The Monkey, based on the 1980 short story, just became the 66th King-based story to become a feature film. Hollywood and King have definitely had a love-hate relationship over the years, but as long as King has been publishing, Hollywood’s been knocking on his door for more. First came Carrie in 1976, two years after he published that first novel, which made him, director Brian De Palma, and star Sissy Spacek household names. A whole slew of adaptations came in the 1980s, among the highlights being The Shining, Stand by Me, and The Running Man (the book which was published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman). The ‘90s would showcase his best decade ever for The Shawshank Redemption alone, number one on lots of all time movie lists, including mine. But the ‘90s also includes Misery and The Green Mile.
In recent years, Hollywood is still producing Stephen King movie adaptations and so I thought it a great opportunity to rate my favorite Stephen King movie adaptations included with my trademark A Cute Film Addictive Rating.
What follows is a guide to my 20 favorite Stephen King theatrically released adaptations. More of a reader? No problem, I also included some links to suggested novels and novellas for your pleasure.
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20. Secret Window (2003)
Suggested Book: Four Past Midnight
In this stylish thriller from director David Koepp, Johnny Depp plays a writer stalked by a potential killer who is accusing him of plagiarism. Certainly, Secret Window is mostly remembered for its twist ending, which undermines much of what came before it. But what really deserves to be pointed out here is the performances of both Depp and John Turturro as John Shooter, the man who haunts Depp. And I have to say, upon rewatching the movie recently, the twists and turns are something that has only gotten better over time.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 6.9/10
Secret Window is available to rent or buy on Prime Video here.
19. Gerald’s Game (2017)
Suggested Book: Gerald’s Game
Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood are a couple on a romantic getaway to rekindle their marriage. The wife gets handcuffed to the bed, husband has a heart attack, there are no neighbors to call and the wife struggles to keep her sanity in this stressful situation. A warning to viewers: Good luck trying to unsee the super creepy Moonlight Man.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 6.9/10
Gerald’s Game is available on Netflix
18. The Running Man (1987)
Suggested Book: The Running Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a wrongfully accused man, forced to fight for his life against colorful super-powered murderers for the benefit of a live studio audience. The film is not subtle, but its portrayal of TV gone sadistic and amok feels extremely prescient. The action is entertainingly bizarre, and iconic game show host Richard Dawson plays a fantastically evil version of himself. Overall, The Running Man is an effective media satire and a ripping science fiction thriller.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.0/10
The Running Man is available on Paramount+ and is available here from Amazon Prime
17. The Monkey
Suggested Book: Skeleton Crew
25 years after he and his twin brother buried it, Hal (Theo James) finds that the toy monkey who enjoys killing his family has mysteriously returned, bringing with it death and destruction. Unlike recent attempts with Stephen King films, The Monkey is enjoyable because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. A warning to the wise, it’s high on the gore factor, but it keeps you guessing what kind of nightmarish kill the little monkey is going to inflict next. That said, it’s just as high on the fun as it is on the gore.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.0/10
The Monkey is playing in a theater near you.
16. Apt Pupil
Suggested Book: Different Seasons
A high school student and burgeoning psychopath played by Brad Renfro develops an interest in an older German neighbor after discovering his past as a Nazi war criminal. The film is based on King’s much bloodier Different Seasons entry of the film’s namesake. The film, directed by Bryan Singer, cuts out the shooting spree and additional murders that originally appeared in the novella. The movie pits Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellen with a German accent), an ex-S.S. officer who settled in Southern California after World War II, against Todd Bowden, a devilish teen (Renfro) suspiciously curious about the atrocities committed by Adolf Hitler and his followers. Bartered tales of concentration camp horrors ensue, and the film nails the perverse bond between an aging monster and a young, impressionable monster-to-be.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.0/10
Apt Pupil is available on Prime Video here
15. Creepshow (1982)
Suggested Stories: Weeds (short story) and The Crate (short story). Though hard to find in print, I recommend Shivers VI and Shivers VII, a part of the Shivers Anthology series from Richard Chizmar.
Creepshow is the first film to unite the King of Horror with the King of Zombies, and what we get is a darkly funny homage to comics like Tales from the Crypt. George A. Romero is on board as director of Stephen King’s screenwriting debut, adapting Weeds (a countryside bumpkin turns into a plant) and The Crate (a deadly Arctic ape is unleashed). The anthology blends situational humor and physical brutality, showcasing King’s wit and Romero’s flair, and perfectly doing so.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.1/10
Creepshow is available to stream on AMC+ or here from Prime Video.
14. Christine (1983)
Suggested Book: Christine
Arnie Cunningham is his school’s biggest dork, but that all changes when he buys a broken-down 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. Mostly miraculously, as Arnie fixes the car up, he becomes more confident, better looking, and yes, even rebellious. But when Arnie finally gets a girlfriend, it becomes clear that Christine isn’t just a car… she’s jealous.
