Stephen Kings’ modern ‘Carrie’ adaptation earns strong Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of debut

Mike Flanagan’s new episodic adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie has earned a positive early response from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes currently listing an 84% Tomatometer score from 70 reviews. The series is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on October 7, with all eight episodes arriving on the same day.

Summer H. Howell leads the cast as Carrie White, a sheltered teenager entering public high school after the sudden death of her father. Her arrival exposes her to bullying and the pressures of social media, while she also begins discovering increasingly dangerous telekinetic abilities. Samantha Sloyan plays her mother, Margaret White, with Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder and Matthew Lillard also among the cast.

The new series comes from Flanagan, who previously adapted King’s work for Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House. The 2026 production expands the story into an eight episode television format while introducing changes designed to place Carrie’s experiences in a modern setting.

Critics have largely praised the performances and Flanagan’s approach to the material. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus highlights the adaptation’s compassion and ingenuity, while reviews collected by the site have described Howell’s performance as a major strength. Some critics, however, have questioned whether the story benefits from being extended into a television series and argued that the new version is less frightening or distinctive than earlier adaptations.

Carrie has previously been adapted several times, most notably Brian De Palma’s 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. That film remains highly regarded, holding a 94% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

With the new series approaching its Prime Video debut, its current critics’ score suggests Flanagan’s latest King adaptation has made a strong first impression overall, although audience reactions will provide another measure after release.