My 10 Favorite Stephen King Film Adaptations (as of 2023)

Mike discusses his 10 favorite Stephen King adaptations ever.
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0:00 Introduction
0:31 Background Info & Prerequisites
1:18 Honorable Mentions
2:58 My Top 10
19:58 Final Thoughts
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#MikesBookReviews #StephenKing #top10

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hi bookworms! Yes, I made a mistake and forgot Gerald's Game. But I thought my realization of that while recording was more fun to just leave it as is. How would you rank the best King films?

[@angelaholmes8888]

Would you ever do a video on your least favorite Stephen king movie adaptations 🤔

[@OrlandoOrtiz570]

Solid list. Of the adaptations I've seen, only 1408 has been a sub par movie. The 90's The Stand adaptation is forgotten and it shouldn't be considering its faithfulness. The Mist has the best ending. Side note: I hope you do some stuff regarding Welcome to Derry a series adaptation on one of the million streaming services. Cheers.

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Do not watch Sleepwalk what’s it called? Too stupid I HATE IT. Incest and morphing?? 🐈 🐈 🐈

[@teksnotdead902]

Stand By Me will forever be my favorite. I grew up watching it way before I even knew Stephen King wrote it. Dolores Claiborne is up there as well. Kathy Bates can do no wrong. Thinner is one I can watch anytime. Props to the tv movie of The Stand, which is the big reason I started reading King novels to begin with because I wanted to know more about all these characters.

[@marcusmusings]

1. Shawshank 2. Green Mile 3. The Shining 4. It, Part One 5. Stand By Me

[@heretic124]

1408 is criminally underrated. It's easily in my top five with how over the top and mindbending it is. Everybody seems to have forgotten about it because it's based on a short story.

[@thomaskittock2866]

It's still on my list to see!

[@heidi6281]

I loved Storm of the Century!! Lemoge was so great!!

[@Jojopeepee]

I was going to write why he didn’t have this on the list. I know that Stephen king made this as a screenplay

[@cathyspiegel6765]

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[@jablkovyStrudel]

Are these bots making commercial for some company?

[@brentasmith]

I'm glad you put the 1990 IT on here. I agree. I know it's for network TV and a little cheesy but it's great in a lot of ways especially Tim Curry. Also Stan and his wife are watching Perfect Strangers and nothing says "product of its time" more than that 😂

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Dr Sleep is DOPE> So is the Kubrick film The Shining. I also liked 11/22/63 with James Franco. Oh, and Needful Things. SHAWSHANK AND gREEN MILE are mos def the best.

[@LifeWithMidori]

My Favorite will always be The Stand mini series/movie. I remember as a kid changing out the vhs cause it was 4 vhs long! Lol I remember reading the book later as a teenager and going," Man, this book is DARK!" ROFL I plan on rereading now that Im an adult. Loved this video! Thank you! 😊

[@unlimitedreads]

Great list, Mike! The Shawshank Redemption is my favourite movie of ALL time and when they play it on TV every now and then, I watch it EVERY single time. I just can't help it lol and it still makes me cry, especially with Brooks 😢

[@veronicaprice]

Dolores Claiborne would make my list. I haven’t seen that movie in years, but I still think about it from time to time. I saw it as a teenager, but now that I’m older and a mom it just hits differently.

[@lesliepowell-mccarty7067]

My Top 10: 1. Stand By Me 2. The Green Mile 3. The Shining 4. It (1990) 5. Misery 6. Silver Bullet 7. Carrie 8. Pet Semetary (89) 9. The Mist 10. Dolores Claiborne I also loved Maximum Overdrive because it was so very bad!

[@teppeiando]

No Shawshank??

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Excellent list! The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie of all time. A bit off topic but I would love to see some more coming of age adaptations. How about Robert McCammon's Boys Life or Dan Simmons Summer of Night? There could even be a more modern adaptation of Something Wicked This Way Comes, that would be very cool if they don't mess it up!

[@angelwalker979]

I've always loved Firestarter. With Drew Barrymore.

[@ryanmartin4669]

Great video! Got into Stephen King Last year and read 3 of his books. But after having a friend recommended this channel to me, it seems like every spare moment is spent reading Stephen King. Thank you Mike for opening that door and for making reading an enjoyable shared experience! Keep the videos coming!

[@LilFoxyCosplay]

The twins are so lovely in person one even went to the uni my dad studied and briefly lectured in

[@KingOfAllDragoons]

Actually , When Cujo gets infected and the attack scenes was someone in a suit. Excellently done

[@rhahnabunaid]

Some of these I haven't seen yet; thanks for the recommendations!

[@BishopWalters12]

My Top 10 1. Shawshank is one of the best made movies in general. 2. IT 1990 is still pretty creepy and I think part 2 with the adults is underrated. 3. The Shining 1980 4. Pet Sematary 1989 5. Carrie from the 70s 6. The Stand 1993 7. Stand by Me 8. Christine 1983 9. Misery 10. The Mist

[@nazimelmardi]

And the adaptation or Dark Tower is still on the table. That’s the best news about King movies. King himself said the best movies are when they are not following 100% his book. Useful Things. Storm of the Century. It. Under the Dome. There are some King adaptations worth mentioning, not bad at all.

[@Thaurnol]

what the hell man, i'm halfway through the video and you've mirrored my opinion one on one! this is why i love you, man! great job!

[@alynam82]

I have nothing to add here - such great selections! IT and Pet Semetary defined my childhood. Ugh, Gage's maniacal laugh still haunts me. I remember reading Needful Things when the movie was released, and I was so excited to see it -- the dude who played Gaunt was chilling! Then I watched it and was soooooo disappointed 😞

[@metalguru74]

Sometimes They Come Back is a movie i can still watch over and over again till this day. It was original then as it is now. The Langoliers was a fun movie as well.

[@CRohrscheib]

When I first saw Shawshank as a kid, I had no idea it was a King Story but it quickly became one of my favorite movies of all time. Also Tim Curry is a bloody legend. Perfect actor for IT. My Dad let me watch it when it was on TV. I was only 5 and I refused to take a bath for a week.

[@bottle1211]

90s IT mini series scared the shit outta me as a kid. It is closer to book as well.

[@JohnPintoTardisOtaku]

My daughter at 10 years old, loves Stand By Me

[@jeffreypryor4549]

One of my favorites that you didn't mention is Silver Bullet, the adaptation to Cycle of the Werewolf. Great movie.

[@adamrasmusson6976]

Finally some King content. 🤴🏼

[@demidrek-heyward]

Thanks Mike!!!

[@AGreenG]

So glad you chose IT 1990!! I like the newer films but the TV series wins for me because it's more faithful, I prefer the kid actors, and Tim Curry is THE best Pennywise.

[@brianedmond7466]

So glad to see Shawshank at the top of the list! It is my favorite movie period and all the elements combined just make it into such a masterpiece. Great video!!

[@MuslimaMatador]

I would have to add the Langoliers😂. Sitting in the corner tearing paper was the running joke in my house growing up.

[@mikecampbell1731]

I say all the time that the langoliers is low key one of the best. I mean yes the acting can be a bit over the top and the cgi mess that was the actual monsters but the story itself is just such a mind fuck

[@jordanelizabethborchert]

Stand By Me is one of my favorites! ❤

[@ThisIsJaysWorld]

10. The Mist 9. IT (Tim Curry version) 8. Carrie 7. Cujo 6. The Dark Half 5. Pet Sematary 4. The Dead Zone 3. The Langoliers 2. Rose Red 1. Storm of the Century

[@Verlopil]

Great list, but I would put The Stand in my top 5. The original one that is. Apparently no one here likes it, but I love it.

[@clm45320]

I love Secret Window. I also love Night Flyer but I knew it wouldn’t make the list lol. Great list though mate, keep making the great content.

