When you think about masters of horror, there are a few names that some up: Clive Barker, Wes Craven, and more. However, if you ask 100 people to name a writer of horror, every single person will mention Stephen King, without fail. Since 1976, his novels and novellas have appeared on the big screen, year after year. That's over 50 years of King's work being in the spotlight.
His work has been adapted for movies, television series, and mini-series. With It: Chapter 2, Pet Semetary, and Doctor Sleep being the next ones to come out, in 2019, we're taking a look at all of the films based on the author's works and ranking them according to their score on IMDb.
Mini-series and television series will not be included nor are sequels that don't have stories based on King's work--sorry, Children of the Corn franchise, but your sequels are hot garbage anyway. Believe it or not, there are more than 50 films, so click to the right to get started.
If you want to skip ahead to the top 10, click here.
50. Trucks (1997)
Much like King's film Maximum Overdrive, Trucks tells the story of automobiles coming to life and killing people. This was the second time King's 1973 short story "Trucks" was adapted into a film.
IMDb rating: 3.9
49. The Mangler (1995)
A machine that folds laundry becomes possessed by a demon, and it goes on a killing spree. The film is based on a 1972 short story of the same name, which was later included in King's 1978 collection Night Shift.
IMDb rating: 4.0
48. Cell (2016)
A phone signal plunges the world into chaos, and a man traverses the apocalyptic landscape in order to reunite with his son. The movie is based on King's 2006 novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 4.3
47. Graveyard Shift (1990)
An old mill becomes infested with rats, and the employees discover something horrifying hidden in the basement. The short story the film is based on came out in 1970.
IMDb rating: 4.8
46. Quicksilver Highway (1997)
Quicksilver Highway contains two one-hour stories. One of those stories is based on King's 1992 short story "Chattery Teeth."
IMDb rating: 4.9
45. Mercy (2014)
A mother and her two children are tasked with taking care of their grandmother, who has mystical powers. Mercy is based on the 1984 short story "Gramma," which was later included in King's collection Skeleton Crew.
IMDb rating: 5.0
44. Sleepwalkers (1992)
A couple of werecats, who are apparently mother and son, head to a small town to find a virgin to feed on. Sleepwalkers was the first original feature written by King for the big screen.
IMDb rating: 5.2
43. Riding the Bullet (2004)
A man hitchhikes to a hospital to visit his dying mother, but he's picked up by a sinister stranger. The movie is based on the novella of the same name. "Riding the Bullet" was King's first ebook.
IMDb rating: 5.2
42. A Good Marriage (2014)
A husband and wife have lived happily together for 25 years, until one day when the wife discovers a sinister secret about the man she married. The film is based on the novella of the same name, which was published in the collection Full Dark, No Stars in 2010.
IMDb rating: 5.2
41. Desperation (2006)
A bad cop arrests a group of people and throws them in jail. They quickly find out there's an evil, supernatural element to the officer. Based on the 1996 novel of same name, this TV movie first appeared on the USA network.
IMDb rating: 5.3
40. Maximum Overdrive (1986)
In Maximum Overdrive, machines--such as semi-trucks with Green Goblin's face attached to the grill--come to life and start killing people. Much like #47 on this list, this film is based on the short story "Trucks." In addition, this is the only film Stephen King directed.
IMDb rating: 5.4
39. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
The Lawnmower Man movie follows a man who is turned into a genius through the usage of computers. The original "Lawnmower Man" short story was first published in 1975. This film is an adaptation in title only, and King famously sued New Line Cinema to have his name removed from the film. When New Line failed to do so for the home video release, the company was found in contempt of court and had to pay King $10,000 a day until it was removed, on top of the $2.5 million in damages the writer received.
IMDb rating: 5.4
38. Dreamcatcher (2003)
A group of friends go camping and slowly come to realize that they're not alone, as parasitic aliens terrorize them. The movie is based on the 2001 novel of the same name. King wrote it while recovering from a 1999 car accident; the author said he does not like the book and wrote it while using Oxycotin.
IMDb rating: 5.5
37. Children of the Corn (1984)
A couple find themselves stranded in a rural town which is home to a cult comprised of kids that kill anyone over the age of 18. King wrote the short story this film is based on back in 1977. The story--which has the same name as the film--was first published in Penthouse.
IMDb rating: 5.6
36. Sometimes They Come Back (1991)
A man returns to his hometown and is haunted by the ghosts of teenagers that bullied him as a child. The movie, which originally aired on CBS, was based on a short story wrote in 1974 of the same name.
IMDb rating: 5.7
35. Thinner (1996)
An overweight attorney is cursed to lose weight, until there's nothing left of him. Thinner is based on a novel of the same name, published in 1984. At the time, King published it under the pen name Richard Bachman, as publishing more than one book a year by a single author was a literary taboo.
IMDb rating: 5.7
34. Dolan's Cadillac (2009)
In Dolan's Cadillac, a man's wife is murdered in Las Vegas by a mobster, and the man seeks revenge. The short story the movie is based on first appeared in King's newsletter in monthly installments during the winter and spring of 1985.
IMDb rating: 5.7
33. Big Driver (2014)
In Big Driver, a novelist is assaulted and left for dead. She goes on a mission to get revenge on her attackers. The novella of the same name was published in King's collection Full Dark, No Stars in 2010. This made-for-TV movie first aired on the Lifetime network.
IMDb rating: 5.7
32. The Dark Tower (2017)
Loosely based on King's series, The Dark Tower follows a gunslinger locked in an eternal battle with the Man in Black. Their war could have dire effects on the real world, destroying everything.
IMDb rating: 5.8
31. The Dark Half (1993)
An author's alter ego wants to take over his life. This story was a response to King's outing as author Richard Bachman, a pseudonym he wrote under. The novel, which shares the same name as the film, was published in 1989.
IMDb rating: 5.9
30. Carrie (2013)
In Carrie, a young girl with telekinetic abilities gets revenge on those who bullied her in school. This is the second adaptation of King's first published novel, also titled Carrie, which was released in 1974.
IMDb rating: 5.9
29. Creepshow 2 (1987)
The Creepshow anthology series contains numerous stories, and King's 1982 short story "The Raft" was adapted for this film.
IMDb rating: 6.0
28. Firestarter (1984)
A telekinetic couple--who received their abilities during a medical experiment--have a child, and she turns out to be able to control fire with her mind. Firestarter is based on the 1980 King novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.0
27. Cujo (1983)
In Cujo, a family's St. Bernard dog contracts rabies and terrorizes a small town. The movie is based on the 1981 novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.0
26. The Night Flier (1997)
In The Night Flier, a reporter is on the trail of a serial killer who travels by plane and is suspected to be a vampire. The short story, which shares the same name, was first published in 1993 in the anthology Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror.
IMDb rating: 6.0
25. Needful Things (1993)
In Needful Things, a new shop opens up in a small town, with something for everyone in town; however, the shop owner requests something different than cash and soon, the whole town is in total chaos. The movie is based on the 1991 novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.2
24. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
The anthology horror film contained an adaptation of King's 1977 short story "The Cat from Hell."
IMDb rating: 6.2
23. Cat's Eye (1985)
Cat's Eye is an anthology of three horror stories. Both "Quitters, Inc." and "The Ledge" are adaptations from King's Night Shift collection. The third story--"General"--was written by King specifically for the movie.
IMDb rating: 6.2
22. 1922 (2017)
Back in 1922, a farmer plans to kill his wife with the help of his teenage son for financial gain. It is based on the novella of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.3
21. Silver Bullet (1985)
A peaceful town is terrorized by a werewolf. Silver Bullet is based on the 1983 novella titled Cycle of the Werewolf.
IMDb rating: 6.4
20. The Running Man (1987)
A man who is wrongfully accused of a crime must compete in a game show where the loser dies. The 1982 novel of the same name was published under King's pseudonym Richard Bachman.
IMDb rating: 6.6
19. Secret Window (2004)
A successful writer is accused of plagiarism by a strange man, while the writer's life falls apart. The novella this movie was based on--Secret Window, Secret Garden--was published in 1990 in Four Past Midnight, which contained a collection of King's stories.
