DexertoWhether you know it or not, you’ve probably seen a Stephen King movie at some point in your life.
How do I know this? Well, I’m not blessed with incredible psychic abilities like Danny Torrance or Carrie White. It’s just that King is such a prolific author that the law of averages means you’re bound to have seen at least something based on his books.
After all, he’s the second most adapted author in history (after good old Bill Shakespeare), and his name is synonymous with some of the best horror movies (and best movies) ever made. Here’s the thing, though: not everything King writes is a masterpiece, and for every book like The Stand, you get a Tommyknockers or two.
To make matters more complicated, some of his best stories have been turned into dreadful films (I’m looking at you, Dark Tower) while his most forgettable tales have become critical darlings. So how are you supposed to know which adaptations to watch? Well, that’s where we come in. We’ve worked out exactly which Stephen King movies are worth your time.
15. 1408
MGM- Release date: June 22, 2007
- Genre: Psychological horror
- Director: Mikael Håfström
- Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Tony Shalhoub
- Based on: 1408 (Short story collected in Everything’s Eventual)
- How long is it? 1 hour 44 minutes
What it’s about: Skeptical paranormal investigator Mike Enslin is challenged to spend a night at The Dolphin Hotel in room 1408 – a room is so haunted that no one has ever lasted more than an hour inside.
Why we like it: A bit of an underrated gem, 1408 might not have the rich subtext of something like The Shining or the prestige of The Shawshank Redemption, but it does have one thing going for it: it’s bloody terrifying, and that goes a long way in my book.
I think what makes this film so profoundly affecting is its sinister atmosphere. Through eerie visuals, a haunting score, and John Cusack’s fantastic performance, Håfström manages to transform an unremarkable hotel room into a malevolent spirit that’s every bit as scary as King’s other, more grandiose ghouls and goblins. What’s more, he does that without relying on over-the-top violence or shocking gore, just well-placed jump scares and a growing sense of unease.
Written by Tom Percival
14. 1922
Netflix- Release date: September 23, 2017
- Genre: Horror/crime
- Director: Zak Hilditch
- Cast: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Kaitlyn Bernard, Neal McDonough
- Based on: 1922 (A novella collected in Full Dark, No Stars)
- How long is it: 1 hour 41 minutes
What it’s about: When a farmer hits rock bottom broke, he murders his wife with the help of his son (as one does). Living with his guilt proves harder than first thought, causing his life to spiral out of control.
Why we like it: If Shyamalan’s Signs had a baby with American Horror Story: Roanoke, it would probably look something like 1922. It’s never going to be the Stephen King story you immediately think of, but it’s still a pretty gnarly one. A rampaging farmer walking around with utensils so rusted they look like they could give you tetanus is already enough to have me running through a cornfield, let alone the fact he doesn’t mind murdering women too.
Written by Jasmine Valentine
13. Christine
Columbia Pictures- Release date: December 9, 1983
- Genre: Horror
- Director: John Carpenter
- Cast: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul
- Based on: Christine
- How long is it? 1 hour 50 minutes
What it’s about: Arnie Cunningham is his school’s biggest dork, but all that changes when he buys a broken-down 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. Miraculously, as Arnie fixes the car, he becomes more confident, better looking, and even rebellious. Yet when Arnie finally gets a girlfriend, it becomes clear that Christine isn’t just a car… she’s jealous.
Why we like it: I’m a sucker for stories of possession, and few tales in the genre are as insidious as Christine. There’s a certain cathartic rush in seeing Arnie’s early transformation from a bullied nerd to a confident loner. Yet, as the film continues down the road, the rubber on Arnie’s tires starts to wear thin, revealing the monster below and that catharsis turns to bitter ash in your mouth. Yes, Christine is a monster movie about a haunted car but it’s also a tragic coming-of-age story about a young man with so much promise whose future is stolen from him by forces beyond his control.
Written by Tom Percival
12. Doctor Sleep
Warner Bros.- Release date: November 8, 2019
- Genre: Horror/Fantasy
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Cast: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis, Zahn McClarnon
- Based on: Doctor Sleep
- How long is it? 2 hours 32 minutes
What it’s about: Decades after surviving the horrors of the Overlook Hotel, a now-grown Danny Torrance must protect a young girl with similar abilities from a terrifying cult that feeds on psychic children.
Why we like it: Doctor Sleep had the impossible task of bridging Stephen King’s novel with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining – two things that famously don’t mix. Somehow, Flanagan pulled it off, delivering a sequel that respects both while carving out its own eerie identity. Ferguson is having the time of her life as the soul-sucking Rose the Hat, and the final act revisits the Overlook in a way that actually feels earned. All in all, it’s a success (it even got the seal of approval from King himself).
