Top 5 Stephen King Movie Adaptations

Stephen King is one of the best authors of all-time, period! He has revolutionised the horror genre with his signature style of creating these lived in worlds, populated with amazing characters and poignant themes to complement the horror, suspense and drama of his stories. Over the past five decades, we have received a number of amazing Stephen King adaptations that have brought King's works to life, bringing massive success to film adaptations of novels. Today, celebrating the new release of 'Cat's Eye' as part of Studio Canal's 'Classics Remastered Collection' and the upcoming release of Universal's 'Firestarter' to physical media in August, I thought it would be a great time to highlight some of the best adaptations of King's works. These are my picks and I know there are plenty of others that could also make this list also. So let's get stuck in, here are my top 5 Stephen King horror movie adaptations.  

Firestarter (2022) - When it was announced that there would be a remake of the 1984s Firestarter, based on King's classic novel, I was excited. I am not usually a fan of remakes, but due to the fact that the 1984 adaptation wasn't that great, I was all for it. Director Keith Thomas (2019s The Vigil), does a great job at bringing the source material to life, focussing on the nuance of the relationship between Charlie (played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong) and her father Andy (played by Zac Efron). Their relationship is the focal point of the film and provides the audience with the heart and soul they can latch onto. The film is masterfully directed as well, with Thomas proving once again that he understands the supernatural by highlighting Charlie's powers and what she is capable of. The film is also topped off with a masterful film score by the legendary horror icon John Carpenter (who will appear later in the list), filled with synthe and ominous tones. This is a must watch for all King fans. 

Buy Firestarter on DVD or Blu-ray here!

Cat's Eye (1985) - Another recent release on physical media, Lewis Teague's 1985 horror anthology, that tells three tales of horror and suspense all linked together by a stray cat. This film is an absolute blast and still stands the test of time, with three anthology tales that are truly unique and way ahead of their time. The stand out piece in this anthology is the 'Quitters Inc.' segment starring James Woods. The segment is elevated by Woods' magnetic performance as Dick Morrison, a smoker trying to give up the habit. The segment is filled with twists and turns that kept me at the edge of my seat and for new audience members, I guarantee you will feel the same. The anthology in general is one of the best to ever be put to film and 'Cat's Eye' is a must-watch for King and horror-fans alike. 

Buy Cat's Eye on DVD or Blu-ray here!

Christine (1983) - John Carpenter's 1983 horror adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name, 'Christine', is one of the most fun and insane horror films of the 1980s and that's saying something. The film is expertly crafted by Carpenter, bringing his signature style of horror to the film, whilst also keeping King's novel in-tact, which is something that's hard to do. The film never over explains its villain, the car is alive, its evil and its deadly and that is all that matters. The production design and visual trickery on display here as well, is utterly amazing. you can thorough making-of featurettes on the 4K UHD edition of this film, that showcase the skill and craftsmanship on display when constructing this film. The film is also topped off by yet another killer score from the director himself, John Carpenter bringing his signature musical style to the film as well. 

Buy Christine on DVD here!

The Shining (1980) - A heavily debated topic among King fans for decades now, has been whether or not Kubrick's film adaptation of the material is superior to King's classic novel and in my opinion, it is. Kubrick takes liberties with the material for sure, omitting elements of the story and changing the ending of the film to be a more nuanced piece. I believe Kubrick helps improve upon King's book, by adding visual flair and additional tension to the film, which elevates the characters and the film's final act. Kubrick's style helps cement 'The Shining' as a film classic. The film's legacy is felt throughout most of Hollywood, with nearly every horror film that came after 'the Shining' taking direct influence from the film in some way or another. It is a classic and looks stunning in re-mastered 4K UHD. No matter where you sit in the argument of King vs Kubrick's 'The Shining', there is still something to appreciate here. Also a special shout out to Mike Flangan's 2019 sequel, 'Doctor Sleep', which is also fantastic, acting as both a sequel to Kubrick and King's version of 'The Shining', balancing both beautifully. 

Buy The Shining on DVD or Blu-ray here!

It: Chapter 1 & 2 (2017 & 2019) - In 1990 we got our first taste of what an adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel 'It' could look like, with the TV miniseries event 'It' directed by Tommy Lee Wallace. This made-for TV event was split up into two parts, but ultimately suffered under the weight of the massive narrative it was telling. In 2017, director Andy Muschietti brought his vision of the classic material to life, with 'It'. The film upped the scares, taking influences from the hugely popular 'Stranger Things' and making it his own. The film is a complete story in itself, telling the tale of 'The Loser's Club' first encounter with the supernatural being 'Pennywise' in the town of Derry during the 1980s. Muschietti then followed this up with 'IT: Chapter 2' in 2019, concluding the story with the loser's club all grown up, 27 years later. This worked in spades for the film, allowing it time to breathe and telling the story in a complete narrative. The casting was on point with Jaiden Martell as young Bill, James McAvoy as older Bill, Finn Wolfhard as Richie and Bill Hader as older Richie being the two major standouts. Bill Skarsgard steals the show though as the menacing 'Pennywise', who is terrifying to say the least. It will be hard for any other actor to top this performance if they ever do adapt it again. These films are fantastic and are must-watches for King and horror fans alike. 

Buy Stephen King's IT Chapter 1 or 2 here!

Stephen King has a plethora of horror films that could have made this list, but the above five are my picks. King's work is so complex, so audacious that when the right adaptation of his works comes along, you just have to appreciate the fact someone understood his vision and could adapt it to the big screen. I hope for many future adaptations of King's work. But for the meantime, I am happy to just go back and watch 'The Shining' for the hundredth time. You can pick up your copies of these titles today from your local Sanity or online.

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here