Mike Flanagan's eight-episode Carrie series divides reviewers on Prime Video
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The gist
Mike Flanagan's eight-episode Carrie miniseries, the fourth adaptation of Stephen King's novel, is now on Prime Video.
Reviewers split on whether its new characters strengthen or weaken King's original story.
Background
Mike Flanagan is a frequent Stephen King collaborator who developed and showran this eight-episode Prime Video adaptation of Carrie, King's 1974 debut novel; he also directed Gerald's Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck. It is the fourth screen adaptation of the book and follows in the legacy of Brian De Palma's 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek, released in time to mark that film's 50th anniversary. The novel runs just over 200 pages in most editions, and the miniseries stretches its events over eight nearly hour-long episodes, with Summer H. Howell playing Carrie White.
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2026New Rockstars publishes a full-series spoiler breakdown calling it a modern take on King's novel, and The Conversation publishes a review calling it the fourth screen adaptation and saying it weakens the story's central horror.
- Oct 19, 2026Jeremy Jahns posts a review of the eight-episode Prime series, noting Flanagan wants to do more seasons.
- Oct 21, 2026Ars Technica publishes a review calling Carrie "a triumphant remix with one major flaw," released to mark the 50th anniversary of De Palma's film.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Ars Technica calls it a bold reinvention for the 21st century that is well worth watching, and New Rockstars host Jessica Clemons says Flanagan understands what makes Carrie compelling, especially in reminding viewers she was a young girl who wanted to experience the world.
- Caution
- The Conversation says the series fails to satisfy as much as the novel or 1976 film and that Flanagan's new character Emaline undermines the point of King's novel by taking agency away from Carrie.
- Public
- Reviewer Jeremy Jahns says the series is not really horror and has no scares but is engaging and humanizes even the villains, and that everyone who's seen the show seems to love it, though he feels alone in his view of the finale.
Still unverified
A Reddit post claims the series has been Prime Video's No. 1, but the source gives no supporting detail.