20 best Stephen King TV shows and movies, ranked from Carrie to The Shining

With more than 65 novels and over 200 short stories to his name, Stephen King's title as the "King of Horror" might forever remain undisputed. From killer clowns to rabid dogs and blood-soaked prom queens, with many of them set in King's home state of Maine, King is one of the most influential authors in history – having sold more than 350 million copies of his books worldwide.

Including near-perfect horror classics and small, low-budget, made-for-TV fare, King's novels have given us over 50 small and big screen retellings of his stories. As one of the most adapted authors in history, he has certainly kept filmmakers busy over the last 50 years.

In just a few days, Mike Flanagan and Prime Video will be helming a new take on King's debut novel, Carrie, which has already had quite a few adaptations in its time. And with that, we thought it was just about the right time to comb through King's adaptation catalogue to decide which ones come out on top.

Of course, there wasn't space for every bizarre and brilliant adaptation on this list – with the likes of Creepshow, 1922 and more just narrowly missing out – but to find out which 20 we think are worth your time, read on.

20. Cujo

What better way to kick off this list than with a terrifying yet equally heartbreaking tale of a rabid dog who terrorises its family? This 1983 adaptation of King's tenth published novel, Cujo, was directed by Lewis Teague, and remains an authentically scary adaptation – with the very plausible potentials of its premise making it all the more horrifying. The story follows the titular Cujo, a Saint Bernard, after the poor canine is bitten by a rabid bat, and soon begins something of a reign of terror on his family, the Trentons.

Only last year, Netflix announced they were developing a new adaptation of Cujo, with Darren Aronofsky currently in talks to direct – but with King himself labelling the '83 adaptation as one of his favourites, calling it "terrific" in an interview with Rolling Stone, this feels like the best place to start.

Watch it on: Buy or rent on Prime Video or Apple TV

19. Under the Dome

Based on King's 48th novel, Under the Dome breaks away from King's usual attraction to the horror genre. Instead, the tale is billed as something of a sci-fi, following the events that occur after a small town in Maine suddenly becomes cut off from the outside world when a large, spherical, transparent dome mysteriously encapsulates the entire city, trapping its residents inside.

The TV adaptation of the book, which ran for three seasons, proved a huge success for its network, with its pilot episode attracting over 13 million viewers. Executively produced by Stephen Spielberg, the series is an eerie, hugely claustrophobic watch – and, while eventually diverting pretty far from its source material, still holds up as quite the healthy adaptation.

Watch it on: Buy or rent on Prime Video or Apple TV

18. Lisey's Story

The idea for King's 55th novel first came to him amid a stint in hospital, during which time his wife Tabitha decided to redesign his studio in their home. When returning from hospital, King imagined what his space might look like after his death – and thus Lisey's Story was born. Oscar winner Julianne Moore stars in the Apple TV adaptation of the novel as the titular Lisey Landon, a grieving widow who stumbles across a cryptic treasure hunt that her late author husband Scott Landon left behind for her, an event that soon leads Lisey into a series of disturbing events.

With buckets of suspense, great production value and an expectedly brilliant performance from Moore, alongside the likes of Clive Owen and Dane DeHaan, the series remains quite the hidden gem, and though it may have attracted some minor criticism for its pacing, Lisey's Story is certainly an accurate and worthwhile adaptation of one of King's very favourite tales.

Watch it on: Stream on Apple TV

17. Christine

If you don't picture a red Plymouth Fury when you hear the name Christine – can you really even call yourself a horror fan? The iconic '80s adaptation of one of King's most outlandish novels was directed by horror auteur John Carpenter (otherwise best known for creating the Halloween franchise), and has understandably become something of a cult classic since its release.

If you needed a reminder, the story follows teenager Arnie Cunningham, whose life takes something of a sinister turn after he buys a sentient car called Christine, which soon reveals itself to have a mind of its own – oh, and the occasional murderous tendency. Though completely bizarre in its premise, Carpenter's adaptation of Christine is stylish and sharp – with turns for Keith Gordon, Alexandra Paul, John Stockwell and Harry Dean Stanton proving memorable.

