I love a movie. All kinds. And one guy who has been the source of many is Stephen King. He cranks out all those books, and then the movies seem to follow.
Well. Apparently, good old Stevie likes some of these and doesn’t like some of these. The acclaimed author has been very vocal over the years on the many adaptations of his books.
One cannot say enough about Stephen King’s prowess as an author. But here is the thing. Some of the film adaptations of his works have left a lot to be desired. And, as it happens, King knows this better than anyone.
The author has been candid over the years about which movies nailed the spirit of his work, and which ones completely missed the point. So, here are five King movie adaptations he’s openly praised, and five he had no problem criticizing.
1. Good Review: Stand by Me (1986)
2. Good Review: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
3. Good Review: Misery (1990)
4. Good Review: The Green Mile (1999)
5. Good Review: The Mist (2007)
6. Bad Review: The Shining (1980)
7. Bad Review: The Lawnmower Man (1992)
8. Bad Review: Maximum Overdrive (1986)
9. Bad Review: Firestarter (1984)
10. Bad Review: The Dark Tower (2017)
Good Review: Stand by Me (1986)
This one might be the gold standard. Adapted from King’s novella The Body, Stand by Me is famously one of his personal favorites. It’s emotional and deeply human, with King saying that he was genuinely moved after seeing it for the first time. There’s something about the sense of grief and fleeting youth that hits the heart stronger than any killer clown.
Good Review: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Another non-horror win. King has repeatedly said he loves Shawshank, and honestly, who doesn’t? Frank Darabont did the adaptation. He turned King’s short novella into one of the most beloved films of all time.
Good Review: Misery (1990)
If there’s one thing King will always praise here, it’s Kathy Bates. Her portrayal of Annie Wilkes terrified him. Oh heckins. She was so good in this. Misery sticks closely to the book’s core tension and nails the psychological horror without going off the rails. King has called it one of the adaptations that truly understood his work.
Good Review: The Green Mile (1999)
Another Darabont success. King even visited the set of The Green Mile (including sitting in the electric chair, which he later described as deeply unsettling). It is one of the most faithful big-screen versions of his work.
Good Review: The Mist (2007)
Here’s the crazy one in my opinion. King has said the movie’s ending is better than the one he wrote. That bleak, soul-crushing finale was Darabont’s idea, and King has often praised it. It’s rare for an author to admit an adaptation improved their story, but The Mist earned it.
Bad Review: The Shining (1980)
King has been very clear about this. He thinks Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a beautiful movie and a bad adaptation. His biggest issue is that Jack Torrance starts out unhinged instead of slowly unraveling, which guts the tragedy at the heart of the book.
Bad Review: The Lawnmower Man (1992)
This one made King vocally angry. The movie has almost nothing to do with his short story (which involves a goat-man worshipping Pan; long story). The result was a sci-fi VR thriller that slapped King’s name on it for marketing. He won the lawsuit and had his name removed.
Bad Review: Maximum Overdrive (1986)
King actually directed this himself, only to later admit that it was a mistake. He’s called it a “moron movie.”
Bad Review: Firestarter (1984)
Despite being fairly close to the source material, King hated how flat this adaptation felt. He once described it as “flavorless.” Even Drew Barrymore couldn’t save it.
Bad Review: The Dark Tower (2017)
Fans were disappointed. King was disappointed. Everyone was disappointed. King has said the PG-13 rating stripped the story of its toughness.
So there they are. My favorites are the top four listed. I have never seen The Mist.
The star of them all might be The Green Mile. It stars a little mouse.
Oh, but The Shawshank Redemption starred a crow.
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“Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.” — Stephen King
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“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” — Stephen King
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“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.” — Terry Pratchett
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