Stephen King’s Best Non-Horror TV Shows, Ranked

Stephen King wasn’t crowned “The King of Horror” for no reason. Most of his books fall under the genre, and they are so good that TV show creators and movie directors keep mining content. Consequently, King has become one of the most adapted authors, second only to the great William Shakespeare in the all-time rankings. However, some of his best books aren’t necessarily horror. Think of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, which both morphed into some of the greatest movies.

The television landscape also has a few Stephen King productions that were adapted from the author’s non-horror works. But no matter which genre they fall into, these shows still embody the suspense and tension that the author is known for. Most importantly, they have compelling stories, mostly because they don’t tweak the author’s vision too much.

So, whether you are a die-hard Stephen King fan or just a dedicated television viewer looking for something good to watch, you can be guaranteed to enjoy these non-horror shows adapted from the King’s literature, as well as one screen-played by the author himself.

4 The Dead Zone (2002 – 2007)

The Dead Zone is the longest-running Stephen King non-horror show. This razor-sharp study on the ever-thorny debate about brain functionality traces the journey of small-town teacher Johnny Smith (Anthony Michael Hall) who regains consciousness six years later after being involved in a car accident. He then begins having strange visions of the past and future triggered by touching things or people, and doctors claim the unused “dead zone” of his brain is making up for the impaired functions of the portions damaged in the accident.

Anthony Michael Hall Gives a Dominant Performance

Less universally known than other stories about people with psychic powers, the show still boasts a biting script and is endowed with a vivid sense of urgency. The series provided a late showcase for Anthony Michael Hall in a role he was born to play (after making a name for himself in John Hughes films); and Nicole de Boet also scores as Johnny’s fiancé, Sarah. Exploring politics, science, and even topics like the Illuminati and Armageddon, the show still packs a major punch, 24 years later.

Stream it on AMC+ or rent it on Apple TV+

3 Under the Dome (2013 – 2015)

Release Date

June 24, 2013

Seasons

3

Under the Dome takes us to the fictional small town of Chester’s Mill, where residents have been cut off from the rest of the world by a dome that has suddenly covered the town. Military forces and the media soon arrive, and as everyone tries to figure out what’s going on, the residents trapped inside try to devise ways to survive with limited resources.

Contains More Flesh Than the Source Material

The show impresses by dwelling on the technical details of survival — finding meals, pairing with like-minded people, protecting children — and allows the suspense to build purely from the characterization. There are no excessive special effects or complicated scientific concepts, just precise storytelling. The series also strays a lot from the source material, but Stephen King wasn’t angry. He felt that this particular creative choice made everything better.

Writing on his website, he admitted that the changes have been “occasioned by the plan to keep the dome in place over Chester’s Mill for months instead of little more than a week, as is the case in the book.”

Stream it on Paramount+

2 11.22.63 (2016)

11.22.63 centers on Jake Epping, a young high school English teacher, who develops a plan to travel back in time and save John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. The Hulu mini-series was based on the 2011 novel 11/22/63 by Stephen King and stars James Franco as Jake Epping. Upon release 11.22.63 received mostly positive reviews.

Release Date

February 15, 2016

Seasons

1

Details about President John F. Kennedy’s assassination continue to fascinate the public, including author Stephen King, who published a novel about the topic. King’s story revolves around divorced school teacher, Jake Epping, who travels back in time to stop the shooter. The novel was eventually adapted into the TV show, 11.22.63, now regarded as one of the finest shows set in the ‘60s.

A Perfect Cocktail of Science and History

Though on screen, the story’s darker themes played less well than in the book, the show is wildly addictive. James Franco shines in his role as Jake Epping, and the brilliant blending of history and science blurs the lines between real and fiction. Instead of simply dwelling on time travel, the show pushes activism buttons by addressing the segregationist climate of the ‘60s, via a plot where the racist Alabama governor, George Wallace goes on to become POTUS.

There are plenty of useful history lessons too, and audiences will learn a lot about underground players, notably Agent Hosty, who investigated the shooter Lee Harvey Oswald before he committed the crime.

Buy it on Amazon or Apple TV+

1 Mr. Mercedes (2017 – 2019)

Release Date

August 9, 2017

Seasons

3

Mr. Mercedes uses what’s essentially a prototype for today’s “CSI” type of television shows. Here, retired detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) is still bothered by the unsolved case of “Mr. Mercedes”, who claimed 16 lives before driving away in a stolen Mercedes. As he is trying to accept and move on, another psychopath emerges and starts taunting him.

A Gripping Detective Tale

This may be one of Stephen King’s bleakest adaptations, but moments of hope and tenderness occasionally burst through the dark clouds. The show is generally distinguished by exquisite photography and a talented supporting cast that never fails to show us the tiniest of wrinkles on their faces. Still, Hodges remains the standout character. With his confidence shaken, and muted by the endless evil he witnesses, he begins to question whether doing good makes sense in a world of such extreme degradation.

Stream it on Peacock