Ten years ago, 11.22.63 was one of the first high-profile original series created for Hulu.
This adaptation of Stephen King‘s 11/22/63 was produced by J.J. Abrams and features James Franco as a man who goes back in time to save President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated.
The critically acclaimed mini-series is now on Netflix, and it’s a wild sci-fi show that’s far better than the last and final season of Stranger Things.
Instead of waiting for a mythical ninth episode of Stranger Things season 5, Watch With Us recommends you binge-watch 11.22.63 now.
Stephen King’s 10 Favorite Movies (and Where to Watch Them): ‘Jaws’ and More
James Franco Gives One of His Best Performances
In the last decade, Franco’s career has largely come to a standstill following sexual misconduct allegations. But when this miniseries was released, Franco was still at the height of his stardom. Franco was also a very vocal fan of King’s novel and passionate about the story. He even tried to get the rights to adapt it himself before learning that Abrams beat him to the punch. That level of commitment is what helped Franco land the leading role as Jake Epping.
Frano gives Jake an everyman quality as well as a desire to put everything else in his life on hold after learning about a portal that can take him to 1960 and back to the present. Jake is convinced to stay in the past long enough to prevent Kennedy’s murder, and one of the story’s most intriguing aspects is his second life under an assumed name, James Amberson. Even with everything that history throws at him, Jake establishes a life for himself while stuck in the past.
The Story Is Very Engrossing
The three-year gap between Jake’s arrival and the Kennedy assassination is where most of the story comes together. Jake doesn’t just focus on trying to prevent the murder — he also tries to help people. He goes on to fall head over heels in love with Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon), a woman whose life is ultimately endangered by Jake’s actions.
‘Welcome to Derry’ Is a Big Hit, But This Netflix Show Is Just as Good
Amusingly, Jake is such a terrible liar that Sadie can see through his deceptions, and yet she still loves him. They have a powerful bond, but time itself is conspiring against Jake’s mission. Almost everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and it’s almost like history is cheating Jake to make him pay the price for his meddling.
‘11.22.63’ Is One of the Most Satisfying Stephen King Adaptations Ever
The idea behind Jake’s mission is that America can have a better future if Kennedy lives. That’s the dream that Jake holds on to as he endures years in the past while waiting for his chance to change history. Unfortunately for Jake, it was never going to be that simple. There are consequences for failing and consequences for succeeding. He has to decide which of those he can live with.
It would have been hard to compress 11.22.63 into a two-hour movie. By making it an eight-episode miniseries, Abrams and his collaborators have given 11.22.63 all of the breathing room it needs to develop its characters and premise. It may not have every single moment from the book, but this is the most complete version of the story that Hollywood could tell. That’s more than most of King’s adaptations have received, and this series is already one of Netflix’s most popular shows of 2026.
So what are you waiting for? Stream 11.22.63 now and wipe away the bad memories that the Stranger Things series finale probably left in your mind.
11.22.63 is streaming on Netflix.