[@guidavaranda5262]

Great list, completely agree with practically everything. I would probably try to squeeze needful things in there also, I remember having nightmares involving Max Von Sydow back in the days when it came out….

[@MokurenDojo]

Great list! I’d add The Stand miniseries and my favorite of all them - Storm of the Century.

[@tonilathrop8796]

My favorite King movie is storm of the century. Although, I don’t think it’s an adaptation.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Nope it's not king wrote the script before the book

[@TheJesseGladSaget]

Great list. I would mostly agree, tho I'd have Doctor Sleep a little higher. And you wanna talk about the king of wimped out endings? The Apt Pupil takes that crown by a MILE

[@danostech6927]

The Mist movie ending is f*cked up, I love it.

[@connorjames8807]

2017 IT is one of my favorite movies ever!! Misery is also so good!! (also really enjoyed the Castle Rock show)

[@mariposa9506]

Me too! Entertaining version of Annie! Explained a lot too.

[@michaeltorres2666]

My favorite is definitely the shining, that movie is amazing, as sacrilege as this will be to say, I have the book but haven't read it😅

[@dailycarolina.]

I enjoyed watching Misery the movie more than reading Misery the book. What a performance of both actors .

[@wandaaufderspringe2102]

I love your list!! And so glad to see someone else love thr 1990 IT!! 😍 King adaptations to me are really a hit or miss to me

[@Keystonemidget]

I'm excited about Flannigan working on a dark tower series, would love to see that properly adapted

[@timgorman3645]

I LOVE the 90s The Stand miniseries!

[@dannys8493]

I do love a bit of running man.

[@ptannous27]

IT (1990s) was my favorite adaptation because of the Nostalgia. I watched this on repeat as a early teen (I was disturbed) however I did like the 2017 version a lot as well. Definitely got the tone of the book and also had some freaky parts of the book that the 1990 version didn’t have for obvious budget and technology restraints.

[@JimmyDThing]

The problem with the ending of Doctor Sleep film adaptation is that it makes zero sense for Dan to die.

[@bottle1211]

89 Pet Semetary was very good.

[@tjo25]

Was re-reading The Drawing of the Three and there's even a mention of the Stanley Kubric Shining in the book. Clever nib that I didn't catch the first time reading through.

[@Kite562bookishreviews]

My favorite King adaptations 1. Salems lot 1979 mini series 2. Rose Red 2002 mini series 3. It 1990 mini series 4. The Shining 1997 mini series 5. The Green Mile 6. Pet Sematary 1989 film 7. The Mist film 8. Cujo film Not every King film or mini series is everybodies cup of tea and that's okay! 😊 I've only seen 8 King adaptations in my life but I'm slowly but steadily making my way through Kings long list of novels. 😊❤📚

[@gavvo-7640]

Carrie (1976) has always been my number 1 horror movie of all time. It is just perfection in every way, the acting, the score, the cinematography... and the downright sadness it invokes in me everytime I watch it. I am in the minority here but... 1984's Children Of The Corn is also in my top 10 SK horror adaptions, along with 1979's Salem's Lot.

[@bottle1211]

I think Silver Bullet should be at least an honorable mention.

[@nickravera4069]

Dolores Claiborne for me. Maybe I should read the book again, but the film trimmed a lot of fat from the source material for a much more concise story.

[@zakskiver]

I can’t believe you didn’t have the dark tower on the list!!!😂

[@nobodybutzach]

I loved the Secret Window adaptation. Probably one of my top 10 movies ever. I still need to watch the 1990 It miniseries, but I thought the newer versions were really good. The book has been my favorite King book thus far. I’m currently reading The Shining , and have never seen the movie. I’m very interested to see the changes after watching this vid 🙂

[@Talking_Story]

Love the list. I just hope Flanagan gets to do Dark Tower.

[@sjkrum320]

Great list! I think Green Mile is my favorite. I also really liked The Stand (the original).

