The Top Ten Stephen King Adaptations
With a career spanning over 50 years, Stephen King’s work has translated into visual media many times with some adaptations being the best films ever made.
If you were to put a gun to my head and ask me what my favorite film was, I would hesitate and my brains would be splattered all over the place. Ask me my favorite director, tv series or musical artist and BLAM! But when it comes to my favorite author, that is a relatively easy answer: Stephen King. With his incredible catalogue of stories spanning a 50-year-career, Stephen King is easily one of the most entertaining American authors of both the 20th and 21st centuries thanks to his incredible prose which makes reading a book like “It,” well over 1000 pages, a breeze.
With a consistent record of publishing one or more stories a year (in the form of novels, short stories, screenplays and novellas), there’s a massive plethora of King lore and, pretty much since the beginning of his career, king’s work has been consistently adapted into film and television. But which ones are the best? Which ones have the terror, drama and heart that King constantly infuses into his work.
Well, this is my personal list of the top 10 Stephen King adaptations. They can be television series, mini-series or films as long as they directly adapt King’s work or were even written by him.
But first, a few Honorable Mentions:
The Dead Zone – This drama stars Christopher Walken as a man who, following a car accident, finds he has psychic powers which allow him to solve crimes and prevent terrible futures. When he discovers that a politician (Martin Sheen) has the power to annihilate the world when he’s elected president, Walken must decide whether to assassinate him or not. Walken’s performance is what makes this film and this is one of King’s more creative ideas with psychic people.
Maximum Overdrive, Children of the Corn and Sleepwalkers – All three of these films are so incredibly goofy and, while not good, they all make me smile. If you want to watch Stephen King “B” movies with a legitimate budget, these films are for you. In these films are trucks that try to kill people, little children preaching about “He Who Walks Behind the Rows” and cat people who dance to Santo and Johnny’s “Sleepwalk.” “Maximum Overdrive” in particular is fun because it’s the only film King directed and it just is so insane I have no choice but to love it.
The Running Man – Arnold Schwarzeneger in what I can only describe as Stephen King’s Hunger Games. Need I say more?
Christine – After making “Halloween,” “The Fog” and “The Thing,” director John Carpenter applies his unique vision to King’s story about an intelligent car who kills for its owner. What could have been another “Maximum Overdrive” is instead a very chilling film whose themes directly tie into King’s past alcoholism and substance abuse.
It (1990) – While I have my problems with this miniseries, particularly the second half, I still really love the first half, the child cast and Tim Curry as Pennywise. Definitely a must watch for more nostalgic horror fans.
Dolores Claiborne – This underrated drama stars Kathy Bates as a woman accused of murder and the strained relationship she has with her daughter (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Bates' performance alone is worth taking the time to watch this film as is how King slowly builds up tension in this damaged relationship.
Apt Pupil – The story of a high school kid (Brad Renfro) who discovers his elderly neightbor (Ian McKellen) is a Nazi war criminal, the film develops a fascinating relationship between a kid who wants to knwo more about a past the old man wants to forget. Dark, disturbing and headlined by two great performances, this film may not be perfect but it has some of the best acting I’ve ever seen in a King film.
Cujo – The story of a dog who becomes a rabid, insane killing machine takes every pet owner’s worst nightmare and amplifies it. While not as gory or scary as I would have liked, this film does create a sense of tension as this dog stalks his owners. But seriously, you couldn’t keep the original book’s ending?
The Green Mile and The Mist – While I so badly wanted to include these both on the list, since they are some of the best King adaptations, I decided to only include one film directed by Frank Darabont on this list. However, you still should watch the stories of a mysterious death row inmate who has magic gifts and a town plagued by Lovecraftian creatures that emerge from a mist. Both of these films are different in story but, nonetheless, wonderful stories from King.
11.22.63 – This Hulu series sees a man (James Franco) go back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination only to become attatched to the life he’s created in 1963. This film examines the ethics of changing history as well as whether such a thing is truly possible. While most people associate King with horror, this science-fiction series is worth a watch.
Pet Sematary (1989) and Pet Sematary (2019) – Easily King’s darkest book, I don’t think anyone can perfectly translate the disturbing nature of King’s story about bringing back the dead. But both of these film adaptations do a good job of telling this haunting story. I love both of these films for different reasons and they both contain their scary moments.
10. Stand By Me – While most novice readers associate King with only horror, he has quite the flair for drama and coming of age stories. Based off of his novella “The Body,” the film sees four kids (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell) go on a journey to find a dead kid’s body. While not the happiest of premises, this film perfectly showcases the insecurities about being both a kid and someone who seems trapped in one place. Directed by Rob Reiner, what makes this film work is how well it captures the nostalgia of looking back on childhood as well as how great the four child actors are as well as Kiefer Sutherland and John Cusack.
9. Creepshow – This anthology film, written by King and directed by “Night of the Living Dead’s” George A. Romero, serves as a great homage to B movies and old-school horror comics. It’s easily one of the most visually memorable King films with several stories that have both a creepy and goofy feel to them.
8. The Stand (1996) – While I enjoyed the 2020 miniseries adaptation on Paramount+, nothing can beat the 1996 version of one of King’s best novels. Set in a future where a deadly virus has exterminated 99% of humanity, two groups of survivors form and prepare to decide humanity’s fate in a battle between the forces of good and evil. With an all-star cast including Gary Sinese, Molly Ringwald, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee and Rob Lowe, this is an investing six hours which serves as one of the best King adaptations. At a time where most Stephen King miniseries were very goofy, this was a welcome change and is still one of my favorite stories attributed to the Master of Horror.
