The Best Stephen King Adaptations Aren’t Actually Horror Movies

Stephen King might be a horror icon, but it’s interesting how the best movies based on his books aren’t horror. Not only is he one of the most adapted authors ever, but there are few Stephen King books that haven’t received movie versions. These have varied wildly in quality; The Shining is a masterpiece (though King famously hated it), while Carrie, Misery and The Mist often feature on best of lists. On the flipside, there have been many duds based on his work, including The Mangler, The Dark Tower and King’s only directorial effort Maximum Overdrive.

The issue with adapting King is that most of his books have huge page counts, resulting in a lot of material being cut for the screen version. Bringing his distinct characters and dialogue into live-action is tricky too. The worst movies based on King’s books focused on the scares or gore over characterization, which is often the strength of King’s writing. He might be the King of Horror, but he’s written some great dramas too, which – oddly enough- tend to work best when translated to live-action.

The Best Stephen King Movies Aren’t Horror

These King adaptations are tear-jerking instead of heart-pounding

Arguably the most acclaimed movie adapted from Stephen King’s writing is The Shawshank Redemption, based on the novella of the same name. This Frank Darabont prison drama was nominated for seven Academy Awards (although it didn’t take any home), made Morgan Freeman one of the most in-demand actors in the world, and is considered a genuine classic. That’s why some people are shocked to hear King wrote the original story, since a life-affirming drama about an innocent man sentenced to life imprisonment isn’t in his usual wheelhouse.

While The Green Mile features some supernatural elements, it’s another tear-jerking drama at its core…

The Shawshank Redemption was a slow-burn success, and while not a hit upon release, its reputation only grew over time. Darabont reteamed with King to adapt another prison drama with 1999’s The Green Mile, starring Tom Hanks. While this one features some supernatural elements, it’s another tear-jerking drama at its core, as Hanks’ death row prison guard befriends another innocent man (Michael Clarke Duncan) who has strange gifts. The film stands at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, and while not held in as high regard as its predecessor, it’s a fantastic drama.

Stand By Me from director Rob Reiner is a nostalgic classic based on King’s The Body, and is hailed as one of the best movies about growing up ever made. While more obscure compared to other films cited in this feature, Dolores Claiborne is a powerful, disturbing family drama starring Kathy Bates as a woman accused of killing her husband. The late, great Christopher Plummer co-stars as the dogged detective trying to bring Bates’ Claiborne to justice.

Too Many Stephen King Horror Adaptations Have Been Disappointments

They’ll get Firestarter right someday

Stephen king Children of the corn graveyard shift

The downside to King receiving so many adaptations is that quality control quickly went out the window. Putting the classics or underrated King movies (Cujo, The Night Flier) to one side, there’s an awful lot of mediocre to bad films to wade through. The Children of the Corn franchise is tough work, for instance. Graveyard Shift (1990) is a grimy, unpleasant killer rat movie, Dreamcatcher is one of the wildest, messiest blockbusters ever produced, and 2024’s ‘Salem’s Lot movie was instantly forgotten.

Making a scary movie is tough under the best of conditions, but with some of these adaptations, it felt like the filmmakers were content to just sell it using King’s name. There is no reason adaptations like the original Firestarter or In the Tall Grass shouldn’t have been great, but they felt undercooked by those involved. Even IT: Chapter 2, one of the most anticipated horror films of 2019 following the success of Chapter 1, felt half-baked and struggled to finish the Pennywise saga in a satisfying way.

Theo James looking worried behind the wheel of a car in The Monkey

The Monkey Review: I’ve Never Seen So Many Effectively Creative Kills In A Horror Movie Whose Absurd Comedy Is A Strength & Weakness

The Monkey is the kind of film that’s random enough in its humor and creative in its horror kills that it’s at least an engaging viewing experience.

Out of the dozens of adaptations of Stephen King’s novels, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s just strange that horror – the genre the author has conquered more than any other – is the one that gives filmmakers the most trouble. Still, thanks to the laws of averages, once in a while the horror adaptations produce a genuine gem.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes