America's master of horror Stephen King has penned many a tale of terror, and more than a few of those horrid yarns have made the jump to film. Some were B-list cast-offs, others triple-A features, but all did their best to translate King's words into images that are just as terrifying.
King films have been haunting filmgoers' nightmares since the 70s, with dozens of directors and screenwriters — some of them among the industry's best — trying their hand at adapting Stephen King's material. With such a wide-reaching group of artists involved, it's natural that some results would be better than others. While some faded into obscurity almost as soon as they premiered, others rank amongst the best in horror.
10 It: Chapter Two
Pennywise captured the cultural imagination in the same way as horror icons like Freddy, Jason, and Michael. It: Chapter Two is a flawed film, admittedly, but it gives audiences a second helping of an absolutely nightmarish character, which is enough to earn it a top listing amongst King's best.
It also offers viewers a rare look at the evolution of its characters by picking up the story years after the conclusion of the original film, packing its new cast with headliners. It's hard to do better than a double dose of murder clown.
9 1408
The Dolphin Hotel may not be the Overlook, but it's a nonetheless excellent addition to the horror canon, crawling with creep factor. John Cusack, playing a writer investigating the hotel in an attempt to disprove its supposed history of hauntings, carries the weight of the narrative on his shoulders. He doesn't drop it.
Where 1408 triumphs is in its ability to cut hard and fast from slow-drip psychological horror to unforgiving jump-scare. It isn't the most original ghost story, but that doesn't keep it from being an effective one. It also manages to be almost as claustrophobia-inducing as King's more famous hotel story, which is an achievement in itself.
8 Creepshow
Anthology films typically suffer from unevenness, as the inclusion of multiple stories leads to oscillations in quality. Creepshow doesn't escape this curse, but even the weakest of the five included pieces is worth a watch, even if they aren't exactly chilling.
Directed by none other than zombie icon George A. Romero, Creepshow features the same playful brand of horror as EC Comics, giving readers some tongue-in-cheek fun, unlike some of King's more serious pieces. The film's a fun look at a different side of the Night of the Living Dead director, and its unusual formatting only sweetens the pot.
7 Dolores Claiborne
Though some may object to the classification of Dolores Claiborne as horror, the film paints an even more unsettling picture than some of those packed with more conventional monsters. Most of Stephen King's novels have real thematic weight to them and don't shy away from complex issues, but many adaptations fail to carry these themes forward successfully.
Dolores Claiborne manages to nail the themes of the literary original while at the same time carving out a unique space for itself. For this fact and for its uncanny ability to put audiences on the back foot, Claiborne deserves more appreciation than it often receives.
6 The Dead Zone
In the field of horror, director David Cronenberg is far more famous for legendary body horror pieces like The Fly and Videodrome, but he's also the mastermind behind the underrated classic The Dead Zone. Christopher Walken as future-reading Johnny Smith and Martin Sheen as cold-blooded senatorial candidate Greg Stillson are perfect compliments to one another.
The Dead Zone is another King adaptation that some critics may not file under horror, but those that appreciate its sinister themes and Sheen's icy performance know exactly what kind of monster lurks within it.
5 The Mist
The Mist has many laudable points, but without question, the best thing about it is Frank Darabont. The director behind The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption and the developer of The Walking Dead, Darabont's ability to expose both the heart and the ugliness of humanity is uncanny.
It's hard to imagine another director in his stead. The Mist may not be the greatest King adaptation, or even Darabont's greatest King adaptation, but it arguably has the best ending of any of them. Few horror films come anywhere near the crushing power of its finale, making it more than worth the journey to that point.
4 It (2017)
It is about small-town life, the power of misfit friendships, and one of the most horrifying clowns in existence. One could applaud its solid direction and even better casting, its writing, its pacing, and just about any other aspect of the film, but all one really needs to applaud is Pennywise.
Bill Skarsgard's voice, mannerism, makeup, and costume combine to shattering effect. Sewers and storm drains will be forever frightening thanks to the opening of this film. Horror cinema has offered up a lot of killer clowns over the years, but few linger in the imagination like Pennywise.
3 Misery
Almost every artist wants enthusiastic fans. No artist wants fans as enthusiastic as Kathy Bates's character in Misery. When it comes to bare-bones plots, there are few horror films as stripped down as Misery and its story of what happens when a writer falls into the grips of their biggest fan.
It's a psychological horror film that uses violence sparingly, letting viewers marinate in dread, only to shock them awake when violence finally does come knocking. Extraordinary performances from its leads, particularly Bates, easily make Misery one of King's most unforgettable and traumatizing adaptations.
2 The Shining
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Stanley Kubrick, and The Overlook Hotel are the perfect recipe for horror. The most famous example is Nicholson's crazed face shoved into the door he's just driven an ax through, but it's a film packed with iconic imagery.
From the framing of the tricycle sequences to the flood of blood down the corridor, the film is perfectly measured to disorient and terrorize its audience. Its length is a mark against it for some, but The Shining uses every ounce of that time to build an atmosphere of dread as captivating as the Overlook itself.
1 Carrie (1976)
The original 1976 version of Carrie, directed by Brian De Palma, is arguably the greatest Stephen King adaptation of all. De Palma's signature directorial style and penchant for violent imagery is the perfect match for King's spare, visceral writing.
While the later remake of Carrie was well done, it doesn't quite capture the simple ferocity of the original. Nothing prepares viewers for the look in Carrie's eyes when she stands on stage, covered in pig's blood. If a single image sums up the best of King's film adaptations, it's that one.