The Stephen King Doctor Sleep sequel, featuring Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson, has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity on global streaming platforms, even though it is currently unavailable for streaming in the United States. This unexpected streaming momentum for Doctor Sleep comes more than four years after its initial theatrical release, as audiences in locations such as Mauritania and Brazil propel it into the video-on-demand top charts.
Originally launched in 2019, Doctor Sleep serves as the continuation of the classic horror story The Shining, portraying an adult Dan Torrance—played by McGregor—who becomes entangled in a dangerous confrontation with a sinister cult led by Ferguson’s character, Rose the Hat. While the film earned strong critical and audience scores, achieving a “Certified Fresh” status with a 78% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 89% from audiences on Popcornmeter, it did not reach the same cultural status as the original. Despite positive buzz, Doctor Sleep struggled at the global box office, garnering only $72 million against its $45 million budget. Its predecessor, The Shining, initially fared better in terms of legacy rather than profit but is now recognized as a cult classic and a defining moment in Jack Nicholson’s career.
Mike Flanagan’s Influence and Recent Stephen King Adaptations
Writer-director Mike Flanagan adapted Doctor Sleep directly from Stephen King’s 2013 novel, bringing together the supernatural psychological intensity that marks most of King’s work. More recently, Flanagan took on another King property with The Life of Chuck, which did not find commercial success at the box office despite enthusiastic reviews. Like Doctor Sleep, however, it found renewed popularity through streaming services, with The Life of Chuck now available for Hulu subscribers as 2025 concluded.
Rebecca Ferguson’s Expanding Career Beyond Doctor Sleep
Rebecca Ferguson’s career is set to expand further as she prepares to star alongside Chris Pratt in the science fiction thriller Mercy, which releases on January 23. Ferguson is also slated to reprise her role as Juliette Nichols in the third season of the series Silo, with a fourth season already planned on Apple TV. Moving forward, Ferguson will appear in major projects in 2026, including The Immortal Man—a film also starring Cillian Murphy and connected to Peaky Blinders—scheduled for Netflix debut on March 20, and a return to her role as Lady Jessica in Dune: Part Three, which arrives on December 18. These roles highlight Ferguson’s ongoing presence in both blockbuster films and ground-breaking television series.
Doctor Sleep’s Availability and Lasting Legacy
Although Doctor Sleep is not currently found on American streaming services, viewers can watch it worldwide on VOD platforms such as Prime Video. The film’s performance across various countries underscores the enduring global interest in Stephen King’s universe and its interconnected stories, especially those crafted or adapted by filmmakers like Mike Flanagan. This resurgence shows how King’s stories continue to attract new audiences and inspire contemporary genre adaptations.
Doctor Sleep stars Ewan McGregor as Danny Torrance and Rebecca Ferguson as Rose the Hat, each delivering powerful performances that add depth to King’s complex characters. The continued popularity of the Stephen King Doctor Sleep sequel on streaming platforms may revive further interest in both classic and modern adaptations of King’s novels, while keeping attention steady on the key talents—such as McGregor and Ferguson—who bring these chilling tales to life on screen.
