Stephen King has become one of the most well-known authors of all time, with many of his works adapted for film and TV. General audiences have made titles like It and Carrie notable parts of pop culture. Even his dramatic works, like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, have garnered critical acclaim to become classics. Still, with the variety of films inspired by his novels and shorts, a few gems are bound to slip through the cracks.
I combed through King movie adaptations to highlight great films and underrated gems that are perfect for the author’s audience. However, unlike the absurd number of Children of the Corn sequels, these selections are actually worth watching. Whether through stellar performances or fantastic behind-the-scenes talent, these movies were perfectly crafted but missed by audiences, allowing them to fall into obscurity. Come with me on a journey of discovery, as I excavate these gems, helping them to shine once more.
Why You Should Trust Me: I cover a variety of movie and TV topics, and I’ve been a longtime fan of Stephen King’s work. Carrie was one of the first films to truly terrify me, and I still tout Storm of the Century as one of the best TV miniseries. After publishing hundreds of articles on horror, rating nearly 9,000 titles on Letterboxd, and developing an expertise on King, I find that my biggest challenge is resisting the urge to include too many selections.
‘Hearts in Atlantis’ (2001)
A Fantastic Stephen King Drama That May Not Be for ‘Dark Tower’ Fans
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IMDb Score |
6.9/10 |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
49%/64% |
Watch This If: You enjoy King stories akin to The Green Mile. Mind you, Hearts in Atlantis is not nearly as tragic or graphic, but it focuses on emotional character work with a hint of supernatural storytelling. Anthony Hopkins delivers a stellar performance as a man with psychic powers, but the story focuses on a young Anton Yelchin in a brilliant coming-of-age tale. The adaptation is based on King’s novella The Low Men in Yellow Coats and was penned by legendary screenwriter William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride).
Skip This If: You prefer King’s horror tales. While there is a bit of mystery in Hearts in Atlantis, it’s primarily a drama. The genre and timing of its release may have contributed to its underperformance at the box office. Released on September 28, 2001, with the United States still fresh in the wake of the events of September 11, Hearts in Atlantis might not have been the emotional story most theatergoers were looking for. Die-hard Dark Tower fans may also be upset by changes surrounding Ted Brautigan, but the movie itself is still great as a standalone story.
‘Silver Bullet’ (1985)
Perfect for Lovers of Campy Horror Films
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IMDb Score |
6.4/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
46%/56% |
Watch This If: You love a comedic horror movie. Adapted from King’s Cycle of the Werewolf, the movie sees a paraplegic young boy as the only person to suspect a werewolf is responsible for a series of killings. The story subverts movie tropes of the era, allowing for a distinct protagonist and a mix of violent horror with quirky, often absurd humor. Silver Bullet is a perfect 1980s B-movie.
Skip This If: You prefer a more streamlined tone. Some criticize the shifts between humor and horror as being jarring rather than hallmarks of campy 1980s cinema. If you’re someone who feels the creature design needs to be impeccable, you may also be left wanting, as the werewolf effects are lackluster. Even styrofoam boulders are noticeable at times. Still, those factors can contribute to the movie’s overall schlock nature, making it perfect for the right audience.
‘The Dark Half’ (1993)
A Hidden Gem That Combines the Talents of Horror Legends
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IMDb Score |
6.0/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
55%/42% |
Watch This If: You think the combination of George A. Romero and King’s writing sounds like a must-see. The Dark Half features Timothy Hutton in an absolutely brilliant dual role. He plays the film’s neurotic writer, Thad Beaumont, and murderous alter ego, George Stark, delivering an impressive display of talent that sees him differentiate the characters through physicality. Romero also brings the story to life with an unsettling atmosphere, and the finale is well worth the time investment.
Skip This If: You prefer faster-paced stories. The Dark Half does drag in the second half, making its 122-minute runtime a bit of an endurance test for some. The psychological horror themes may not hit for everyone, as the film focuses on a series of murders, with Roger Ebert going so far as to dub it a “mad slasher” by the end. Even if some thrills miss more than they hit, fans of Romero and King can find perfection in this hidden gem.
‘Dolores Claiborne’ (1995)
A Bold Translation of King’s Novel That Succeeds
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IMDb Score |
7.4/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
87%/82% |
Watch This If: You’re looking for a brilliant display of acting talent and emotional stakes. King’s novel was written as an uninterrupted monologue, with writer Tony Gilroy turning it into a fluid, suspenseful mystery that shows why the story was so captivating. Kathy Bates delivers another stellar performance in King’s work following Misery, and her chemistry with Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays her estranged daughter, is phenomenal. Dolores Claiborne shouldn’t be as obscure as it is, given the impeccable quality on display.
