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Stephen King’s vast catalog of novels and stories is almost matched by the many films that have been adapted from his work. From horror to drama, here are 10 of the best Stephen King movies to stream right now.
RELATED: The best horror movies on Netflix in 2021
carrie
King’s first novel became the first film based on his work and remains one of his best. Brian De Palma brings a stunning and confident visual style to King’s story of a sheltered and bullied teenager who just wants to fit in. Sissy Spacek is fantastic as the cute but dangerous main character, whose ultra-religious mother keeps her in hiding. Carrie’s telekinetic powers manifest in the terrifying and emotionally devastating finale at the high school prom, which remains one of King’s greatest moments ever seen on screen.
carrie streams on Amazon Prime Video ($8.99+ per month).
cristina
One master of horror meets another when legendary filmmaker John Carpenter adapts King’s novel about a killer car. Carpenter imbues the 1958 Plymouth Fury with real menace as he slowly takes over the life of bumbling teenager Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon). Arnie becomes more aggressive and violent under the influence of the car, as he lashes out at anyone who challenges or antagonizes him. King and Carpenter turn sunny 1950s pop culture into a sinister indicator of Arnie’s descent into ugly violence.
cristina is streaming on Netflix ($9.99+ per month).
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a horror show
King teams up with horror icon George A. Romero for this anthology of morbidly funny horror stories inspired by old EC comics. King himself wrote the screenplay, with a mix of adaptations and new material. He also gives the most substantial acting performance of his, as a hillbilly who transforms into a plant after being exposed to a meteorite. most of a horror show it’s silly like that, with the ghoulish exaggeration of old comics and a sickly engaging sense of humor.
a horror show is streamed for free through local libraries on Kanopy.
the death zone
Director David Cronenberg takes a dark and bleak tone in his take on one of King’s most pessimistic novels. Christopher Walken stars as Johnny Smith, a meek schoolteacher who awakens from a coma with the power to see into the future. Although he tries to use his visions to help people, Johnny’s predictions are often unwelcome and he becomes more isolated and lonely as he tries to prevent what he sees as a possible apocalypse. Cronenberg and Walken make the film an invigorating experience, turning King’s horror into a haunting tragedy.
the death zone is streaming on HBO Max ($9.99+ per month).
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Dolores Claiborne
Kathy Bates’ second leading role in an adaptation of King is not as well known as her Oscar-winning work in Misery, but it’s another impressive turn as a strong-willed woman. The main character here is not a psychopath like Annie Wilkes, but she is willing to take drastic measures when necessary. Although there is a dual murder mystery in two time periods, this is more of a character study than a thriller, centering on the troubled relationship between Dolores de Bates and her daughter Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh). It’s King’s most down-to-earth and down-to-earth film, directed by Bates in a nuanced and understated performance.
Dolores Claiborne is available for digital purchase ($9.99+) and rental ($2.99+) on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and other digital outlets.
Gerald’s game
Director Mike Flanagan began his current association with King with this adaptation of a novel that many considered impossible to film. Most of the story takes place in the main character’s head, but Flanagan finds clever and disturbing ways to bring those thoughts and feelings to life. Carla Gugino introduces the film as a woman who becomes trapped while handcuffed to a bed during an intimate role-play with her husband, who dies of a heart attack. As she struggles to break free, she reflects on her traumatic past and experiences visions of what may or may not be an intruder.
Gerald’s game is streaming on Netflix ($9.99+ per month).
RELATED: Best Horror Movies on Amazon Prime Video in 2021
That
King’s massive novel was adapted into two films by director Andy Muschietti, but the first part works well as a stand-alone piece, without the somewhat disappointing follow-up. King’s novel alternates between two time periods separated by 27 years, and this film focuses solely on the earlier era, when all seven main characters are children. They band together to save their small town from an evil entity that manifests as Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgård). They forge a bond for life as they face the worst terrors imaginable.
That is streaming on HBO Max ($9.99+ per month).
Life imprisonment
By some metrics, this is the best movie ever made. The period drama set in a Maine prison has been at number one on IMDb’s top 250 list since 2008, and it’s easy to see why it’s loved by a wide range of moviegoers. This is a tender story of hope and friendship, without any of the horror elements that audiences have come to expect from King. It’s an uplifting film filled with cinematic moments that have become iconic, thanks to the talents of filmmaker Frank Darabont and stars Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.
Life imprisonment is streaming on HBO Max ($9.99+ per month) and Netflix ($9.99+ per month).
the glow
King hated Stanley Kubrick’s version of his novel, and the renowned filmmaker takes liberties with the story. But Kubrick creates a masterpiece of his own, a wonder of sustained dread and disorienting scenery. Jack Nicholson is mesmerizingly unhinged as the winter caretaker of the remote and cavernous Overlook Hotel, who goes berserk as he meets with the spirits that inhabit the hotel. He directs his wrath on his wife and his young son, whose supernatural powers are the only safeguard between the family and damnation.
the glow is streaming on HBO Max ($9.99+ per month).
Stay with me
Though the main characters in this nostalgia-infused drama are on a quest to see a corpse, there’s no horror here, just a melancholy longing. Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix and Jerry O’Connell star as four pre-teen friends in 1959, all dealing with their own personal struggles, who come together for a ride filled with warmth, humor and a little bit of danger. Richard Dreyfuss gives the film a bittersweet tone with the narration of him as the adult version of one of his friends, reminiscing about a time he will never forget.
Stay with me is streaming on Netflix ($9.99+ per month).
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