Several best-selling Stephen King novels have been the source material of many films since the famed author's rise to fame, including the new dystopian action film The Running Man starring Glen Powell.
King's works have been hailed for their deep exploration of dark themes, character focus, versatility of genre, unique ideas, and emotional depth that no other horror authors of his caliber can match.
You might be in the mood to watch some of the great movies that are based on a novel by King. Here are our recommendations.
Carrie
Carrie follows Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, as she unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.
The film isn't just hailed as one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King novel, but it is also considered one of the best movies of all time due to its spellbinding atmosphere, exploration of high school angst, Brian De Palma's direction, and Sissy Spacek's iconic performance.
Where You Can Watch: MGM+
The Shining
The Shining follows a family that heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. At the same time, his psychic son sees horrifying forebodings from both the past and the future.
King has notably criticized this film adaptation due to its many deviations from the novel. However, despite that, it is still being hailed by critics and fans as one of the best horror movies of all time, and its iconic moments have become part of pop culture.
Where You Can Watch: HBO Max
The Dead Zone
Set five years after a traffic accident that left him in a coma, The Dead Zone follows a man who awakens to discover that he can foresee future events and even prevent tragedies from happening.
The film is also considered one of the best King adaptations on the big screen due to David Cronenberg's direction and Christopher Walken's exceptional performance. A TV series adaptation was also produced in the early 2000s that expanded the novel's mythology.
Where You Can Watch: MGM+
Stand by Me
Stand by Me follows a writer who recounts a childhood journey with his friends to find the body of a missing boy. It is based on King's 1982 novella "The Body."
This is one of the rare King adaptations that are not horror-based. Rather, it is a heartfelt coming-of-age drama that made its mark in the 1980s and is now considered one of the best films of the era, especially among the generation that grew up in that decade.
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
Misery
Misery follows a famous author who is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels. However, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.
The film has been beloved for many decades since its release, not just because of its psychological thriller story, but also due to Kathy Bates' iconic performance as Annie Wilkes, who is considered one of King's best characters. This is also, so far, the only film based on a King novel that won an Oscar.
Where You Can Buy or Rent: Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango at Home
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption follows a banker convicted of uxoricide who forms a friendship over a quarter century with a hardened convict, while maintaining his innocence and trying to remain hopeful through simple compassion.
While it wasn't a box office success in its initial release, it gained a reputation throughout the years as one of the best films of all time due to its evergreen story of humanity and compassion and emotional storytelling that has resonated among many audiences.
Where You Can Buy or Rent: Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango at Home
The Green Mile
The Green Mile follows a death row guard who learns that a gentle giant in his charge possesses a mysterious gift.
Throughout the years, the film has gained a reputation for being a tear-jerker due to its subject matter and Michael Clarke Duncan's heartbreaking performance as John Coffey.
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
IT
Set in the summer of 1989, IT follows a group of bullied kids who band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.
After many decades, the best-selling novel finally had a big-screen adaptation, and it became a horror sensation when it was released in 2017. The film only covered the first chronological half of the novel, while the second film, which focuses on the grown-up Losers Club, covered the second half.
Where You Can Watch: HBO Max
Doctor Sleep
Years after the events of The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows a now-adult Danny Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.
While it wasn't a box office success when it was released in 2019, it gained a cult following in the years since then due to its comprehensive adaptation of the beloved novel and its homage to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. This time around, King showed his support for the film.
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
The Life of Chuck
The Life of Chuck is a life-affirming, genre-bending story about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz. Tom Hiddleston played the adult version of the titular character.
This is also one of the rare King adaptations that is not in the horror or thriller genre. Rather, it is a fantasy drama that deals with existentialism, love, grief, and optimism amidst the challenges in life.
Where You Can Buy or Rent: Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango at Home
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