Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ Is Winning Over Critics Ahead of Its Prime Video Premiere

Few horror stories have been retold as often as Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’, and every new version invites comparisons to what came before. This time, the story is in the hands of Mike Flanagan, a filmmaker who has built a reputation for turning King’s material into emotionally rich horror. Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ series is now just days away from its debut, and the early reception suggests he may have pulled it off again.

The project has been a long time coming. Amazon announced its development for Prime Video in 2024, with Flanagan serving as showrunner and King joining as an executive producer, before it received a series order in April 2025.

The 8-episode miniseries was Flanagan’s first project under his deal with the studio, with Trevor Macy also among the executive producers. Rotten Tomatoes now lists the series with an 85% average Tomatometer score, and the number has been rising.

Flanagan’s take originally debuted at 80%, based solely on reviews of the first 2 episodes, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. Even at that early mark, it ranked as the second-best-reviewed adaptation of King’s novel.

Only Brian De Palma’s original 1976 film, which sits at 94%, has scored higher. With the series still building its tally, some observers believe Flanagan’s version could eventually challenge De Palma’s film for the top spot if the full season holds up.

The reviews so far have been largely glowing. One critic described the show as a brilliant modernization that turns the story into a devastating tragedy about viral bullying, maternal love, and trauma. NOW Toronto praised it for offering a refreshed and more humane take on the beloved novel.

There's something different about the new girl. Carrie streams October 7 only on @primevideo. pic.twitter.com/cELPLEsu2q

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) September 24, 2026

Not everyone is fully sold. The Austin Chronicle felt the first episodes weren’t as radical a reinvention as fans might expect and wouldn’t overshadow De Palma’s version, though it still called Flanagan the master of long-form horror. HorrorBuzz offered the lone negative review early on, arguing the opening episodes dragged because of pacing problems.

If there’s one point of agreement, it’s the lead performance. Early reviews have singled out Summer H. Howell in particular, with several critics favorably comparing the emotional weight of her Carrie to previous portrayals. Some reviewers went as far as calling her performance awards-worthy.

New poster for Mike Flanagan's ‘CARRIE’ series.

Releasing October 7 on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/uiwMEifzvB

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 21, 2026

Samantha Sloyan, a frequent Flanagan collaborator, plays Carrie’s mother, Margaret White, and has also drawn strong praise. The cast includes Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, Joel Oulette as Tommy Ross, Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle, and Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin.

The most important endorsement may have come from the author himself. Earlier in September, King took to Threads to share his thoughts, calling Flanagan’s version of the story brilliant. Given how protective fans are of the source material, that stamp of approval carries real weight.

Flanagan’s approach also leans into what makes the story tragic. One review noted that the series treats ‘Carrie’ as a tragedy before a horror story, building psychological tension rather than relying on jump scares. Another observed that the show expands King’s story into something more than a tale of bullying and revenge.

Even the episode titles reflect the high school setting, including ‘First Period’, ‘Foreign Language’, ‘Romantic Literature’, and ‘AP Physics’. All 8 episodes will arrive on Prime Video on Tuesday, October 7.

Because the whole season drops at once, most viewers will experience the story as a complete whole, rather than in the partial format critics first reviewed. That means the final verdict on Flanagan’s adaptation is still being written.

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