personally advertised the first season to his massive following, which promoted the series even more.
While not every King novel or series does well on screen, there are numerous exceptions to the rule. The first season reminded fans that the author’s work is still relevant and has the potential to become something bigger than what it was. With a second season confirmed, viewers will get to see if The Institute will continue its successful run.
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