What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Institute
Stephen King · Book · 2019
If you loved The Institute, start with Doctor Sleep (Mike Flanagan, 2019) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Institute across media.
If the unsettling blend of child protagonists and sinister conspiracies in The Institute captivated you, these stories explore those same dark themes.
Films on the same thread
It
Andy Muschietti · Film · 2017
Shares a thread with The Institute: Friendship.
Much like the young characters in The Institute, the children of The Losers Club must band together to confront a terrifying, predatory evil that threatens their innocence.
Doctor Sleep
Mike Flanagan · Film · 2019
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Psychic Powers.
Fans of The Institute will recognize the struggle of individuals with extraordinary psychic abilities who are forced to navigate a world that seeks to exploit their unique powers.
The Shining
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1980
Explores: Isolation, Madness, Family Dysfunction.
The intense atmosphere of psychological dread and isolation found in The Institute is mirrored here, as a family faces supernatural forces that unravel their sense of reality.
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson · Film · 2022
Shares 2 threads with The Institute: Child Abduction, Psychic Abilities.
The Institute captures the harrowing experience of a gifted child held against his will, a scenario that is mirrored in this story of abduction, resilience, and psychic connection.
Series on the same thread
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Shares 2 threads with The Institute: Friendship, Coming-of-Age.
This series echoes the government conspiracy and telekinetic experiments present in The Institute, focusing on a group of kids who uncover secrets that the authorities want hidden.
IT: Welcome to Derry
Andy Muschietti · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Institute: Government Conspiracy.
If you enjoyed the group dynamic of kids fighting against a larger, systemic evil in The Institute, you will appreciate this exploration of childhood bravery against ancient threats.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Shares a thread with The Institute: Psychological Thriller.
The sense of creeping unease and the discovery of dark secrets beneath a mundane surface in The Institute is masterfully expanded upon in this surreal investigative mystery.
The Outsider
Richard Price · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Institute: Psychological Thriller.
The struggle between skepticism and the terrifying reality of supernatural events in The Institute is reflected here as investigators confront an insidious force they cannot easily explain.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Institute hit, 1619 shares the thread.
In The Dark
Podcast
Explores: Wrongful Conviction, Criminal Justice System, Accountability.
The cold, investigative reality of child abduction explored in The Institute finds a haunting, real-world parallel in this deep dive into a case involving systematic failure and mystery.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Institute a standalone novel?
The Institute is a 2019 novel by Stephen King. The provided metadata describes it as a complete story about a group of children confronting evil after being abducted from their home in Minneapolis, and there is no information regarding it being part of a series.
What is the central plot of The Institute?
The Institute follows Luke Ellis, whose parents are murdered by intruders in his suburban Minneapolis home. He is subsequently taken away in a black SUV to a mysterious facility, where the story details the experiences of the group of kids held captive there.
Who is the author of The Institute?
The Institute was written by Stephen King. He is a number one New York Times bestselling author whose storytelling is described as transcending genre, with his work often noted for being creepy, touching, and believable.
How does the story in The Institute begin?
The story of The Institute begins in the middle of the night at a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis. Intruders silently murder the parents of the protagonist, Luke Ellis, before loading him into a black SUV to transport him to the facility.