[@lisac1619]

I'm glad you had The Mist on there. I only just watched it last night and thought it was brilliant. The only thing i didn't like were the CGI bugs; I will have to see the black and white version.

[@Ilsildus_heir]

My ranking of movies based on a King Novel (haven’t read all of these books yet): 1. The Shining 2. The Shawshank Redemption 3. The Green Mile 4. Stand By Me 5. Misery 6. Carrie 7. Gerald’s Game 8. IT (2017) 9. Doctor Sleep

[@mopete9830]

Secret window is one of my favorites top ten of all movies.

[@Dobr3967]

Agree 100% with 1990 version of “It.” I enjoyed the remake part one, I thought the kids were fantastic and I wasn’t bothered by changing the time setting. But It Part 2 was absolutely dreadful. The 1990s miniseries just works for me.

[@asfaloth12]

Great idea for a video! Totally agree on Doctor Sleep (still need to read the book, though!),, Carrie ( a classic!), and The Shining (another classic!). Misery is definitely one of my favorites! Kathy Bates was just perfect, and I still cringe at that hobbling scene. I thought The Mist was quite good, but that ending! Ack, it broke my heart. The Green Mile and the Shawshank Redemption are also very moving films. I enjoyed both IT adaptations. We were so lucky to get two great Pennywise performances. So creepy! This may be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed The Stand miniseries from the 1990s ( I am hesitant to watch the more recent adaptation after what I have heard about it). It may be time for some re-watches. Thanks for sharing!

[@brianl6151]

Enjoyed Secret Window, guess it makes two of us lol My list would be 1- Shawshank, 2- IT, 3-Stand by Me, 4- Green Mile, 5-Pet Sematary

[@bottle1211]

I think Shawshank Redemption movie is the highest ranked movie on IMDB with a 9.3 rating.

[@mutatedsilverunicorn]

One of my favorite Stephen King adaptations is Secret Window. My friends and I rented it so many times from the library that the librarian told us to pay the two bucks and let us keep it. XD (I still have it). Is it an amazing movie, no, but something about it holds a special place in my heart. Carrie, the shining and Pet Semetery, and The Stand are my other favorites! I am not a huge fan of the 90s version of the stand, but I'm not going to dump on it. I do LOVE the remake. (I am terrified of Tim Curry's IT, but for some reason I am not scared of Bill's version.)

[@ThomasPhillips-ng4ig]

Great list. Personally would have had "Secret Garden" in top ten and an HM for "Children of the Corn" even as cheap as it is, but respect your selection.

[@brandongibson3907]

That Thomas Jane 1922 was surprisingly really good.

[@sandy23stories40]

Love this video, Pet semetary is my favorite movie so good and the ending of the mist really broke.

[@socialbianca]

I like the secret window

[@mariposa9506]

Im with you on IT the 1990 version. Also have you ever heard the Springhill Jack Strawberry Spring podcast? Its an adaptation of the King short story. Its excellent.

[@rodneylopez5073]

On my list, The Dark Half ranks a lot higher. I am surprised that the 80s version of Firestarter wasn't on your list, though. Overall, a great video. Thanks!

[@benjaminmolina3456]

Michael Clark Duncan was robbed in The Green Mile, he should have gotten the oscar o at least a nomination

[@kflott]

Great list as always! King adaptations seem to be either amazing or horrible... I was thinking about a similar list for Crichton adaptations but too many of those may be better off forgotten.

[@StephaniedeBritoLeal]

As a child/teen I was terrified of Tim Curry's Pennywise, when I finally watched it (I love both versions, but loving Tim Curry as I do, I gotta favor the tv version) as an adult, I was both delighted and sure as hell I would be scared all over if I was a child again. And Misery, oh god, it's phenomenal, you feel like you are going to have a fate worse than death if Kathy Bates comes back in the room again 😂

[@therevanchist1123]

Found this video way late, but I’d have to say my favorite SK adaptation even though I don’t think it technically counts but RoseRed

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I love both 1990s and 2017-2019 IT, but I get your critic. I still feel like genre fiction is snubbed by Oscars and critics, though on occasion an aspect gets respect and recognized.