7. It and It Chapter Two – It’s almost pointless to talk about them separately since they tell two parts of Stephen King’s most lofty horror novel. While I love the first film more than the second, both are valuable and give audiences the best adaptation of “It” we could have possibly gotten. With two amazing casts, fantastic direction by Andy Muschetti and a scary performance by Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise, as well as a great blend of horror and comedy, the “It” films are a lot of fun and a lot of frights.
6. Gerald’s Game – Once considered unfilmable, this Mike Flanagan adaptation of King’s underrated book sees a woman (Carla Gugino) handcuffed to a bed after her husband (Bruce Greenwood) dies of a heart attack while trying to spice up their sex life. What’s so great about this film is how it examines past trauma and Gugino’s performance is captivating as she becomes dehydrated and delirious. Along with the direction of one of modern horror’s best filmmakers, “Gerald’s Game” is a massively underrated story and film.
5. Doctor Sleep – From one Mike Flanagan adaptation to another, “Doctor Sleep,” based off of King’s sequel to “The Shining,” is probably the most difficult King film to make because it serves as a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of “The Shining” which King famously dislikes. Flanagan had to make a film that appealed to both Kubrick’s fans and King’s fans and he somehow managed to pull it off. While a sequel to the iconic “The Shining,” the story mostly stands on its own until the last half hour, where the locations and imagery of “The Shining” are center stage.
One of the best horror sequels ever made, Ewan McGregor and Kyliegh Curran are fantastic as a grown up Danny Torrance and his protege while Rebecca Furguson is one of King’s best villains. Flanagan flawlessly makes Kubrick’s directorial style while also making a film that honors both the “Doctor Sleep” and “The Shining” novels. While the theatrical cut is amazing, the three hour director’s cut is way better and I recommend watching that version to soak in this amazing tale.
4. Carrie (1976) – Directed by Brian De Palma, King’s first novel also was the first to be adapted into a film. The film tells the story of the titular teenage girl (Sissy Spacek) who is bullied by everyone at school and traumatized by her insanely religious mother (Piper Laurie). When she begins to display telekinetic powers, Carrie’s life actually begins to improve when she’s slowly more accepted and even becomes prom queen. But this is all just a cruel prank which leads to one of the most iconic endings in all of horror.
What works about the novel and the film is the main character Carrie. While she’s pushed to do terrible things at the end of the film, you completely understand her pain and desperately want someone to treat her with respect. Sissy Spacek does an incredible job in the role and her tenderness is one of the best parts of the film. Throw in memorable supporting performances by Amy Irving, John Travolta and especially Piper Laurie as well as a prom straight from hell and you’ve got one of the best horror films of all time.
3. Misery – Why do I get the feeling this is every writer’s worst nightmare? After novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) gets in a car accident, breaking both of his legs, he’s rescued by a nurse named Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) who is a huge fan of Sheldon’s Misery books. But when the latest book kills off Misery Chastain, Wikes goes crazy and keeps Paul trapped in her home as well as forces him to write a new novel which resurrects Misery.
Besides Bates’ Oscar-winning performance and Caan’s fantastic portrayal of Paul Sheldon, Rob Reiner’s Hitchcockian direction makes this one of the most thrilling films of all time. Add in an amazing supporting cast consisting of Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen and Lauren Bacall and you’ve got a King adaptation loved by all including the original author.
2. The Shawshank Redemption – Why are people so shocked that this is a Stephen King adaptation? His name is in the opening credits! I guess it’s because, like “Stand By Me,” it’s simply not a horror film. Instead the film is about prisoners seeking to find hope in a place where it doesn’t seem to exist. Like “Stand By Me,” it’s adapted from a novella and director/writer Frank Darabont takes King’s great stories and adds many layers to it including fleshed out supporting characters and effective commentary about the treatment of prisoners and how, whether they’re a thief or a murderer, everyone deserves to be treated like a human being.
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are outstanding in the film and Darabont’s direction is flawless. With most films, I can still point out a few flaws. But with “The Shawshank Redemption,” it’s a flawless film and every element serves a purpose. Freeman’s narration alone makes this an iconic piece of cinema. It’s a film we’ve all seen and we’ll probably watch many times in the future.
1. The Shining – While not a perfect adaptation of King’s novel, “The Shining” is one of the most terrifying films I’ve ever seen. In fact, I reviewed it last year close to Halloween. While the film is amazing, I actually like the original novel, having read it several times. But there’s something within the Kubrick film that has always called to me. While Stephen King, understandably, doesn’t like what Kubrick did to the story, I find that the film is just too good to dismiss and it’s still my all-time favorite horror film.
Most of us know the story of a recovering alcoholic named Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) taking his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) to the mountain hotel The Overlook to care for it during the winter. When the haunted hotel begins to play to Jack’s weaknesses, he goes insane and tries to murder his family.
What I love so much about the film is how well it creates a tense atmosphere throughout. Most horror films have a few moments where you can breathe but in “The Shining’s” case, from frame one I feel dread watching this film. With meticulous cinematography, slow dissolves and a haunting soundtrack, “The Shining” is a film that has become a part of film history.
