Doctor Sleep: Mike Flanagan’s Underrated Stephen King Epic Is Officially HBO Max’s Biggest Movie Worldwide

A careful King adaptation

Doctor Sleep adapts King’s 2013 novel, a sequel to The Shining, and follows an adult Danny Torrance, played by Ewan McGregor. Flanagan’s film connects the book’s story with imagery and continuity from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie.

Kubrick’s version differed substantially from King’s novel, and King has publicly disowned it. Doctor Sleep received 79% from critics and 89% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but did not perform well in theaters.

Worldwide streaming rise

As of October 30, Doctor Sleep had become HBO Max’s most-watched movie worldwide. Halloween-season viewing helped horror titles climb the charts, but the film ranked ahead of several newer releases.

Those titles included The Beast Within at No. 6, Evil Dead Burn at No. 4 and Mother Mary at No. 2, along with Silent Hill at No. 5. Doctor Sleep also ranked above Resident Evil: Afterlife, which was No. 8.

Success across territories

The film appeared in Top 10 charts across two dozen territories and reached No. 1 in 16, including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It was not available on HBO Max in the United States, where it streamed on Paramount+.

Projects that were shelved

Plans for a prequel focused on Dick Hallorann were scrapped. In Doctor Sleep, Hallorann was played by Carl Lumbly; Scatman Crothers portrayed him in The Shining. Flanagan also expressed interest in a follow-up centered on Abra, played by Kyliegh Curran, whom Danny tries to protect from Rose the Hat, played by Rebecca Ferguson. Hallorann later appeared in HBO Max’s It: Welcome to Derry season 1, portrayed by Chris Chalk.