Words by Daisy Phillipson
11. The Green Mile
Warner Bros.- Release date: December 10, 1999
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Sam Rockwell
- Based on: The Green Mile
- How long is it? 3 hours 9 minutes
What it’s about: In 1935, John Coffey –”just like the drink, only not spelled the same” – is sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two young girls. As he waits for his day on the chair, the head guard on death row discovers that John has an extraordinary gift – and he may be one of God’s “true miracles.”
Why we like it: Ostensibly a hard-floor prison drama, The Green Mile is far more spiritually and magically inclined, with Michael Clarke Duncan delivering perhaps the most devastating performance in any Stephen King adaptation ever.
Three observations: it’s absolutely insane it didn’t win a single Oscar, everybody forgets how long the film is (but nobody cares any time it’s put on), and the tears it inspires are perhaps the most universal in all of fiction. As Jesse Plemons says in Game Night: “I assume everyone cried during The Green Mile.”
Written by Cameron Frew
10. The Monkey
Neon- Release date: February 21, 2025
- Genre: Horror/Comedy
- Director: Osgood Perkins
- Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood
- Based on: The Monkey (Short story collected in Skeleton Crew)
- How long is it? 1 hour 38 minutes
What it’s about: 25 years after he and his twin brother buried it, Hal finds that the toy monkey who enjoys killing his family has mysteriously returned, bringing death and destruction with it.
Why we like it: Unlike other Stephen King movies of late, The Monkey avoids one of the biggest pitfalls by not taking itself too seriously. It’s gorier than a Final Destination movie, and it keeps you guessing what kind of nightmarish kill that little monkey is going to inflict next. That said, it never stops being fun.
Read our The Monkey review here.
Written by Jessica Cullen
9. The Dead Zone
Paramount Pictures- Release date: October 21, 1983
- Genre: Sci-fi
- Director: David Cronenberg
- Cast: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Martin Sheen
- Based on: The Dead Zone
- How long is it? 1 hour 43 minutes
What it’s about: After coming out of a coma, Johnny Smith discovers he’s developed psychic powers that allow him to see the past, present, and future lives of those around him.
Why we like it: Suddenly seeing into the lives of others would be a terrifying ordeal, and who better to take on this psychological King drama than David Cronenberg? The movie takes King’s story and simplifies it into a tense thriller that’s scattered with unnerving imagery and cunning twists. An underrated gem in both the Cronenberg and King collections at the time.
Written by Jessica Cullen
8. Carrie
United Artists- Release date: November 3, 1976
- Genre: Horror
- Director: Brian De Palma
- Cast: Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, Piper Laurie
- Based on: Carrie
- How long is it? 1 hour 38 minutes
What it’s about: When a teenage girl gets her period, she finds that she has telekinetic powers, putting her in a dangerous position of power over her schoolmates and religious fanatic mother.
Why we like it: As the first-ever Stephen King adaptation put to screen, Carrie set the bar for every other movie that came after it. Few have succeeded in matching its strengths: a character you want to root for, genuinely frightening imagery, and an underlying supernatural mystery that you can’t quite put your finger on. Carrie will always be one of King’s best works, and thankfully, the movie matches its excellence.
Written by Jessica Cullen
7. Gerald’s Game
Netflix- Release date: September 29, 2017
- Genre: Horror/Thriller
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Cast: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, Carel Struycken, Kate Siegel
- Based on: Gerald’s Game
- How long is it? 1 hour 43 minutes
What it’s about: A romantic getaway turns into a nightmare when a woman is left handcuffed to a bed with no escape, forcing her to battle dehydration, hallucinations, and psychological trauma.
Why we like it: Adapting Gerald’s Game seemed like a fool’s errand – most of it takes place in one room inside the protagonist’s head. But Flanagan (yes, him again) turned it into a gripping psychological horror, making Gugino’s performance a career-best. It’s tense, disturbing, and features one of the most stomach-churning scenes in horror (you know the one).
Words by Daisy Phillipson
6. It: Chapter One
Warner Bros.- Release date: September 5, 2017
- Genre: Horror
- Director: Andy Muschietti
- Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Sophia Lillis
- Based on: It
- How long is it? 2 hours 15 minutes
What it’s about: Seven teenagers in Derry face off against their worst nightmare: a shape-shifting, dancing clown who resurfaces every 27 years to feed on children.
Why we like it: Unlike the dated but creepy 90s mini-series, this adaptation doesn’t shy away from violence; from the moment little Georgie loses his arm in the sewer, screaming and wailing as he’s dragged to an unfathomable death, you know It is the real deal.
But its effectiveness goes beyond blood: it’s terrifying and fun, transforming Skarsgård’s Pennywise into an instant icon. It doesn’t work if you don’t love and fear for the Losers Club, and their dynamic comes full circle; it leans heavily on the vibes of Stranger Things, just as the Netflix series owes a debt to another King story, Stand By Me.
