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October 28, 2024

WRITTEN BY: PAIGE

Over the course of his career, Stephen King has published nearly 70 novels and 200+ short stories. Of those, his work has been adapted to more than 50 films, miniseries, and television shows, not to mention a collection of derivative spinoffs, all of which make him the second most adapted author of all time behind William Shakespeare.


From his first adaptation, 1976’s Carrie, to his most recent, 2024’s The Life of Chuck, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and currently is awaiting wide release, the Master of Horror has made a tremendous cinematic impact on the horror genre. Whether it’s a possessed car, a bloody hallway, or a yellow raincoat, much of his iconic horror imagery is amongst the most recognizable to ever grace the silver screen. With such a large filmography, it is a major task to narrow down a personal “Best of Stephen King” list, but I was able to, at the very least, solidify the five adaptations that are my favorite…not best, to be clear, but personal favorite.


Without further ado, let’s jump in…

5. IT (2017)

 

Director Andy Muschietti faced a challenging task in turning this 1,000-page novel into a film, especially considering that it had already been turned into a successful two-part miniseries in 1990… but, boy, did he live up to that challenge (at least in Chapter One)! Muschietti's choice to concentrate on the book's first half to develop the kids' characters is what makes this adaptation so excellent. It's a well-executed reimagining that trades some of the book's more complex mythology for poignant and effective character development. I love a good coming-of-age tale, and It does a great job of striking the right balance between that and the horror genre.

Set in 1989 in the small town of Derry, Maine, a group of kids known as the "Losers Club" set out to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of several children. They have no idea that the killer isn’t a man, but Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), an evil clown that can shape-shift into one’s biggest fears. I must admit that the Losers Club consists of some of the best child acting I’ve ever seen in a film. Every single child genuinely excels beyond belief, each with their own personality, qualities, quips, and quirks, which allows the chemistry between the group to flourish and stand out. While they bring the heart, Skarsgård brings the terror. This gem truly knows how to pack a lot of emotion in between the scares, leading it to be one of my favorite horror flicks from the 2010s.


4. MISERY (1990)

 

As he approached the 1990s, King felt somewhat constrained by the genre as a result of the success of his books. This inspired him to write Misery in 1987, a book in which an author is forced to write in order to appease a stalker fan. It goes without saying that King concocted something extraordinary enough to pique director Rob Reiner's curiosity for a second time after their first stand-out collaboration (more on that later). Reiner just intuitively knows how to translate King’s stories to a film format, and screenwriter William Goldman adds an outstanding script to that dynamic. Together, they skillfully build suspense, making the most of the cramped environment in which King sets the story.


Misery is a devilish, insanity-filled, claustrophobic cabin-in-the-woods type of film. It centers on Annie (Kathy Bates), a nurse who is an obsessive reader of Paul Sheldon's (James Caan) book series. Annie rescues Paul after he is in a car wreck in a snowstorm, taking advantage of the situation by holding him hostage. She is unhappy with how he concluded her favorite book series, and as a result, forces him to rewrite the last chapter. Paul quickly realizes that Annie is more than just a "fan,” and things quickly escalate from helpful to possibly homicidal. If you’ve seen the infamous sledgehammer scene, then you know what I’m talking about. Bates is truly horrifying as Annie Wilkes, with the actress gaining a well-earned Oscar win for her performance. In my opinion, she is just as terrifying, if not more, than any of King's supernatural entities. This psychological suspense thriller hits harder than many of those demonic adaptations because it could easily happen in real life. Not only is this one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations, but it's also one of my favorite Rob Reiner flicks.

3. THE MIST (2007)

 

Frank Darabont's The Mist is among the most memorable of Stephen King's adaptations. It marked the third time Darabont had directed a King story, as well as his last directed film to date. Honestly, no one does Stephen King like Frank Darabont (he also directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, both King adaptations, if you didn’t know). He just understands that the characters come first, and from that, the story will inherently feel real and authentic. 


The Mist finds a group of people trapped in a supermarket after a strange mist filled with monsters rolls into town. While the mist provides the film’s external threat, there is an even more terrifying internal threat in the form of mankind itself. It’s exactly what I love about this gripping and dreadful film. It makes you wonder which threat is more deadly — the creatures or the people trapped in this predicament. This concept really helps to keep the film focused, particularly towards what, in my opinion, might be one of the most bleak, devastating, and divisive movie endings ever. If you want to make this an even more entertaining watch, I highly recommend checking out the black-and-white director's cut.



2. STAND BY ME (1986)

 

My second favorite Stephen King adaptation, Stand by Me, is not a horror film, per se, but a beautiful coming-of-age story about friendship and adolescence. It was this story that proved to readers and audiences that King wasn’t just a good horror writer, but a GREAT writer, full stop.


The film, which is based on the novella “The Body,” follows the quest of four boys as they set out to find a dead body in the woods. While its plot may sound simple, it's the themes that make this story so impactful and timeless. With the support of the youthful cast's genuine performance, director Rob Reiner elegantly crafts this sentimental classic, flawlessly portraying a true representation of childhood. The film’s greatest strength lies in how the young actors perfectly capture the pure and innocent camaraderie that King illustrated in his book. At its core, Stand by Me is about the transition from one stage of life to another, and that is more terrifying than dealing with monsters or murderers. The movie's last words will stick with me forever: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” A profoundly accurate statement.


1. THE SHINING (1980)

 

Putting The Shining at number one may seem controversial since King has let it be known many times that he is not a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of his story. I can understand why, as the film has little to do with the source material. But I’m sorry, Mr. King, this film is a horror masterpiece. It’s a staple of pop culture thanks to Jack Nicholson's legendary performance, the eerie atmosphere, menacing score, long Steadicam shots, and exquisite production design.

The Shining invited us into one of the most iconic haunted buildings ever, the Overlook Hotel. The story follows an aspiring novelist and recovering alcoholic who takes a job as the hotel’s winter caretaker with his wife and son. Little do they know this resort has been haunted for decades and will lead Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) into a descent of madness. This thought-provoking premise is nothing short of mesmerizing. I get goosebumps just thinking about how Kubrick used the movie's nightmarish imagery to create such an ominous atmosphere. It features some of the most iconic scenes in movie history (the twins in the hallway, the river of blood pouring from the elevator, Jack sticking his head through the broken door yelling, “Here’s Johnny!” as Shelly Duvall’s Wendy shrieks), and once you’ve seen the film, the sequences will forever live in your brain. There’s just no doubt that this classic is one of the finest horror films ever made. It has stood the test of time, and honestly, gets better with every watch!

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