The Institute – Series Review | MGM+ / HBO Max

THE INSTITUTE on MGM+ is a new series based on a Stephen King novel. A great cast and not too many changes from the book. With eight episodes, it doesn’t drag the story out too much. Read our The Institute series review here!

THE INSTITUTE is a new MGM+ series that is released on other platforms worldwide, including HBO Max in some countries. The new horror, sci-fi thriller series is based on a Stephen King novel that covers those very same genres.

I read the book when it first came out, so it’s been more than five years now, but I still remember it fairly well. For the overall plot, this series follows the novel pretty closely, so I was happy to see that. The series has eight hour-long episodes and a nice pace.

Continue reading our The Institute series review below. Start watching on MGM+ on July 13, 2025, when the first two episodes are released.

Gifted children used by adults

With The Institute, we’re getting the story of the teen genius Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman). Just as he’s convinced his parents to allow him to go to MIT, despite still being very young, he is kidnapped.

He wakes up in a room that looks exactly like his bedroom at home. However, there is no real window, and when he goes out the door, he is in an unfamiliar place. A facility of sorts, known only as The Institute.

This place is full of children who arrived the same way he did, and all of them have gifts. They’re not geniuses, but then again, that’s not why Luke is there. Instead, it’s thanks to other abilities involving brain power: Telekinesis and telepathy. Or TK or TP for short.

Why are they there, and what do the adults running the facility want from them? Well, you’ll have to wait a few episodes to get the full picture. Just like the children trapped in this place.

However, it’s apparent early on that it’s something sinister. Also, some of the adults take a little too much pleasure in having full control over these kids. Some of them are very young.

Mary-Louise Parker and Ben Barnes shine

While the core story of The Institute is about the gifted children – not unlike those in Gen V or The New Mutants, though their skills are different – I really enjoyed watching the adult characters.

We have Mary-Louise Parker (Omni Loop, Mr. Mercedes) as the head of The Institute. She’s equal parts sugar and spice with a big ol’ dash of vinegar. Also, clearly very troubled in ways that come out in very physical ways when release is craved by her.

Also, as the former police officer, Tim Jamieson, we have Ben Barnes (Black Mirror, Westworld), playing a character haunted by an event in his past. Now, he wants nothing but peace and quiet. And he’s hoping to find it in the small town he arrived at by chance.

However, on the outskirts of this quaint little town is The Institute, and Tim is a good cop who listens to people and notices everything. As a “Night Knocker” (a very outdated yet important job for the small community), his detective senses start tingling.

Watch The Institute series on MGM+ (or maybe HBO Max?)

The Institute comes from executive producers Stephen King and Jack Bender, so that’s the author of the book and the developer of the series adaptation. This is far from the first time Jack Bender has adapted a Stephen King story into a series.

Jack Bender also produced both The Outsider, Mr. Mercedes, and the Under the Dome series. Even if you’re not a fan of Stephen King stories, you probably know Jack Bender’s work from other productions such as Lost and Alias.

Or how about a horror deep dive: Jack Bender also directed Child’s Play 3 (1991). Most recently, he directed episodes of FROM. And yes, he also directs many episodes of The Institute along with Brad Turner (Accused, From).

Writers on The Institute series adaptation include Sam Sheridan (I Am the Night), Benjamin Cavell (The Stand), Ed Redlich (Unforgettable), Eric Dickinson (The Stand), and Sophie Owens-Bender (Mr. Mercedes).

If you’re a fan of Stephen King stories and the series based on them, then this is worth checking out. I wasn’t thrilled with the overall experience, but I can’t put my finger on why exactly. Maybe it’s because I read the book and expected something different?!

THE INSTITUTE premieres with two episodes on MGM+ on July 13, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. In other countries, you may find it on HBO Max from July 14, 2025.

Details

Director: Jack Bender
Teleplay: Benjamin Cavell
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Joe Freeman, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, Martin Roach