Top 10 Stephen King Theatrical Releases
Bestselling author Stephen King has had quite a resurgence recently with his novels and short stories being adapted into film and television projects. King is by far the biggest name writing within the horror genre, and he has been a household name since his first three works of fiction received their adaptations for the screen.
With this comeback, I got to thinking about how awesome it is going to be to see his work grace big screens in the next few years and decided to compile a list of my personal Top 10 theatrically released adaptations of his work.
10) The Mist (2007)
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Andre Braugher.
Directed By: Frank Darabont
The Mist tells the story of a small town that becomes shrouded in a dense mist that is home to unspeakable terrors. This film is loved and hated, mostly due to poor CGI. I love this film despite what is an obvious over-use of the CGI; if you haven’t seen, it you should definitely check this one out. I will say that if at all possible you should watch this film in black and white as it makes it a lot more enjoyable. The Mist is based on the novella of the same title.
9) Silver Bullet (1985)
Starring: Gary Busey, Everett McGill, Corey Haim, Megan Follows, Robin Groves, Leon Russom.
Directed By: Dan Attias
This film is a summertime staple in my house along with Jaws. We follow young Marty (Haim) as he uncovers the truth about the brutal murders that are committed throughout his once peaceful hometown of Tarker’s Mills. Marty suspects a monster is roaming around the town and eventually comes face to face with a werewolf while shooting off fireworks on a bridge. This film is fun and cheesy, but it is definitely a classic and worth seeking out if you haven’t seen it. It is based on the novella Cycle of the Werewolf.
https://youtu.be/ER2qYr3nneo
8) Apt Pupil (1998)
Starring: Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, Joshua Jackson, Mickey Cottrell, Ann Dowd, Bruce Davison.
Directed By: Bryan Singer
Todd Bowden (Renfro), has a special interest in World War II, specifically war crimes, and is fascinated by the Nazis. Young Todd has also been following Arthur Denker (McKellen); the boy knows that Mr. Denker is an ex-Nazi war criminal named Kurt Dussander and begins tormenting the man. The film is incredibly compelling, but I have to personally recommend the novella of the same name over it; both are good, but as the saying goes, the book is better.
7) Cujo (1983)
Starring: Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh-Kelly, Danny Pintauro, Ed Lauter, Christopher Stone.
Directed By: Lewis Teague
This film is about a young mother who becomes trapped in her car with her young son by a rabid dog. I won’t lie; this film has its flaws, but I honestly cannot lay the blame for them on the filmmakers. King is my personal favorite writer, but he dropped the ball a bit on this one. Cujo, however, is still a fun movie to throw on and watch on a Saturday while you’re at home cleaning or working on a hobby. If you are interested in reading the source material, I can still recommend it with the caveat that you understand that it does have its issues.
6) Christine (1983)
Starring: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed By: John Carpenter
What can I say about this film that hasn’t been said already? I enjoy the hell out of it. Christine is another summertime film that I watch a few times throughout the course of the season. It is a great coming of age tale with a dark twist to it. Unfortunately, I have not read the novel yet, but I have been told that the source material is way better than the film. I am definitely looking forward to digging into the novel later this summer.
https://youtu.be/O08w8CegEeg
5) Misery (1990)
Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth
Directed By: Rob Reiner
Misery tell the story of a writer who becomes trapped in the home of a fan who takes things a bit too far. The novel of the same name is terrifying, and the film is just as good. Kathy Bates is utterly horrifying in her role and broke her way into pop culture with her portrayal (winning an Oscar to boot). The hobbling scene in this is painful, even for today’s audiences, who may not appreciate the aesthetic of some of these films on this list.
4) The Dead Zone (1983)
Starring: Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst, Nicholas Campbell.
Directed By: David Cronenberg
This film is not just one of the best adaptations of King’s bestselling works, but it is a compelling and emotional film in its own right. Cronenberg brings us a story that is completely believable and transports the viewer into the plot. The performances in the film are tremendous and actually make you feel for the characters. If you haven’t seen this one, what are you waiting for?
3) Carrie (1976)
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, William Katt, John Travolta, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles.
Directed By: Brian De Palma
Carrie is Stephen King’s very first work of fiction in both written word and in film. The film is disturbing and is a starter of one of the biggest clichés in horror: the final jump scare. Carrie tells the story of a high school girl who is tormented at school and goes home to her overbearing mother, who forces a very misguided version of Christianity onto young Carrie. Carrie realizes that she has telepathic powers, and unfortunately a prank at the prom sets her off on a path of destruction that destroys her town in one night. Both the film and the novel are good in their own respective formats, but De Palma brings a stunning vision that makes you want to watch and sucks you in.
2) Pet Sematary (1989)
Starring: Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard, Miko Hughes, Blaze Berdahl.
Directed By: Mary Lambert
Pet Sematary is a film with an engaging story that keeps you entertained no matter what. It tells a great story of a family, but more importantly, it tells the story of a father and husband who will go to any lengths to keep his family. The family moves into a new home that is next to an old Indian burial ground. After tragedy strikes and the young daughter’s cat dies, their neighbor tells Louis (Midkiff) of the power of the burial ground. Unfortunately for them, all is not what it seems afterwards, and when more tragedy befalls the family, it sends Louis on a downward spiral that destroys his family. The source material for this one is even more terrifying in my opinion and is my second favorite novel by the author.
1) The Shining (1980)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers.
Directed By: Stanley Kubrick
There isn’t anything that can be said about this film that hasn’t been said already. Kubrick has given us a classic that has bled into the pop culture in numerous ways. The story is compelling and well-written, following the path of a struggling writer who takes the only job that he can get as a caretaker for the Overlook Hotel. He moves his family into the hotel, and we follow his downward spiral into the chilling third act, one of the most horrifying portions of a film ever committed to the screen. Unfortunately, the author has a negative view on this film and has even remade it as a mini-series in his own vision. The novel of the same name is a terrific read and highly recommended as well.
Categorized:Lists News Retrospectives