[@storiedworlds6261]

I saw Shawshank opening night too. There were a few more people where I was but it was a very artsy uncomfortable theater.

[@jordanm6843]

It's ok Mike I mix up Dark Half and Dead Zone constantly

[@mayzo51184]

I love this list and I'm not at all surprised by your list; especially with your top three movies. I thought Dr Sleep was an awesome movie and I'm gonna have to watch it back to back with the shining. Oh also, the mist is awesome even though I haven't read the novella but I did enjoy the movie and that ending... OH my god! Here are some of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. Gerald's game, the shining (1980), Silver bullet, Storm of the century, Salem's lot, Misery, Carrie(1976), Christine, and pet Sematary(1989). I haven't seen sawshank in so long and I was little when I had seen bits and pieces on TV but my dad used to watch it all the time so I will have to watch it now that I'm an adult. Oh and as an honorable mention, IT from 1990 was awesome. I know people shit all over it but I didn't think it was all that bad and I loved IT chapter 1 too. I always loved the kids but thought in both addaptations with the adults, it's just not as good. The 1990 miniseries though was the most faituful to the book though. Loved this video and I can't wait to see what your next one is!

[@MaryRose86]

I love thé movie Secret Window! It’s a really fun movie and Johnny Depp was great .

[@jason9644]

I like your sci-fi recommendations. Will you do sci-fi September again?

[@jenn9027]

Silver Bullet never gets any love. The bridge scene was so tense. The narration wasn't great, but Corey Haim (another gone too soon) was perfectly cast. I'm also a huge Megan Follows fan since seeing her in Anne of Green Gables.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

Great list! Can’t find any fault with it, however I do prefer the remake of IT more than the original.

[@angusmckeogh659]

My one problem with the 1976 adaptation of Carrie is all the "teenagers" looked like they were in their 30s.

[@robertegblack]

I actually rather liked the version of Annie Wilkes they had in the Castle Rock tv show, and could see her becoming the woman we see in the film version of Misery.

[@georgebest5412]

Green Mile & Shawshank for me, in my top 10 films of all time, absolutely love both these films

[@Will.the.book.dragon]

I've always said Tim Curry is my pennywise lol. I'm not very popular in my horror groups because of my choice lol I'd like to add children of the corn and yup you guessed it Maximum Overdrive. Oh and the Mangler

[@nicolerosito2357]

When i was younger secret window blew my mind

[@bottle1211]

Watched Cujo a couple of days ago. It was alright.

[@robertgeorge4200]

I'm with you on enjoying Secret Window. I thought the ending was great. And 1408 was creepy as hell and very enjoyable.

[@Maximus0623]

Shawshank is the clear #1. Not only is it the best King adapted movie ever, it belongs in the conversation for best overall movie ever.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

I’m usually pretty harsh on King adaptations, but Green Mile is a masterpiece. Also loved Shawshank, Stand by Me and 11/22/63.

[@jakexero]

Honorable mention to delores claiborne.

[@justinmichalek9880]

The green mile needs to be read in the 7 part book series like it was written.

[@BlakeHops]

I’m not sure if you’re much of a podcast listener but, Fangoria has The Kingcast that talks about books and King adaptations. I think you’d get a kick out of what Eric and Scott have to say about their love for Stephen King’s stories. Long days and pleasant nights 🥀 🤘🏻

[@simtye88]

What about the Langoliers movie from I think 95? Oh my bad it was tv mini series

[@valerieramirez6446]

Yes! Great video, totally agree the originals are better.

[@teppeiando]

Not even an honorable mention for Dolores Claiborne?? Such a great movie. That's #3 for me

[@Ulmo90]

Love Shawshank Redemption and the Shining