How to watch Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ TV premiere for free today

Published On: July 14, 2025

Get ready, Stephen King fans. “

The Institute

” premiere brings big screen-level chills to television today, July 13, on MGM+ with a gripping double‑episode release at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Even if you don’t have cable, you can watch thriller TV series for free on

Philo

FuboTV

and

DIRECTV

. Each service offers a free trial; DIRECTV also throws in an additional $30 off after the trial is up for a limited time.

Another streaming option is

Sling TV

, which is also currently offering half off plus one free month of AMC+ for new subscribers.

What to expect

Based on King’s 2019 novel and executive‑produced by the legend himself, the eight‑episode thriller follows Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), a 14‑year‑old telekinetic genius abducted from his Minneapolis bedroom, according to the

official trailer

. He awakens in “

The Institute

,“ a secluded compound where gifted kids are subjected to chilling experiments.

Meanwhile, Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes), a haunted ex‑cop turned “Night Knocker,” is drawn into a sinister mystery in the nearby town.

Notable cast

Ben Barnes plays Tim, and his deep, layered portrayal of a man seeking redemption anchors the plot.

Mary‑Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby, the Institute’s enigmatic director, brings complexity — loving yet ruthless — and prompts viewers to question her motives.

Joe Freeman injects warmth and empathy into Luke, whose bond with fellow captives drives much of the emotional journey.

Watch Stephen King’s “The Institute” for free on Philo

Faithful story adaptation with purposeful tweaks

King gave his nod of approval, noting the adaptation stays true to the spirit of his book, though with smart adjustments, like aging Luke slightly to avoid overly disturbing content for younger viewers. Expect the setting to remain in Maine, which helps preserve the source material’s eerie, atmospheric setting.

The debut episodes, titled “The Boy” and “Shots for Dots,” thrust you straight into the action, including Luke’s harrowing awakening in a replica of his bedroom, only to realize he’s now a test subject alongside other gifted children.

We’ll also get an introduction to looming threats like the ominous “Back Half” and the institute’s harsh “tests” that push the kids through a psychological gauntlet.

Watch Stephen King’s “The Institute” for free on Fubo TV

Why you don’t want to miss this show

For fans of “Stranger Things,” “X‑Men,” or King’s classics like “Carrie” and “Firestarter,” this adaptation hits many of those pitch-perfect notes: supernatural kids, shadowy organizations, emotional climaxes and ethical dilemmas. The critical response so far is positive.

Screen Rant

describes the pacing and mystery as “enthralling,” and

Rotten Tomatoes

shows a strong 75% critics’ rating.

How many episodes are in “The Institute?”

As of now, titles for episodes 5–8 haven’t been officially released—except their air dates. Once disclosed, they’ll likely drop weekly on Sundays consistent with previous episodes. Here are the episode titles and release dates for “The Institute” that have been released so far:

Episode No.	Title	Air Date
1	The Boy	July 13, 2025
2	Shots for Dots	July 13, 2025
3	Graduation	July 20, 2025
4	The Box	July 27, 2025
5	Title TBD	August 3, 2025
6	Title TBD	August 10, 2025
7	Title TBD	August 17, 2025
8	Title TBD	August 24, 2025

How to watch the “The Institute” premiere for free

Philo

offers a 7-day free trial for new users. Philo charges users $28 a month after the free trial and offers more than 70 live channels and has an on-demand library with more than 70,000 movies and shows. It offers access to premium add-ons including MGM+, STARZ, and The Movies and More package.

FuboTV

gives a free trial to new subscribers (length varies). You’ll also receive $20 off the first month for Pro and Elite plans, $25 off the first month for Essentials plan, $4.99 off the first month for Latino plan (that’s only $9.99 for the first month).

DIRECTV

provides a 5-day free trial, plus with CHOICE and ULTIMATE plans, you save an additional $30 for the first month after the free trial period. You can choose from the Entertainment package for $87.99, the Choice package for $114.99, or the Ultimate package for $129.99. DirecTV is a no-term commitment service where you can enjoy live TV and on-demand local and national channels without having to commit to a contract.

Sling TV

offers new users half off your first month and one free month of AMC+. Sling users can choose from the Blue package or the Orange package. Sling Blue allows up to three streams at a time and Sling Orange allows one stream at a time. The combined Blue and Orange package costs $27.50 for the first month ($55 thereafter).