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Season 1 – The Institute

Play trailer 0:30 Poster for Season 1 – The Institute Jul 2025 Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A group of psychic children unites to take on the shadowy organization that has kidnapped them and claims to be using their power to "save the world."
The Institute — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A slick and schematic adaptation of Stephen King's novel, The Institute won't keep everyone committed but still offers up enough intrigue to merit a tour.

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Critics Reviews

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Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) Aug 18, 2025
2.5/5
Life at the facility, with its adolescent inmates and creepy adult scientists, is bleak, but the horror in this science-fiction drama mostly feels compact and cautious. There’s rarely a sense of the unhinged or genuinely otherworldly. Go to Full Review Lucy Mangan Guardian Jul 17, 2025
2/5
The Institute might have made for some perfectly serviceable fun for the early-adolescent demographic. As things stand, it’s hardly fun at all. Go to Full Review David Opie Empire Magazine Jul 15, 2025
3/5
Despite all its flaws, The Institute is still enjoyable in its pulpy sensibility. With engaging twists and a strong teen cast, the result is an easygoing summertime horror fix that amounts to more than just MGM+'s answer to Stranger Things. Go to Full Review John Stark Mac the Movie Guy Sep 7, 2025
80/100
It doesn’t take a telepath to know The institute needs two types of critics: those who are familiar with the source material, and those who aren’t. As part of the latter, I found it to be twisty, thrilling, and laden with lore worth exploring. Go to Full Review Kaiya Shunyata Dread Central Aug 8, 2025
2.5/5
It takes its time in building up to an enthralling finish, but because it comes so late, it ultimately unfolds into a desperate and dying whimper rather than what should be an elongated bang. Go to Full Review Alex Maidy JoBlo's Movie Network Aug 1, 2025
6/10
The Institute is not as scary as From, a series that makes far better use of an ensemble cast dealing with supernatural mysteries. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pascal B @Shakrah 2 days ago Stilted, mouthy and largely cardboard cutouts. And thats just the characters. and the actors, and the scenario. Only if you desperately need to fill some hours. Stranger Things without the Goonies/80s/DnD/hard rock gimmick. See more Lisse V @RT08325227 Sep 26, 2026 Loved the show! A storyline that is very different from other shows, good actors and not once boring. It has calm, horror, happy and sad moments so it keeps its grip on you. I hope this shows gets many more seasons. See more sarah H @Humphriessarah2 Sep 5, 2026 The idea is nothing new and the protagonists are so boringly the good guys, dialogue is not natural and a lot of the reasoning in the story is just dumb but there were some good scenes. I ended up watching the full season because the last few episodes were decent but I was hoping for an ending because I don't think I really want another season. See more Alpha B @RT16438397 Aug 29, 2026 Just not very good. Full of the typical Stephen King cliches. See more mia C @RT95981342 Aug 10, 2026 Very very good, could not help but watch through all in once sitting See more Astral A @RT88094208 Aug 9, 2026 I was going to check it out even though it had some weird quality issues like I noticed a BLUE SCREEN in the back they forgot to add a backdrop too lol I won't anymore though since I took a survey about it and it kicked me out at THE VERY END. I clicked "finish survey" and it didn't pay me so no out of spite I won't support this show in anyway lol. idk if it's the fault of them or what but idc really. I hope it doesn't get a season 3 See more Read all reviews
The Institute — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jack Bender

Director

Brad Turner

Director

Jeff Renfroe

Director

Benjamin Cavell

Creator

Ben Barnes

Tim Jamieson

Mary-Louise Parker

Ms. Sigsby

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jul 13, 2025 The Boy Luke Ellis wakes up at The Institute, a facility that abducts teenagers with psychic powers; Ms. Sigsby, the place's charismatic director, claims they're saving the world; Tim Jamieson hides from his haunted past as a small-town night knocker. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 13, 2025 Shots for Dots Luke bonds with the other Front Half residents and begins plotting his escape; Ms. Sigsby manages the fallout from a security breach; in town, Tim begins to look into The Institute, only to find himself caught up in a high-stakes standoff. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 20, 2025 Graduation Luke begins to plan his escape while Sigsby is distracted trying to expose Stackhouse's disloyalty; Tim loses a friend. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 27, 2025 The Box As Luke's tests intensify, a new arrival causes problems for Sigsby; Tim isn't buying the official story about what happened to Annie. Details Episode 5 Aired Aug 3, 2025 Back Half Sigsby tricks Luke into confirming he's TP, forcing him to move up his escape attempt; Tim's suspicions put him on the Institute's radar. Details Episode 6 Aired Aug 10, 2025 Run As Tim's investigation pays off in ways he never imagined and Sigsby scrambles to avert disaster, Luke must finally decide who he can trust. Details Episode 7 Aired Aug 17, 2025 Hide Luke and Tim go on a desperate search for help as Sigsby uses all of her formidable assets in a last-ditch attempt to keep the Institute's secrets. Details Episode 8 Aired Aug 24, 2025 Fight The characters come together for a final confrontation with unimaginable consequences. Details

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The Institute — Season 1

The Institute: Season 1 Trailer - Critics Spot The Institute: Season 1 Trailer - Critics Spot 0:30 Now Playing The Institute: Season 1 Opening Title Sequence The Institute: Season 1 Opening Title Sequence 1:42 Now Playing The Institute: Season 1 Trailer The Institute: Season 1 Trailer 2:30 Now Playing The Institute: Season 1 Episode 5 Exclusive Sneak Peek - A Man At The Gate The Institute: Season 1 Episode 5 Exclusive Sneak Peek - A Man At The Gate 1:06 Now Playing View more videos
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The Institute — Season 1

The Institute View more photos

Season Info

Director
Jack Bender, Brad Turner, Jeff Renfroe
Creator
Benjamin Cavell
Executive Producer
Gary Barber, Jack Bender, Stephen King, Ed Redlich, Sam Sheridan
Screenwriter
Sam Sheridan, Benjamin Cavell, Ed Redlich, Eric Dickinson, Sophie Owens-Bender
Network
MGM+
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jul 13, 2025
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