Watch it on: Buy or rent on Prime Video or Apple TV

16. The Institute

The most recent adaptation on this list so far, The Institute stars Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old telekinetic boy who wakes up to find himself held captive in a mysterious facility that houses children with special abilities. Of course, though, not everything is as it seems in this place, and Luke is soon caught in some of the institute's darkest secrets.

Directed by Jack Bender of Game of Thrones and Lost fame, the eight-episode series is quick, serviceable fun that proves surprisingly addictive, despite its occasional clunkiness.

Watch it on: Stream on MGM+

15. The Dead Zone

David Cronenberg helmed this 1983 adaptation of King's seventh novel The Dead Zone, which stars Christopher Walken as school teacher Johnny Smith, who awakens from a coma after being involved in a serious car crash to discover that he has psychic abilities. From here, Johnny's life spirals into a world of crime solving – eventually culminating in him having to decide whether to assassinate a political figure who he believes could kickstart a nuclear war.

Blending multiple different genres, from fantasy and sci-fi to horror and drama, the adaptation is an immersive, unnerving watch that has successfully managed to stand the test of time in the multiple decades since its release.

Watch it on: Buy or rent on Prime Video or Apple TV

14. 1408

John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson appear in the first – and fairly lesser-known – hotel-based adaptation on this list. Adapted from King's 1999 short story of the same name, 1408 introduces us to Mike Enslin (Cusack), the author of a successful book series about supernatural events – who doesn't actually believe in the supernatural. Enslin arrives at the The Dolphin Hotel, where he is told not to enter room 1408. Of course, being the sceptic that he is, Mike decides to stay a night in the room anyway – and quickly discovers that maybe the supernatural isn't so fake, after all.

With twists and turns aplenty, 1408 is a riotous and genuinely scary little horror film that won't leave its audience bored for a moment. Plus, it's always nice to see Sam Jackson show up, isn't it?

Watch it on: Stream on Lionsgate+

13. The Mist (2007)

According to King himself, anyone who spoils the ending of the 2007 film adaptation of his novella The Mist should be severely punished. Instead, what we'll do is implore any King fan to watch this psychologically intense creature feature. The story is simple but effective, following a small group of people in Bridgton, Maine who become trapped in a supermarket after a mysterious mist, and some Lovecraftian monsters, invade their town.

Starring the likes of Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden and Laurie Holden, among others, what remains most interesting about The Mist isn't its monsters – instead, it's the film's analysis of how human beings react under extreme circumstances. Oh, and those gut-wrenching final scenes, of course...

Watch it on: Currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer, as well as Lionsgate+

12. Castle Rock

Now, Castle Rock isn't quite an adaptation of a Stephen King novel itself – but it is set on and based in Stephen King's Maine multiverse – so we think it counts. Something of an anthology series, the first season of Castle Rock follows a lawyer named Henry Deaver (André Holland), who is pulled into a mystery surrounding a young man (played by Bill Skarsgård) who only speaks Henry's name. The second – and arguably superior – season switches its focus to a young Annie Wilkes (yes, that Annie Wilkes, this time played by Mean Girls's Lizzy Caplan), and offers something of an origin story for the iconic villain.

Enigmatic, impressive and full of more Easter eggs than you could shake a stick at, Castle Rock is well worth a watch for the Constant Readers out there.

Watch it on: Buy or rent on Prime Video or Apple TV

11. Dolores Claiborne

The first of two entries on this list to feature Kathy Bates (more on that later), Dolores Claiborne stars the Oscar winner as the titular Dolores, a housekeeper working for the wealthy Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt) – until she dies, that is. When Dolores is accused of committing the murder, her estranged daughter Selena (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh) returns to visit her mother – leading to a some far darker secrets surfacing.

Featuring some stunning cinematography and a handful of powerful performances from the likes of Bates and Leigh, the film might not be as fearsome as some others on this list, but it still remains both an absorbing and emotionally affecting watch.

