The 10 Best Stephen King Movies Ranked
Not only has King written nearly 90 bone-chilling and engrossing books in his decades-long career, his work has also been adapted for film or TV nearly 80 times.
Of course, the problem with adapting a book to film is that the film version rarely lives up to the book.
With that said, out of nearly 80 adaptions, a few have to go right sometimes. While its too soon to say how The Stand will fare, we can recommend these 10 movies, which we consider the best Stephen King movies ever made.
10. Children of the Corn (1984)
Based on King's 1977 short story of the same name, Children of the Corn gained a cult following and inspired a film franchise despite lackluster reviews. The film follows a young couple as they drive through a small town in Nebraska, where they soon discover that the children of the town are beholden by an evil force called "He Who Walks Behind the Rows," who demands that the children sacrifice all the adults in the town to ensure a successful harvest. It's full of unintentionally hilarious 80s effects and tends to feel silly at points, but it still manages to offer plenty of scary moments.
▲8. The Dead Zone (1983)
With an all-star cast of Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Martin Sheen, Anthony Zerbe, and Colleen Dewhurst, The Dead Zone is based on King's 1979 novel of the same name. Walken plays a school teacher who wakes up from a coma with psychic powers. Well-received by critics and fans alike, this movie is one of the only King adaptations that almost outshines the book.
▲9. Cujo (1983)
Cujo is based on King's 1981 novel of the same name. Like the book, the movie revolves around the story of a mother and daughter trying to survive being trapped in their car by a rabid dog during a heatwave. The book is one of King's most purely suspenseful works, and the movie manages to compete with the book, with plenty of nail-biting moments.
▲7. IT (2017)
Directed by Andy Muschietti, this 2017 film is the second attempt at adapting King's 1986 1,100 page saga of the same name. The first attempt was a 1991 TV mini-series that gained something of a cult following but was largely panned by critics. The film follows a group of children who self-identify as "the losers club" as they attempt to defeat a demonic clown who is terrorizing their town. While lacking much of what makes King's novel the coming-of-age masterpiece that it is, the movie still manages to offer an engrossing combination of nostalgia and thrills.
▲6. Stand By Me (1986)
Based on King's 1982 novella, The Body, Stand By Me follows a group of young boys as they search to find the dead body of one of their peers. It's a moving coming-of-age story that forces viewers to reconsider the very concept of innocence. It received rave reviews at the time of its release and was even nominated for an Academy Award and two Golden Globes.
▲5. Misery (1990)
Based on the 1987 novel of the same name, Misery has become a classic movie in its own right. The premise is simple: Paul Sheldon (played by James Caan), a famous novelist, crashes his car after finishing his latest book at his remote cabin. He's badly injured but is soon rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who is Sheldon's self-described "biggest fan." It becomes clear that Wilkes is not mentally stable and struggles to differentiate reality from the world of Sheldon's books. Things really start to get scary when Wilkes finds out Sheldon killed off one of her favorite characters. Kathy Bates and James Caan give brilliant performances that are highlighted by a tight, suspenseful script, making this one of the better horror-thrillers of the '90s.
▲4. The Shining (1980)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and memorably starring Jack Nicholson, The Shining is one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. Based on King's 1977 novel of the same name, the film follows Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son Danny (Danny Lloyd) as they move into the deserted Overlook hotel for the winter in order to look after it until the guests return in spring. Soon, the hotel's violent past and Danny's supernatural abilities start to show themselves, as Jack descends into madness. It's hard to find a more classically terrifying, entertaining movie than this one.
▲3. Carrie (1976)
Based on King's first ever novel, this film manages to capture the real-life perils of being a teenage girl while still offering plenty of classic scares. Carrie, a bullied young girl with a commandeering, fanatically religious mother, struggles to fit in among her high school peers. Soon, the audience finds out Carrie isn't just a social misfit; she also has telekinetic powers. One of the most brilliant things about this movie is its refusal to place its characters into to a good guy vs. bad guy structure. A triumph as a horror movie and as a commentary on generational trauma, Carrie promises to terrify and evoke pity in equal measure.
▲2. The Green Mile (1999)
One of King's greatest masterpieces, The Green Mile transitions seamlessly from the page to the screen. Tom Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb, a death row prison guard who has to confront his own values when he meets a convicted child rapist with the mysterious power to heal any injury or illness. This darkly moving movie offers an important commentary on the racist nature of the American prison system and paints a vivid picture of the importance of mercy.
▲1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
In the top spot on our list is one of the best movies of all time, adaptation or not. Based on King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, this classic movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) through his two decades in prison for killing his wife and her lover, a crime he swears he did not commit. The story is told through the perspective of Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), who befriends Dufresne. It's a hopeful, moving story that highlights the resilience of the human spirit.
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