Carrie review roundup: Mike Flanagan's Prime Video series gives Stephen King a modern edge
Mike Flanagan's eight-part Carrie, a new adaptation of Stephen King's first novel for Prime Video, has won mostly positive reviews. Critics praise its modern take and its young cast, while some find the finale overlong.
The story (no spoilers)
After the sudden death of her father, teenager Carrie White starts at a public high school just as a viral bullying scandal erupts, and just as she begins to discover that she can move things with her mind.
Updated for the age of social media, the series follows Carrie, her intensely religious mother Margaret and the classmates whose choices put her on a collision course with them, in a new version of the story Stephen King first published in 1974.
Where to watch or download
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The verdict
A strong pick for horror fans and anyone who enjoyed Flanagan's earlier King and Netflix series. All eight episodes are out, so it suits a binge, though critics warn the ending drags a little.
- 85%Rotten TomatoesTomatometer, season 1, 123 reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 83%RT audiencePopcornmeter, 500+ ratings, 18 Oct 2026
What critics say
“[Mike Flanagan] has turned ‘Carrie’ into a sharp-fanged cyberbullying cautionary tale.”
“A tale for our times but an overprotracted finale”
“This does not have the raw, bare cruelty of the '70s.”
What works
- A smart update that turns the story into a cyberbullying tale for today.
- Strong performances, especially Summer H. Howell as Carrie.
- Flanagan's warmth and craft with Stephen King material.
What doesn't
- An overlong finale.
- Less raw and cruel than the 1976 film, which some critics miss.
- Repetitive conflicts and sluggish pacing, according to some reviewers.
Prime Video released all eight episodes of Carrie on 7 October 2026. Created by Mike Flanagan, who made The Haunting of Hill House and adapted King's Doctor Sleep, the series has an 85% Tomatometer score from 123 reviews, which places it among the best-reviewed screen versions of the novel, behind Brian De Palma's 1976 film.
What critics liked
The Rotten Tomatoes critics' consensus credits Flanagan with bringing warmth and creativity to King's story and giving it a contemporary feel that lets the cast shine. The Boston Globe's Chris Vognar praised the way the series turns the story into a sharp cyberbullying cautionary tale, and the young cast, led by Summer H. Howell as Carrie, draws praise.
Where it falls short
The reservations are about pace and intensity. The Times called it a tale for our times but found the finale overlong, and NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour felt it lacks the raw cruelty of the 1970s version. FandomWire praised the performances but found the conflicts repetitive and the pacing sluggish. The Australian predicted the production is certain to divide viewers.
Should you watch?
If you are a horror fan, or you liked Flanagan's previous series, critics suggest this is one of the season's better genre shows. If you hold the 1976 film close to your heart, expect a gentler, more modern take rather than a remake.
Sources
This roundup summarises the reviews and reporting below. Follow the links for the full pieces.
- Carrie: Season 1 · Rotten Tomatoes
- Carrie First Reviews: Critics Praise "Daring" Reboot As Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Revealed · ComicBookMovie.com
- Watch Carrie Season 1 · Prime Video
ElysiumHub Screen Desk roundups summarise published reviews and reporting, and are written with AI assistance. Scores belong to the sites that publish them. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.