The highly anticipated supernatural series The Institute has finally arrived. It premiered on Sunday with a chilling double-episode debut that fans of suspense and horror will love. This supernatural series is based on the bestselling novel by Stephen King, so you already know it’s going to be intense.
The story follows a teenage genius who wakes up in a strange, locked-down facility called The Institute. He soon finds other kids there, all taken the same way he was. None of them know why they are there, but they all have one thing in common, unusual powers. As secrets unfold, the mystery gets deeper, and escaping becomes more urgent than ever.
With a creepy atmosphere, emotional twists, and supernatural suspense, The Institute promises a thrilling ride from start to finish.
Your Sunday Plans Are Set – Here’s When to Watch
The Institute started streaming on MGM+ on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Viewers got treated to two gripping episodes on premiere day. From here on, new episodes will drop every Sunday until August 24, 2025.

That gives us eight episodes in total. Just enough to keep you hooked week after week without dragging things out. You can stream it exclusively on MGM+ with an active subscription. If you are not signed up yet, this might be the perfect time. Subscribe to the MGM+ base plan, which costs $6.99 per month, to stream your favorite content on it. Set a reminder, grab some snacks, and prepare for a creepy binge every Sunday night.
Here is a quick look at the full release schedule so you don’t miss an episode.
- Episode 1 – July 13, 2025
- Episode 2 – July 13, 2025
- Episode 3 – July 20, 2025
- Episode 4 – July 27, 2025
- Episode 5 – August 3, 2025
- Episode 6 – August 10, 2025
- Episode 7 – August 17, 2025
- Episode 8 – August 24, 2025
A Powerful Cast Behind the Mystery
The cast of The Institute brings emotion, fear, and depth to each scene. Whether it is the terrified kids or the mysterious adults, everyone pulls their weight.
Here are some of the faces you will be watching.
- Ben Barnes as Tim Jamieson
- Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis
- Julian Richings as Trevor Stackhouse
- Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby
- Hannah Galway as Wendy Gullickson
- Simone Miller as Kalisha
- Fionn Laird as Nicky Wilholm
- Robert Joy as Dr. Daniel Hendricks
- Mary Walsh as Annie
- Arlen So as George Iles
- Jason Diaz as Tony
- Jane Luk as Maureen
- Brendan Beiser as Norbert Hollister
- Martin Roach as John Ashworth
- Birva Pandya as Iris
- Viggo Hanvelt as Avery Dixon
- Dan Beirne as Drew Reynolds
- Jordan Alexander as Kate
A Glimpse Behind the Walls – Watch the Trailer of The Institute
Before diving into The Institute, watching the trailer gives you a clear feel for what is coming. It starts with an eerie calm, then quickly cuts to flashes of frightened kids, strange rooms, and unsettling moments. You will catch glimpses of mysterious adults, secret experiments, and children with psychic powers, all shown without revealing too much. The visuals are crisp, the pacing is tight, and the mood is heavy with tension. It’s a great way to get a sense of the series’ tone, style, and atmosphere before starting your watch.
MGM+ Not Available? Here’s the Easiest Way to Watch The Institute
If The Institute isn’t showing up in your country, don’t stress. You can still watch it using NordVPN.
Just install the NordVPN app, connect to a country where MGM+ streams the show, and log in with your subscription. That’s it. You will get fast, secure streaming no matter where you are. Whether you are traveling or facing content restrictions, NordVPN makes it simple to catch every episode without missing a beat.
The Institute Episodes 1 & 2 Recap: A Chilling Start to a Supernatural Mystery
If you have watched the first two episodes of The Institute, you already know, we are in for a gripping, unsettling ride. The show wastes no time diving straight into its eerie world, setting the tone with a mix of suspense, mystery, and slow-burning horror.
We meet Luke Ellis, a smart and quiet teen with a mind that clearly works on a different level. One moment, he is at home with his parents, dreaming of college. The next, he wakes up in a strange, sterile room that looks almost like his own, but something’s off. And he’s definitely not home.
As Luke starts exploring, we are introduced to The Institute, a hidden facility where kids are held against their will. Each of them has a special ability, telekinesis, telepathy, or something in between. No one knows exactly why they were taken, but it’s clear they are being studied, controlled, and possibly used for something bigger.
The adult staff, especially Mrs. Sigsby, is cold, manipulative, and deeply unsettling. They run the place with strict rules, creepy routines, and a smile that never feels quite right. We also meet other kids, Kalisha, Nick, and Avery, who are trying to survive while holding onto what little hope they have left.
By the end of episode 2, Luke realizes he has to be careful, but also that escape might be the only option.
What’s Coming Next?
Now that we have seen the cold world of The Institute, the big question is, what is really going on behind those locked doors? Future episodes will likely dig deeper into the purpose of the facility, what the staff truly want from these kids, and how far they are willing to go.
We can expect more mind-bending moments, emotional twists, and power struggles as Luke begins to plot his next move. Will he find a way out? Can the kids band together? And what secrets are The Institute hiding?
With six episodes left, there is a lot to uncover, and it is only going to get darker from here.