Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ Series Debuts to a Rotten Tomatoes Score That Has Horror Fans Rethinking Everything

Stephen King adaptations have become something of a specialty for Mike Flanagan, whose career has been defined by reimagining the author’s most beloved works for the screen. From ‘Gerald’s Game’ to ‘Doctor Sleep’ to ‘The Life of Chuck,’ Flanagan has built a reputation as one of the rare filmmakers who can consistently do justice to King’s material.

That track record has made his newest project one of the most anticipated horror releases of the fall season. Taking on ‘Carrie‘ specifically carries a unique kind of pressure, given that the story is arguably the most iconic and most frequently revisited entry in King’s entire catalog.

Between Brian De Palma’s genre-defining original film and two follow-up attempts that never came close to matching it, expectations for any new adaptation have historically arrived loaded with skepticism. Flanagan’s new take has now cleared its first real hurdle, debuting with an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews of its first two episodes, placing it as the second-best-reviewed adaptation of King’s novel to date.

Only De Palma’s original 1976 film, which currently sits at 94%, ranks higher than Flanagan’s new version. That’s a striking result considering the franchise’s rockier history on screen, with the 2002 television movie holding just 33% and the 2013 film starring Chloë Grace Moretz sitting at 51%, both well below where Flanagan’s series is currently landing.

Flanagan’s eight-episode miniseries reimagines the 1974 novel by bringing the story into the present day, exploring how social media has changed the dynamics of bullying that drive Carrie White’s tragic arc. Summer H. Howell stars in the title role opposite Samantha Sloyan as Carrie’s domineering mother, Margaret.

The supporting cast includes Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder, and Matthew Lillard. Flanagan wrote and executive produced the series while directing four of its episodes, with Kate Siegel, Axelle Carolyn, Kyra Sedgwick, and Hiromi Kamata each directing one episode apiece.

Early reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes have singled out Howell’s performance in particular, with several critics comparing the emotional weight of her portrayal favorably against previous versions of the character. The series also features concealed voice appearances from Carla Gugino, Hamish Linklater, and Sauriyan Sapkota, along with a brief voice cameo from Flanagan himself.

It’s worth noting that the 80% figure comes specifically from critics who screened the opening two episodes at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. That means the current score reflects only a partial picture of the series rather than a verdict on the full eight-episode run.

Since all eight episodes are set to premiere simultaneously on Prime Video, the vast majority of viewers will experience the show as a complete whole rather than in the staggered format critics initially reviewed it in. That leaves plenty of room for the score to shift once reactions to the back half of the season start rolling in.

Still, given the mostly positive critical reception so far and Flanagan’s established track record with King’s material, a significant drop seems unlikely based on current buzz. If the series holds steady or improves once full reviews arrive, it could put Flanagan’s take in serious contention to eventually challenge De Palma’s film for the top spot among ‘Carrie’ adaptations.

She just wanted a friend. They gave her a fight. All episodes of Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, premiere October 7 pic.twitter.com/Sss9ziYx3V

— prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) July 26, 2026

All eight episodes of ‘Carrie’ are set to arrive on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 7. That release format gives fans the chance to binge the entire series in one sitting rather than waiting week to week, a choice that could work in the show’s favor given how many viewers already seem eager to dive in.

For a director who has spent years proving his ability to reinvent King’s most challenging material, this early Rotten Tomatoes showing suggests Flanagan may have found his most confident adaptation yet.

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