Watch it on: Stream on HBO Max or NOW TV

10. Gerald's Game

Watching a woman handcuffed to a bed for 103 minutes might not sound like the most enthralling premise at first glance, but Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Gerald's Game holds up both as a great film and a faithful take on its source material. Carla Gugino gives a career-best performance as Jessie Burlingame, a woman who ends up chained to a four-poster bed in a remote lake house after her detestable husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) dies from a heart attack right in front of her. Beginning to realise that she may never escape, Jessie soon finds herself confronting all sorts of disturbing memories as she desperately tries to keep herself alive.

Though a film adaptation of Gerald's Game was long considered to be unfilmable for its relatively centralised premise and deep dives into the psychology of its protagonist, what Flanagan manages to do within these boundaries is nothing short of masterful.

Watch it on: Stream on Netflix

9. Pet Sematary (1989)

The first of two adaptations of King's novel Pet Sematary, and several spin-offs, is undoubtedly the superior one, with one of King's most unique stories at its core. Directed by Mary Lambert, with King himself writing the screenplay, we follow the Creed family who move to a brand-new home that is unfortunately positioned just beside a busy freeway. After the death of their cat Church, the family soon realise that a local pet cemetery is capable of bringing the dead back to life. But that's just the beginning of the chaos for the Creeds.

Though perhaps not the most glossy adaptation of its source, Pet Sematary has managed to hold up as something of a cult classic in the years since its formation, with its campy, uncanny tone and some very memorable performances (Andrew Hubatsek as Zelda and Miko Hughes as Gage, to name just two) proving particularly effective.

Watch it on: Stream free on YouTube

8. The Outsider

Released just two years after the book's publication, HBO's take on The Outsider is likely the best television adaptation of a King novel. With a cast including the likes of Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, and Jason Bateman, the series is something of a crime drama. After an 11-year-old boy's corpse is found in a park, all signs point to Little League coach Terry Maitland, as the killer. But, in usual King fashion, it seems that supernatural forces might also be at play...

Dark, grisly and extremely unsettling, The Outsider is an elegantly written adaptation with no shortage of suspense.

Watch it on: Stream on HBO Max

7. IT and IT Chapter 2

Just a year after playing The Kid in Castle Rock, Bill Skarsgård returned to the world of Stephen King for his best character yet – the evil, dancing clown from outer space – Pennywise in the 2017 and 2019 adaptations of IT. While the story is technically split into two separate parts, it feels incomplete without both viewings, which is why we've chosen to group them as one for this list.

IT hardly needs any introduction, with the first part telling the tale of The Losers Club, a group of kids from Derry, Maine, who discover that a sequence of child disappearances can actually be traced back to a supernatural entity that terrorises its victims. The second part follows that same group of 'Losers' 27 years later, as they return back to their hometown in hopes of eradicating Pennywise for good.

With a star studded cast including the likes of Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis and more, the film perfectly captures the essence of its novel while also removing some of the stranger, more unadaptable parts of its story. And though the late, great Tim Curry put a creepy spin on Pennywise in the '90s TV miniseries adaptation, Skarsgård's take on the infamous child-killing clown is nothing short of iconic.

Watch it on: Stream on HBO Max

6. Stand By Me

Rob Reiner was behind this beloved screen adaptation of King's 1982 novella The Body. Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell star as four teenage boys who set out to find the dead body of their missing classmate, with the film charting the boys' journey and discovery of both themselves and each other.

Nominated for best screenplay at the 1987 Oscars, Stand By Me is a timeless, heartfelt coming-of-age story that has long been hailed as a classic – with King himself even saying that the film left him "emotionally wrecked" in an essay for the New York Times, he wrote: "When the movie was over, I thanked Rob and surprised the hell out of myself by giving him a hug. I’m not ordinarily a hugging man, and I don’t think he was used to getting them. He stiffened, muttered something about being glad I liked it, and we both stepped away." That's a 'yes' from him, then.