Written by Cameron Frew
5. The Mist
MGM- Release date: November 21, 2007
- Genre: Horror/Sci-fi
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Cast: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Andre Braugher
- Based on: The Mist
- How long is it? 2 hours 6 minutes
What it’s about: A mysterious fog rolls into a small town, bringing with it unspeakable horrors. Trapped inside a supermarket, a group of survivors learn that sometimes the real monsters are human.
Why we like it: The Mist proves that sometimes King adaptations don’t just translate well to film – they go harder. Darabont took a chilling monster story and amped up the existential dread, delivering a gut-punch of an ending that still haunts me to this day. The creatures are terrifying, but Harden’s unhinged religious zealot might be the scariest thing in the entire film. Moral of the story? Grocery stores aren’t always the best place to be in an apocalypse.
Words by Daisy Phillipson
4. Stand By Me
Columbia Pictures- Release date: August 8, 1986
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Cast: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell
- Based on: The Body
- How long is it? 1 hour 29 minutes
What it’s about: It’s the height of summer in 1985, and a group of friends hear a rumor about the dead body of a missing boy near a faraway rail track. They set off on a journey to find him, getting into all sorts of mischief along the way.
Why we like it: As King’s quartet of sweary, rambunctious boys walk down the railway tracks singing, laughing, and chatting about all the stuff you think about before you discover girls, my heart yearns for simpler days and pains for today’s generations who’ve never known such outward bound adventures.
Upon seeing Rob Reiner’s movie, King told him: “That’s the best film ever made out of anything I’ve written, which isn’t saying much. But you’ve really captured my story.” Its legacy lives in one quote: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
Written by Cameron Frew
3. The Shining
Warner Bros. Pictures- Release date: May 23, 1980
- Genre: Horror
- Director: Stanley Kubrick
- Cast: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers
- Based on: The Shining
- How long is it? 2 hours 26 minutes
What it’s about: When Jack Torrance takes a job caretaking at the Overlook Hotel during the winter, he and his wife and son have to fight their personal battles in what turns out to be a haunted and deeply troubled place.
Why we like it: The Shining has long since been named one of the best horror movies ever made, and rightly so. How could anyone ever hope to outdo Kubrick’s blood-red vision of the Overlook Hotel? Ironically, what makes The Shining so great is how it diverts from King’s original novel, ditching some of the more detailed character backstories and opting for a pure, nightmarish atmosphere instead. It’s a winner for a reason.
Written by Jessica Cullen
2. The Shawshank Redemption
Warner Bros.- Release date: February 17, 1995
- Genre: Thriller/Crime
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Cast: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
- Based on: Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (A novella collected in Different Seasons)
- How long is it: 2 hours 22 minutes
What it’s about: Do I really need to tell you? Andy Dufresne is arrested for the murder of his wife and lover, sent straight to Shawshank Prison. He befriends Ellis “Red” Redding, becoming involved in a money laundering scheme over the next 20 years. Add in lots of tear-jerking scenes and you’re there.
Why we like it: Yes, I have recreated this movie’s poster in bad weather more than I care to admit. Yes, I have more snot on Kleenex than in my body by the end of it. But Shawshank isn’t just a rite of passage, it’s a life-changer. Almost every single Googleable review includes the much-bandied-about word “masterpiece,” but it’s true. Unlike other Kings, Shawshank is built on hope, simple storytelling, and timeless chemistry. God, where are my tissues?
Written by Jasmine Valentine
1. Misery
Columbia Pictures- Release date: November 30, 1990
- Genre: Thriller
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Cast: James Caan, Kathy Bates
- Based on: Misery
- How long is it? 1 hour 47 minutes
What it’s about: After author Paul Sheldon survives a deadly car crash, he’s nursed back to health by his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes. As Paul starts to recover however it slowly becomes clear that there’s something very wrong with Annie.
Why we like it: A dark gothic thriller, Misery is the best adaptation of King’s books, but that’s hardly surprising as Misery might just be King’s best book. The story is simple but terrifyingly effective; there are no supernatural monsters hiding under Paul’s bed, just one deranged fan who feels frighteningly real (especially through a more contemporary lens).
But beyond its script, you’ve got two powerhouse performances from Caan and Bates. Of the two, Caan has the easier job of selling his horror at the awful predicament he finds himself in. Bates, meanwhile, has to walk a fine line between the absurd and the awful. In any other film, Annie would be a comedy side character, but Bates gives Annie such an unhinged mercurial temperament that she’s gone down in history as one of the scariest movie villains of all time.
Written by Tom Percival
Looking for more thrills and chills? Then check out our list of the best zombie movies. We’ve also got a guide to the best horror games as well if you prefer to take matters into your own hands… well controller but you know what we mean.
