Salem’s Lot(2024) has become a streaming hit even though the Stephen King adaptation has only a 45% Rotten Tomatoes score. Directed by Gary Dauberman, the Max exclusive film is the second feature film adaptation of King’s 1975 horror novel, chronicling the story of author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) as he returns to his hometown and discovers the presence of a blood-thirty vampire.Reviews forSalem’s Lothave been mixed from critics since the film’s release on October 3, with criticism aimed at the film’s lack of scares and surprises.
New data fromReelgoodnow reveals thatSalem’s Lotranks as the second most popular title on streaming overall in the U.S. for the week of October 3 – 9, beaten only byNobody Wants This(2024). When looking only at movies on streaming, the King adaptation claims the number one spot. In the overall list,Salem’s Lotbeats titles likeIt’s What’s Inside(2024),The Penguin(2024–), andWolfs(2024). Check out the full top 10 list below:
Reelgood’s Top 10 Streaming Movies & TV Shows (Week of Oct. 3 – 9)
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What Salem’s Lot’s Streaming Success Means For The Movie
How Much Will Viewership Drop In The Coming Weeks?
The Reelgood data above coversSalem’s Lot’s first week of availability on the service, and it’s not unusual to see new titles pop up on these lists, regardless of their quality. Metrics like Rotten Tomatoes scores, however, can be useful in judging how a film will fare over the coming weeks. While those interested in King adaptations – and this is a large group – were surely quick to watch the movie during its first week,more casual viewers could be dissuaded from checking the film out if it doesn’t have a positive reception online.
In addition to a poor critics' score,Salem’s Lot’s audience score onRotten Tomatoesis a lackluster 40%. Combined with the critics' score, this would suggest thatSalem’s Lotleaves much to be desired.It’s possible that this lackluster reception will lead toSalem’s Lotranking lower in Reelgood’s charts next week, as there may not be positive word-of-mouth to give it a boost.
1979’sSalem’s Lotfeatures an 89% critics' score and a 65% audience score. The 2004 miniseries adaptation features a 69% and 49%, respectively.
Salem’s Lot Ending Explained: What Happens To Ben Mears & The Town
A new adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror story, Salem’s Lot, is out, and there’s plenty of material to break down from the climactic ending.
That being said,Salem’s Lotremains one of the more well-known King works, and it’s possible that King’s name alone will help the film continue to succeed in the coming weeks. It’s not clear what the budget is for the movie, but the adaptation has evidently gotten off to a strong start in terms of viewership.
Our Take On Salem’s Lot’s Streaming Success
King Adaptations Continue To Be An Audience Draw
Adaptations of King’s work have been a mixed bag for decades. Though theupcomingThe Life of Chuck(2025) has earned positive reviews thus far, many other adaptations, such asMr. Harrigan’s Phone(2022),Firestarter(2022), andChildren of the Corn(2020) have been poorly received.Salem’s Lot, then, isn’t an outlier in terms of its mixed reception. ThoughSalem’s Lot’s streaming success speaks to the continued interest that exists for King adaptations, the mixed reviews suggest thatthe 1979 adaptation from director Tobe Hooper will remain the definitive adaptation of this story, at least for now.
Salem’s Lot
Cast
Salem’s Lot is a 2024 remake of the movie of the same name released in 1979. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, and Bill Camp, with Gary Dauberman writing and directing the Max original film. The plot revolves around a writer who discovers a vampire in his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot upon returning home for inspiration.
