A sci-fi thrillerStephen Kingadaptation is now available to stream after being removed from another platform. Across film and television, there is a litany ofupcoming King adaptationsin various stages of development. On the immediate front, however, there are three big-screen projects to watch for:The Monkey, helmed byLonglegsdirector Osgood Perkins; Edgar Wright’sThe Running Manstarring Glen Powell; and Francis Lawrence’sThe Long Walk. The first two movies are slated for 2025, while the third is undated.
On the TV side, there’sWelcome to Derry, the television adaptation of theItmovies, which will bring back Bill Skarsgård in the role of Pennywise. It was also recently announced thatKing’s seminal novelCarriewill be adapted as a miniseries byThe Haunting of Hill HouseandMidnight Masscreator Mike Flanagan. But before those hit screens, a well-received sci-fi thriller may be getting a second look from audiences, after it was added back to streaming.
11.22.63 Is Now Streaming Again
And You Can Watch It For Free
According toComicBook.com, after being removed from Hulu months earlier,the miniseries11.22.63is now available to stream for free onTubi. The series, which is based on King’s 2011 novel, is a blend of sci-fi and thriller that incorporates time travel. It is notable for being one of the very first Hulu Originals, debuting well before notable series such as 2017’sThe Handmaid’s Taleand 2019’sRamy.
Tubiis an ad-supported streaming service that launched in 2014.
With a cast that includes James Franco, Chris Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Cherry Jones, Lucy Fry, George MacKay, Daniel Webber, T. R. Knight. Kevin J. O’Connor, and Josh Duhamel,11.22.63consists of eight episodes. The story focuses on Franco’s character, a high school teacher named Jake, whogoes back in time in an attempt to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He’s aided in this with the guidance of a friend, portrayed by Cooper. The thriller was shrowrun by Bridget Carpenter, who wrote episodes ofFriday Night Lightsand worked onWestworld.
Reviews of11.22.63were largely positive, with some reservations. Although some critics cited the show’s pacing issues and presentation, it was also argued that the time-hopping thriller eventually revealed itself to be more compelling. Kevin Yeoman’sreview of11.22.63’s final episode forScreen Rantnoted at the time that the show “comes to a close with an ending that seeks emotional satisfaction.”
Should You Watch 11.22.63?
Because the miniseries debuted relatively early in the streaming landscape, before there were too many shows to keep track of, there were a lot of reviews for the sci-fi thriller. OnRotten Tomatoes, with 64 reviews overall,11.22.63has a positive 83%. That breaks down to a solid 7.20/10 average rating. When it comes to the audience score,11.22.63comes in at 88% based on more than 1000+ ratings, with an average score of 4.3 out of 5.
7.2/10
64 reviews
4.3/5
1000+ ratings
Writing forThe New York Times, Nate Genzlinger found that the miniseries, and especially its finale, was “beautifully done.” More often, however, the praise was a little more tempered. Several reviewers mention that11.22.63is entertaining, but it ultimately suffers from the sort of problems that are now familiar when a recognizable actor joins a high-profile adaptation. Namely, on the more negative side, critics found that the thriller was stretched a little thin, and may feature too many secondary stories for what should be a more precise narrative.
This was echoed in Brian Moyian’s review forThe Guardian, cautioning that the adaptation “gets a little fat in the mid-section.” Still, in most cases, even the negative assessments find that11.22.63is worthy of praise. The performances and the faithfulness to King’s story are two aspects often cited, with the latter quality serving as a positive sign for readers that enjoyed the source material.
11.22.63: Stephen King’s Sequel Plan Explained (& Why It Won’t Happen)
11.22.63 was one of Stephen King’s best books in years, and made for a great TV show, but here’s why it won’t get a sequel, despite an idea existing.
There is another way that11.23.63may be instructive, though. Given that Pennywise and Carrie are coming to the small screen, the Hulu adaptation could stand out asan example of the advantages and pitfalls of TV adaptations of King’s books in the modern era. While the originalCarrieandItfilms were lean, mean, and (in the case of the Brian De Palma film) visceral, taking a story to television today often does mean extended runtimes and sideplots that may not be all that compelling.
Our Take On 11.22.63
There’s An Obvious Audience For It
Between the involvement of King and J.J. Abrams, via his Bad Robot production company, and not to mention the community that’s obsessed with the JFK assassination,11.22.63may be review-proof. Now that it’s streaming for free, it’s a good time to check out what was a solid series.
11.22.63
Cast
A teacher travels back in time to prevent the Kennedy assassination but grows emotionally tied to his new life in the past.
