The Institute
Created by Benjamin Cavell
On MGM+
A tense psychological thriller about gifted children imprisoned in a sinister facility, blending mystery and sci-fi horror with high paranoia and sustained dread.
When 14 year old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped, he awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
Clusters
Genres
Where to watch
- StreamMGM+, fuboTV, Spectrum On Demand, Philo
Questions people ask
Is The Institute one of a kind? No. Less singular than 98% of series.
Is The Institute scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 93% of series.
Is The Institute easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 88% of series.
Does The Institute leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is The Institute sad? Somewhat. More sad than 72% of series.
Is The Institute violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
You have seen this shape before.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like The Institute, and what each one shares →
Like The Institute
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as The Institute
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like The Institute, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like The Institute, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like The Institute, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