Watch it on: Stream on NOW TV

5. The Green Mile

Maybe the most heartbreaking film on this list, The Green Mile tells the story of death row inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), an enigmatic new prisoner who begins to exhibit some supernatural behaviour. When prison guard Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is given the task of watching over and eventually executing Coffey, the truth about his apparent crime begins to surface.

Directed by Frank Darabont, who also helmed other King adaptations The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist, The Green Mile was nominated for four Oscars (including best picture, best supporting actor, best sound and best adapted screenplay), though it's Duncan who really makes this film shine, with his portrayal as the gentle giant John Coffey just as magical as the character himself.

Watch it on: Stream on NOW TV

4. The Shawshank Redemption

Often cited as one of the best films of all time, there's no way this list could exclude The Shawshank Redemption. Based on King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the film tells the tale of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life imprisonment in Shawshank State Penitentiary for a crime he claims he didn't commit. There, he meets Ellis "Red" Redding (an exceptional Morgan Freeman), with whom he becomes friends, leading to a story of hope and redemption.

Renowned for its powerful portrayal of male friendship, its brilliant acting and moving story, The Shawshank Redemption remains not only an astonishing adaptation of one of King's most poignant works, but also a wonderful film in its own right.

Watch it on: Stream on HBO Max

3. Carrie (1976)

While there have been several adaptations of King's first published novel, Carrie, with the latest on the way in just the next couple of days, it's Brian De Palma's 1976 film that might always remain the finest. Carrie White is a shy teenager who is relentlessly tormented by a group of bullies in her school, and at home lives with her abusive and fanatically religious mother Margaret (Piper Laurie). When Carrie begins to show signs of telekinesis, her bullies quickly realise that they've been picking on the wrong girl.

Starring acting legend Sissy Spacek in her most iconic, career-defining role as the titular prom queen, Carrie is a haunting and masterful exploration of teenage girl life that not only inspired some of the most popular Halloween costumes ever – but also remains one of the greatest horror films of its time.

Watch it on: Stream on MUBI

The Shining might not be Stephen King's favourite adaptation (in fact, he critiqued it "a maddening, perverse, and disappointing film" in his book Danse Macabre), but there's absolutely no doubt that it's one of the most significant takes on his work. Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of the 1977 novel notably went through several iterations before its eventual release, with King himself having initially written a first draft of the script for Kubrick, who turned it down in favour of filming his own take on the story.

The Shining documents a winter in the life of the Torrance family – made up of Jack (Jack Nicholson), Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and Danny (Danny Lloyd). When recovering alcoholic Jack agrees to take a job as a caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel, accompanied by his family, he soon finds he might be descending into madness – and it looks like the Overlook might be to blame.

Featuring some of the most iconic lines in cinema history, from "Here's Johnny!" to "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", The Shining is a disturbing and nightmarish visual masterpiece that remains one of the most influential films in its genre – even if it does play around somewhat with the contents of its source material.

Watch it on: Stream on HBO Max and NOW TV

1. Misery

As one of the finest book-to-screen adaptations of all time, it's the 1990 adaptation of Misery that has come out on top of this list – and with King himself believing that the film outshines its source material, there's no wonder why. Directed by Rob Reiner post-Stand By Me, Misery proves that it's not always gore, guts and monsters that can make a horror film truly nail-biting – in fact, sometimes you all you need is a good story and some seriously unnerving performances.

The story is masterfully simple, yet incredibly effective. Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a famous novelist who is behind a series of books featuring a character named Misery Chastain. On the way home, after completing his manuscript of the final book of the series, Paul is caught in a blizzard and crashes his car. When he wakes up, he finds himself bedridden in the home of Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates, who deservedly took home the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role), a nurse and obsessive fan of his work, who Paul quickly realises is actually holding him captive.

Faithful to its source material, perfectly cast and brilliantly brutal, Misery balances violence, tension and the occasional shadow of dark comedy in a way that will stay etched in your brain for days after watching – and though we might not go as far as to say it's better than the book, it sure comes close.

Watch it on: Stream on MGM+

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