Skip This If: You prefer supernatural elements in your King stories. Dolores Claiborne is a murder mystery, and the narrative uses flashbacks that jump around, which can hinder the pacing for some readers. There are also themes of abuse and trauma that may not be for every audience. The movie deviates from the book in certain respects, such as the husband’s death, which can feel less resonant than the book’s moral complexity.
‘Apt Pupil’ (1998)
Ian McKellen May Never Have Played Magneto Without Director Bryan Singer’s ‘Apt Pupil’
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IMDb Score |
6.7/10 |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
54%/56% |
Watch This If: You’re looking for deeply disturbing character-driven psychological horror. Apt Pupil thrives on Ian McKellen’s performance, with the actor playing a Nazi war criminal, Kurt Dussander, attempting to hide out in a small community. When his teenage neighbor discovers the truth, he blackmails him for stories about the Holocaust, spurring both characters down a dark path of moral decay. McKellen brings a terrifying charisma to the role, with the movie haunting viewers long after it’s over.
Skip This If: Nazis and morally corrupt characters aren’t your thing. McKellen’s chilling portrayal is one thing, but even Brad Renfro’s Todd is a despicable character who isn’t an easy protagonist to follow. The film’s changes may also dissuade fans of King’s book, as it famously altered the ending and omitted major plot points, such as Dussander’s escalating crimes, which played on the idea that murder was addictive.
‘Cat’s Eye’ (1985)
Stephen King Wrote the Underrated Anthology Movie’s Screenplay
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IMDb Score |
6.3/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
69%/54% |
Watch This If: You’re looking for a collection of King shorts in movie form. While the first two stories adapt tales from his 1978 Night Shift collection, the third, with a young Drew Barrymore, is a wholly original story written directly for the movie. It’s a fun viewing experience thanks to a mix of horror and comedy elements, and it’s even loaded with King Easter eggs, like references to Cujo and Christine.
Skip This If: You don’t like anthology movies. Each story in Cat’s Eye offers a unique experience: the first is a satire, the second a harrowing thriller, and the last a fantasy horror. While that variety may appeal to some, those looking for a single story may struggle to adapt to the changing styles. The tonal shifts from thrills to comedic moments may be jarring, and aside from the cat witnessing each story, the connective thread between them is minimal.
‘The Night Flier’ (1997)
One of the Scariest Vampires in Cinema History
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IMDb Score |
6.0/10 |
|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
33%/42% |
Watch This If: You’re looking for an original vampire story. Unlike King’s Salem’s Lot, the vampire in The Night Flier isn’t taking up residence in one spot. Instead, the story sees the evil creature using a plane to fly into rural airports at night, killing everyone there. The movie builds fantastic tension as the plot unfolds through the lens of an amoral reporter looking to capitalize on the story for his career. The ending also provides a dark twist of fate that Mike Flanagan called “phenomenal,” elaborating:
“The Night Flier, I think, is underappreciated, and I think the storytelling is great. The ending is phenomenal. Miguel Ferrer is wonderful in the role, and it just doesn’t get the love it should get.”
Skip This If: You want a protagonist to root for. Miguel Ferrer delivers a great performance as Richard Dees, but he is deeply unlikable. From the very start, he’s constantly self-serving and crosses the line to get the story. His cynical nature and continued moral failings don’t make for an easy character to follow. However, that does speak to Flanagan’s comment, as the ending sees the character getting his comeuppance.
‘1922’ (2017)
A Faithful Adaptation Lost in the Shuffle of Netflix
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IMDb Score |
6.2/10 |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics/Audience Score |
92%/58% |
Watch This If: You’re looking for an extremely faithful adaptation that delivers bleak circumstances akin to Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. Writer and director Zak Hilditch was so meticulous in translating King’s novella to the screen that he even took character dialogue directly from the source. Thomas Jane delivers a career-best performance, capturing Wilfred James’ accent and devolving nature with a chilling presence.
Skip This If: Slower-paced stories aren’t what you’re looking for. 1922 thrives on building psychological tension, with the characters constantly mired in a bleak existence. It won’t be delivering jump scares like other horror films. Instead, 1922 uses slow-burning dread to highlight a character’s undoing, often being an endurance test for those unprepared for the narrative’s relentlessly depressing stakes.