IMDb rating: 6.6
18. Pet Sematary (1989)
A family moves into a new home, which is near a cemetery that can bring the dead back to life. Pet Sematary is based on a 1983 book of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.6
17. Christine (1983)
A boy falls in love with a car he purchased, but the automobile has a supernatural element to it and a jealous streak. The Christine novel was first published in 1983.
IMDb rating: 6.6
16. Apt Pupil (1998)
A boy blackmails an elderly neighbor--who is a World War II criminal--into telling him stories from concentration camps. Apt Pupil is based on a 1982 novella which was published in Different Seasons.
IMDb rating: 6.7
15. 1408 (2007)
An author who specializes in debunking the paranormal spends the night at a hotel filled with terror and the supernatural. The short story "1408" was included in the 1999 audiobook collection Blood and Stone.
IMDb rating: 6.8
14. Gerald's Game (2017)
In this Netflix original, a husband and wife try to reinvigorate their love life, but when the husband unexpectedly dies, the wife fights for her life, while handcuffed to the bed. Gerald's Game is based on the 1992 King book of the same name.
IMDb rating: 6.8
13. Creepshow (1982)
The anthology movie, Creepshow, features two tales based on King's short stories: "Weeds," also known as "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" published in 1976 and "The Crate," published in 1979. The other stories included in the film were originals by King written specifically for the movie.
IMDb rating: 6.9
12. Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
A man returns home after his friend passes away and remembers his younger years with him, during a time when their lives were changed. The movie is adapted from the stories "Low Men in Yellow Coats" and "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling," which are included in the book Hearts in Atlantis, published in 1999.
IMDb rating: 6.9
11. No Smoking (2007)
A man with an addiction to smoking is offered a way to be cured, but it's through unusual means by a mysterious organization. The movie is based on the short story "Quitters, Inc." from King's 1978 collection Night Shift.
IMDb rating: 7.1
10. The Dead Zone (1983)
A man wakes up after being in a coma and finds he has psychic abilities. The Dead Zone is based on a 1979 novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 7.2
9. The Mist (2007)
A fog containing monstrous terrors rolls over a town, and residents are trapped inside a grocery store, trying to stay alive. The movie is based on a novella that first appeared in 1980's horror anthology Dark Forces. Currently, a television series based on the story is airing on Spike TV.
IMDb rating: 7.2
8. Carrie (1976)
A bullied girl releases telekinetic terror on her abusers during prom. This is the first adaptation of King's novel, which was released in 1974.
IMDb rating: 7.4
7. Dolores Claiborne (1995)
A reporter travels to a small town where her mother was arrested for murder, and while talking to her, she learns of traumatic secrets from her past she had previously blocked out. Dolores Claiborne is based on the 1992 novel of the same name.
IMDb rating: 7.4
6. It (2017)
When a young boy goes missing, his older brother and his friends search for him but find something terrifying instead, a being that preys on their fears.
IMDb rating: 7.8
5. Misery (1990)
In Misery, an author crashes his car and is rescued by a fan, who turns out to be a bit too fanatical and won't let him leave. The novel the film is based on was published in 1987.
IMDb rating: 7.8
4. Stand by Me (1986)
Stand by Me is a coming of age story about four boys who find a dead body. This movie is based on the 1982 novella The Body.
IMDb rating: 8.1
3. The Shining (1980)
A family is put in charge of taking care of a hotel during the winter, and the father loses his mind, thanks to supernatural influences. The Shining is an adaptation of King's 1977 novel of the same name. Over the years, he has been very vocal about Stanley Kubrick's film, calling it a poor adaptation.
IMDb rating: 8.4
2. The Green Mile (1999)
Prison guards in charge of death row have their lives changed by an inmate with a supernatural gift who’s accused of murder. The Green Mile is based on King's serial novel, which was published in 1996.
IMDb rating: 8.5
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A man is wrongfully accused of murder and spends his life in prison. This movie is based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
IMDb rating: 9.3
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