Clearly, Christine is a monster movie about a haunted car, but what really gives it significance is the fact that it’s 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.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.1/10
Christine is available from Prime Video here
13. 1408 (2007)
Suggested Book: Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales
1408, a part of the 14 Dark Tales of the Everything’s Eventual series, made for a truly creepy short story, and the film adaptation is just as terrifying. John Cusack plays cynical author Mike Enslin who debunks supernatural events, but he meets his match when he arrives in a hotel room that is not only haunted but has the ability to bring out Mike’s worst fears.
1408 plays out mostly as a one-man show, though Samuel L. Jackson is there to bookend the movie as the hotel manager. Also, I should note for King fans, there is an alternate ending that is even more terrifying than the theatrical version, making this a ghost story well worth revisiting.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.1/10
1408 is available to stream on MovieSphere+ or you can rent/buy through Prime Video here.
12. Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
Suggested Book: Hearts in Atlantis
Perhaps the only thing as dominant in Stephen King stories outside of horror is childhood, in all its lights and dark. Presenting a little bit of supernatural with a lot more coming-of-age, is Scott Hicks and William Goldman’s languorous adaptation of the King novella Low Men in Yellow Coats. The late Anton Yelchin plays Bobby, a boy in 1960s suburbia caught between his distant mother (Hope Davis) and a mysterious older man (an uncle-like figure portrayed by Anthony Hopkins) who moves into the top floor of their house, and may have psychic abilities. Though the film sometimes veers into sentimentality, strong performances from Yelchin, Davis, and Hopkins keep the movie dreamily adrift.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.2/10
Hearts in Atlantis is available to stream on Prime Video here.
11. The Mist (2007)
Suggested Book: Skeleton Crew
In The Mist, 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. Translating as well to film as any King adaptation, director Frank Darabont took a chilling monster story and amplified the existential dread, delivering a gut-punch of an ending that still haunts viewers to this day. The creatures are terrifying, but Marcia Gay Harden’s unhinged religious zealot has to be the scariest thing in the entire movie. Lesson learned: stay away from grocery stores in the case of an apocalypse.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.4/10
The Mist is available to stream on Prime Video here.
I hope you have enjoyed your journey so far. You have reached the top 10, the best of all the Stephen King movie adaptations.
10. The Dead Zone (1983)
Suggested Book: The Dead Zone
Directed by David Cronenberg, The Dead Zone is a powerful take on the story which finds a school teacher portrayed by Christopher Walken waking from a coma with psychic powers. The movie plays out as more of a drama than horror, with Johnny Smith deciding to use his gifts for good, but also finding himself isolated because of them.
But upon learning that a presidential candidate might start an apocalyptic event, he has the toughest decision of his life to make. Cronenberg is perfect in the director’s chair and Walken displays one of his best leading man performances.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.5/10
The Dead Zone is available to stream on PlutoTV and available through Prime Video here.
9. It: Chapter One (2017)
Suggested Book: It
It takes all the friendship concepts from Stand By Me and weaves in an evil clown in a poufy wardrobe deliciously portrayed by Bill Skarsgard. The film’s magic works on so many different levels, and will leave you wanting more Pennywise. Unfortunately, 2019’s Chapter Two did not deliver up to the standard of this original.
Disclaimer: It may not be for those of you who are disgusted by buckets of blood shooting out of a sink.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.6/10
It: Chapter One is available to stream on Max and Netflix. And also available from Prime Video here.
8. Doctor Sleep (2019)
Suggested Book: Doctor Sleep
Decades after surviving the horrors of the Overlook Hotel, a now-grown Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) must protect a young girl with similar abilities from a terrifying cult that feeds on psychic children.
Director Mike Flanagan pulls off the impossible task of bridging Stephen King’s novel with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, two things that are famously polar opposites. And somehow, Flanagan pulls it off, delivering a sequel that respects both while carving out its own eerie identity. Rebecca Ferguson is amazing and seems to be having the time of her life as the soul-sucking Rose the Hat, and revisiting the Overlook in the final act in a way that actually feels earned is something of magnificence. To say the least, Doctor Sleep is a superb film, and it even got the seal of approval from King himself.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.6/10
Doctor Sleep is available on Prime Video here.
7. Carrie (1976)
Suggested Book: Carrie
Carrie is the novel that made Stephen King a legend among storytellers, the first he ever sold, and the story that launched his career. Brian De Palma gets the credit for the first adaptation of a King novel, and brings his famous visual flair to the tale of Carrie White, with Sissy Spacek perfectly cast as the tormented teen who comes to realize she has telekinetic powers.
The famous prom massacre in the film’s finale still has the power to shock viewers, but perhaps it’s the movie’s comments on bullying and parental neglect that have helped Carrie to be remembered as one of the best King movies and novels.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.7/10
Carrie is available to stream on MGM+, PlutoTV. And is available to rent or purchase from Prime Video here.
6. Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Suggested Book: Dolores Claiborne
In this psychological thriller, we see the fleshing out of the strained relationship between Kathy Bates’ titular heroine and her estranged daughter played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Dolores is a seasoned caretaker who has been accused of murdering her elderly employer. Director Taylor Hackford uses the art of flashbacks to toy around with the minds of the viewing audience as we dig deeper into the truth. Certainly Misery, another King adaptation, might have brought out a manically obsessive energy from Kathy Bates, but as Dolores Claiborne, she showcases something deeper and arguably more tragic.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.7/10
Dolores Claiborne is available from Prime Video here.
“Here’s Johnny!”, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” Here we go with the top five:
5. Misery (1990)
Suggested Book: Misery
First, I must apologize, but I’ve always found it somewhat ironic that as King is defiantly proud of the fact that he pens his books for his fans and not the critics, that his one Oscar-winning movie is about a reader who loves an author way too much. Kathy Bates took home the Best Actress award for her alternately funny and terrifying performance as a rural nurse who saves the life of her favorite novelist played by James Caan, then forces him to write a novel that indulges her fan girl whims. Director Rob Reiner expertly transports the story from novel to screen, along the way capturing the comic and waking-nightmare elements perfectly; he also gave the world a film that ended up predicting the increasingly toxic artist/fan relationship that’s developed in the age of the internet. Not to mention that “hobbling” scene! That’s tough.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.1/10
Misery is available from Prime Video here.
4. Stand by Me (1986)
Suggested Book: Different Seasons: Four Novellas
I have to admit something up front here, I am quite partial to this film. Stand by Me was released on my birthday in the summer of 1986, and I saw the movie four times within the first two weeks. There was just something magical about this film for me, maybe it was our age, I was only a year older than our four friends in the story, or maybe it was the sense of adventure. At any rate, when I look back on films that spoke to the very heart of my preteen days, I remember with fondness four really close friends going on an adventure to find a body of a kid their age who had gone missing and presumed dead. All along the way, learning about themselves, the meaning of friendship, and the need to standup for what is right.
For King, Stand by Me was the movie that proved to audiences he was a great writer of more than just horror fiction. The film blends comedy and drama superbly, capturing the melancholy moments of nostalgia and growing up. The film is also considered by many, including himself, to be director Rob Reiner’s best movie. Our young ensemble cast (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell) all give wonderful performances. Everything just comes together perfectly in this coming-of-age story that has a lot of heart as well as sense of danger and intrigue, which at the time made Stand by Me one of the most surprising King adaptations for many fans who were unaware of the connection until after the fact.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.4/10
Stand by Me is streaming on Netflix and Max. It is also available to purchase or rent on Prime Video here.
3. The Shining (1980)
Suggested Book: The Shining
Yes, it is true that King notoriously disliked Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, but I have to say he got that wrong. Watch for the infamous scenes: “Heeeeere’s Johnny,” and luxuriate in the exceptional exploration of isolation, one man’s descent into madness, and the terrifying effect it has on his family.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.7/10
The Shining is streaming on AMC+. It also available to purchase or rent on Prime Video here.
2. The Green Mile (1999)
Suggested Book: The Green Mile
It’s 1935 and John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) is sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two young girls. Awaiting his day on the electric chair, it becomes apparent to the head guard on death row, played by Tom Hanks, that Coffey has an extraordinary gift, and he just may be one of God’s true miracles. While The Green Mile is ostensibly a hard-floor prison drama, you will find it far more spiritually and magically inclined, and Duncan delivers perhaps the most devastating performance in any Stephen King movie adaptation ever.
One note that might surprise you; insane as it may be, The Green Mile didn’t win a single Oscar. And if you’ve never watched this film, just a word of warning, you will cry. As Jesse Plemons says in Game Night, “I assume everyone cried during The Green Mile.”
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.9/10
The Green Mile is streaming on AMC+ here. And it’s available for purchase or rental on Prime Video here.
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Suggested Book: Different Seasons: Four Novellas
Not only is The Shawshank Redemption the best Stephen King movie adaptation, but it’s also the best movie of all time. With very good reason, to this day, The Shawshank Redemption ranks number one among IMDB voters. Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption follows an innocent Andy Dufresne portrayed by Tim Robbins, who is sentenced to life in prison. While there, he forms a close friendship with fellow prisoner Red (Morgan Freeman) over the years and never loses hope of escaping his prison cell.
With seven Oscar nominations (losing out in the Best Picture category to Forrest Gump), The Shawshank Redemption cemented Stephen King as more than just the King of Horror. The movie was added to the National Film Registry in 2015.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 9.6/10
The Shawshank Redemption is streaming on AMC+ here. And it’s available for purchase or rental on Prime Video here.
The Final Word: “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
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Looking for a great gift for the Stephen King fan in your life, or maybe for yourself, here are a few recommendations:
You can pre-order Stephen King’s upcoming novel, Never Flinch, here.
The perfect King of Horror film collection for your viewing library can be found here.
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