The Top 10 Stephen King Movies And The Bottom 5
Some stories refuse to stay on the page, especially when dread, wonder, and small-town secrets get handed to the right director.
Adaptations of the same author can swing wildly, landing as instant classics or as cautionary tales that never quite find their footing.
Great ones capture a mood that lingers after the credits, pairing unforgettable characters with images you cannot shake. Rough ones usually stumble on tone, pacing, or choices that flatten the fear.
Ahead, the top ten picks celebrate the films that nailed the spell, while the bottom five spotlight the misfires that prove even legendary source material needs the right cinematic touch.
Disclaimer: This list is opinion-based and uses Rotten Tomatoes aggregated scores as a guide, not definitive fact or universal consensus about the best and worst Stephen King adaptations.
1. The Long Walk (2025) – 88%
Fresh out of the gate, this 2025 adaptation proves King’s dystopian vision still hits different.
Imagine a competition where stopping means game over, literally, and you’ve got one of the most intense survival stories ever filmed.
Critics praised its raw emotion and commitment to the source material’s bleak atmosphere.
Though it’s brand new, audiences are already calling it a modern classic that captures the psychological horror King does best.
2. Carrie (1976) – 94%
Before superhero origin stories became box office gold, Carrie showed us what happens when telekinetic powers meet teenage trauma.
Director Brian De Palma turned King’s debut novel into a horror masterpiece that launched Spacek to stardom.
That prom scene? Still iconic nearly fifty years later.
With a 94% rating, this film proved King’s words could translate into pure cinematic magic, setting the gold standard for every adaptation that followed.
3. Stand by Me (1986) – 88%
Based on the novella The Body, this coming-of-age gem proves King isn’t just about scares. Four boys searching for a dead body discover friendship, courage, and what it means to grow up in 1950s Oregon.
Rob Reiner crafted something magical here, balancing humor and heartbreak perfectly.
Young stars like River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton delivered performances that still resonate today, making this one of cinema’s most beloved friendship tales.
4. 1922 (2017) – 92%
Netflix struck gold with this slow-burn psychological thriller about a farmer whose dark secret literally comes back to haunt him.
Thomas Jane delivers a career-defining performance as Wilfred James, a man destroyed by guilt and supernatural revenge.
Set in rural Nebraska, the film captures King’s ability to blend human horror with supernatural dread.
5. Gerald’s Game (2017) – 91%
How do you film a woman handcuffed to a bed for two hours and keep it riveting? Director Mike Flanagan figured it out, turning King’s supposedly unfilmable novel into a claustrophobic nightmare.
Carla Gugino gives a powerhouse performance as Jessie, facing inner demons while literally trapped.
That scene with the moonlight man will haunt your dreams forever, proving sometimes the scariest monsters are both real and imagined.
6. Misery (1990) – 87%
Kathy Bates earned her Oscar playing Annie Wilkes, the number one fan you definitely don’t want to meet. When author Paul Sheldon crashes near her isolated home, he discovers fandom can be deadly.
Director Rob Reiner transformed King’s novel into pure psychological terror without relying on supernatural elements.
That sledgehammer scene remains one of cinema’s most wince-inducing moments, proving human monsters are often the scariest.
7. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – 89%
Frequently called the greatest film ever made, this prison drama transcends its horror roots to become something universally inspiring.
Andy Dufresne’s journey from wrongly convicted banker to symbol of hope moved millions worldwide.
Director Frank Darabont extracted every ounce of emotion from King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman created chemistry so perfect that their friendship feels genuinely earned and deeply moving.
8. The Dead Zone (1983) – 89%
Christopher Walken brings his signature intensity to Johnny Smith, a man cursed with psychic visions after waking from a coma.
Director David Cronenberg balanced supernatural thriller elements with genuine human tragedy beautifully.
What makes this adaptation special is its focus on how power corrupts and destroys, even when used for good.
9. Dolores Claiborne (1995) – 86%
Kathy Bates returns to King territory as a housekeeper accused of murder, defending herself with a story spanning decades of abuse and survival.
This underrated gem showcases King’s ability to write complex female characters.
Director Taylor Hackford crafted a Gothic mystery that unfolds like peeling an onion, revealing layers of trauma and strength.
10. It (2017) – 85%
Director Andy Muschietti brought Pennywise back to terrify a new generation, and Bill Skarsgård’s performance became instantly iconic.
Following the Losers Club as kids fighting an ancient evil, this adaptation finally did King’s massive novel justice.
Balancing genuine scares with heartfelt coming-of-age moments, the film became a box office phenomenon.
1. Graveyard Shift (1990) – 0%
When a textile mill’s rat problem turns supernatural, workers discover something monstrous lurking in the basement. Unfortunately, this adaptation deserved to stay buried in the depths it depicts.
Critics savaged everything from the acting to the creature effects, resulting in a rare 0% rating.
Even big King fans struggle to defend this one, which somehow made giant rats boring instead of terrifying. Yikes.
2. Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return (1999) – 0%
By the sixth installment, this franchise had run out of ideas faster than you can say He Who Walks Behind the Rows.
Bringing back Isaac sounded promising on paper but delivered nothing but confusion and boredom.
Critics and audiences agreed this direct-to-video nightmare should’ve stayed in the cornfield.
Poor pacing, nonsensical plot, and zero scares make this one of King’s most embarrassing adaptations, even though he barely participated.
3. Sometimes They Come Back… for More (1998) – 0%
Set in an Antarctic research station, this third installment in the Sometimes They Come Back series forgot what made the original story work.
Demonic possession meets military conspiracy in the messiest way possible.
With acting flatter than the ice sheets surrounding the characters and a plot more confusing than a blizzard, critics showed zero mercy.
4. Children of the Corn: Revelation (2001) – 0%
Moving the creepy children from rural Nebraska to an urban apartment building somehow made them less scary.
This seventh entry proves you can’t just slap King’s name on anything and expect success.
Cheap scares, forgettable characters, and a plot thinner than corn husks earned this adaptation its rightful place in horror’s hall of shame.
5. Firestarter (2022) – 10%
Rebooting the 1984 Drew Barrymore classic seemed like a no-brainer, but this version extinguished any excitement faster than Charlie can ignite flames.
Despite a talented cast including Zac Efron, the film never catches fire. Critics roasted the bland direction and wasted potential of King’s pyrokinetic thriller.
When your movie about spontaneous combustion feels boring, something went seriously wrong in the development process. Just saying.
