Stephen King Confesses He Didn't Like The Shining Movie

Horror legend Stephen King plays On the Book with Drew, and shares incredible insight into some of his most famous works, like why he didn't like The Shining and talks about his new novel Later!
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Stephen King Confesses He Didn't Like The Shining Movie
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[@merlinsclaw]

Not really a "confession" - he's spent the 41 years since the movie came out telling everyone he hates it. LOL.

[@pantera-kg5yc]

Yep !!!!!!

[@alisonferrara8025]

Exactly 😂

[@parapoliticos52]

He should have confessed that The shining is a ..''homage'' of Moresco Burnt Offerings(among other things)

[@Nergal_Slayer]

Seriously

[@jonesey251]

seriously, he must have said it a hundred times in interviews

[@christophercampbell4166]

It's so crazy that that guy is the author of so many great horror novels. He seems like the sweetest guy.

[@subanakatz4943]

yes he does seem very genuine! It's amazing that he keeps writing many books every year!

[@radaimark6548]

I think that is because in his whole life he did what he loves to do.

[@trumphatesyou]

King is our Shakespeare

[@christophercampbell4166]

@@trumphatesyou I'd actually argue he's our modern-day Charles Dickens.

[@loganlibby7468]

Being a Mainah, he will literally just pop in a random store you visit in lower Maine/upper New Hampshire.

[@brunettebeauty93]

AH I love how positive Drew is, she is such a ray of sunshine and you can tell that everyone she interviews feels so comfortable with her!

[@patrickstiadle3857]

Have to agree with you. I saw this one & as a Stephen King fan (maybe not #1 tho--hey, everybody can't be), I naturally was curious to check it out & was pleasantly surprised by Drew. She tends to come across as very warm & positive in her movie roles, but I did not know to expect that same kind of energy when she interviews. Not everyone knows that it takes work to focus on the positive & so to see someone else doing that so well is very encouraging.

[@herrklamm1454]

Fake laugh.

[@crimesforkibble6912]

A whole lot of prescription uppers will do that to you

[@Odelay77]

Her face when he says he read her book... priceless :)

[@DadoPanda]

I read people too well and that exaggerated sweetness and being amazed by everything and everyone is so fake. Soon she will meet the fate of Ellen and Jimmy Fallon, just wait.

[@Krooksbane]

The Shining (book) was basically a story about a man consumed by his addiction to alcohol. It was a VERY personal story for King, and his own addiction. Kubrick basically changed what the psychological aspect (horror) was about . I’d argue it’s a goddamn masterpiece (movie) but I understand King’s point of view.

[@michaelsims1160]

Yeah. Well there’s a video of King childishly backmouthing Kubrick at an auditorium after he died calling him an anal control freak. Really nice! I’ve got no sympathy for King. If he didn’t like the movie which I completely agree is a masterpiece too bad. Don’t sell the movie rights then which Kubrick bought fairly with full rights to change as he saw fit. King basically wanted to direct Kubrick. He even wrote a screenplay which he gave to Kubrick which Kubrick threw out. King’s mini series basically showed that he has no understanding of how to make a movie. It was awful.

[@smallmoon4340]

@@michaelsims1160 bro... who tf cares about you, Michael?

[@rexrogers1859]

@@michaelsims1160 Who hasn't been childish?? Wow....

[@beavis8073]

King was always an abuser and Kubrick knew that, and that's why he deliberately made Jack Torrance what he was in the movie.

[@Elphaba1952]

So true... I liken it to pizza... I LOVE NJ pizza. I can eat what they call pizza at Pizza Hut or Dominoes... but it's not really pizza. I loved the book... and I like the original movie... but it's NOT The Shining that I fell in love with.

[@unorthodoxblackgirl8112]

To see how far this woman has come in her career and life is the most joyous thing!!! Such an inspiration.

[@stsolomon618]

Yeah, she looks so sweet and humble.

[@freezetasticvoyage19]

Until she gets good coke. lol

[@cessce]

True!!!

[@GaryTongue-zn5di]

@freezetasticvoyage19 She has been sober since like 15, dumbass.

[@christopherdavis8248]

"Stephen King Confesses He Didn't Like The Shining Movie" who doesnt know this by now?

[@kamuelalee]

Still cool to hear King talk about it.

[@beachstreet101]

Drew Barrymore really is Hollywood royalty. I’ve grown up with her since she started out in films as a kid in the early 80’s. She’s worked with the greats from Stephen Spielberg to Stephen King. You can tell Hollywood the industry, really respect her. She’s so likable and personable.

[@kurtsimmons9735]

"Steven" Spielberg

[@rolandofgilead43]

she is she's related to the great Ethel Barrymore, John & my favorite Lionel it's a shame none of them lived to meet her though. Drew is one of my favorite actress's of all time and my only complaint about her well her work anyway not about her personally is that in past 20 some years she plays the same role while when she was a kid and in her early 20's she played different roles and tried different types of films.

[@quasar297]

To be honest, if you're a "number one fan" of Stephen King, you heard all this stories million times again and again

[@BeerMaster500]

I'm Stanley Kubricks "number one fan."

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Best thing he did, by a mile, was sell his short story Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption to a very little know screen writer called Frank Darabont, and let him do what he wanted with it. Frank went on to make it into the greatest movie ever made.

[@laurenmeltzer7159]

He’s said this about a billion times though.

[@bryantburnette3060]

He sure has. I love Stephen King, but he became tiresome on this subject, like, twenty years ago.

[@char4980]

@bigpink pencil that he didn't like the shining.. it's in the title of the video

[@vickitrembly]

Right! He said he hated it the day after it came out!

[@randisuch4317]

But people keep asking...🤷🏻‍♀️

[@TheJimbo1791]

Who cares if he liked it or not. I love it.

[@sasapejcin3568]

Such a down to earth, laid back, funny guy!

[@HerveAttia]

Stephen King did not like The Shining movie because Kubrick changed the ending.

[@stephen_king_fan9598]

He changed a lot of things

[@DreamfactoryZero]

To be fair, I like them both. The way King worded things in the book made it easy to picture what was going on. Kubrick made the movie feel claustrophobic. King goes further with the man in the dog costume, kind of makes the interaction between Danny pretty horrifying. Kubrick did a better job with the ending in my opinion. They're both great.

[@ryanschill3656]

Among MANY other things

[@madaemon]

@@DreamfactoryZero I agree. While I love Kubrick's movie, it's much more focused on aesthetics than actually telling a story (and Shelley Duvall is just awful as Wendy). The Shining TV miniseries that King himself wrote was much more faithful to the book, with a more coherent story and actual character development, though suffers from mid-90s TV-movie hokeyness in many parts.

[@phatpharm06]

Kubrick changed sooooo much. It didn’t even seem like the book. I remember thinking while watching the movie “why even call this the Shining if he’s going to change so much?”

[@siasti]

Apparently Kubrick would call him at odd hours and ask questions like "Do you believe in ghosts?"

[@deborahmarkley1891]

My love for Stephen King started at the ripe old age of 12 - The first "real" novel I ever read was The Stand - I was instantly hooked and have been a fan ever since!

[@Kim-ss5bb]

Thankyou to Steven king as we wouldn't have had stand by me without him

[@WildBillHickums]

The cinematography and feel of Kubrick's Shining, was extremely well done imo because it really played with the viewers irrational fear of being trapped in a giant building alone, and he really captured the spaciousness of that building.

[@Dizzy1980]

Great revelations by Stephen King and Drew Barrymore is adorable as always.

[@ESLTeacherTom]

Good show, miss Drew! We met several years back and you were hilarious and kind.

[@_fantasticscenes]

He’a honest yet respectful

[@Darkradio03]

I don't want him to die please god. Give immortality to this legend ☹️

[@kirak1561]

Or at least let him at least live another 15 healthy years

[@mattspencer5848]

This is so cute! King is one of my fav authors. This is such a fun interview to watch.

[@Johnny_The_Ax]

It doesn't matter that he likes The Shining or not. It's classic. It's one of the best movies ever made. It's inspired a lot of other filmmakers, inspired me.

[@KarmineSlash]

Perhaps, but knowing how ruthless and unjust Kubrick was to his actors in most of his films, I feel it weigh in on the impression.

[@PyramidgodMeekman6]

@@KarmineSlash Separate art from artist. It's a very simp0le concept.

[@KarmineSlash]

@@PyramidgodMeekman6 I can't look at the actors and overlook just how miserable Kubrick made them. I vastly prefer the novel.

[@peterkrug2327]

My biggest problem with the Kubrick film is how they made Jack Torrance such a one-note villain. In the book (and miniseries) he was much more layered and complex.

[@felipepsyco35]

@@KarmineSlash so it's your issue not the movie's.

[@peace_lovemuzic5208]

It was creepy but, I absolutely loved The Shining! "REDRUM"!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED FIRESTARTER!!! It was my favorite movie for years as a small child.

[@FullOfMalarky]

I understand his objections and complaints about the shining, but I have to say the movie is a masterpiece.

[@danhachi3045]

How is it a masterpiece? It doesn't accomplish anything

[@pansophia93]

I remember watching her in E.T. in the theaters when it opened. Drew instantly became my first crush.

[@KenMasters.]

Stephen King always hated Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining just as much how Ken Kesey hated Miloš Forman’s version of his story One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

[@DanceOfTheDawn5963]

I’m pretty sure most people know this already, but impressive having King on :)

[@caveman3021]

Thats so cool these two get to chat! I've often thought about all the work he generated for actors through his stories,Drew Barrymore included🙂

[@pinstripedynasty6117]

I heard him say before the movie is like drinking a martini without the alcohol. If you haven't read the book the ending is ALOT different and better. One reason he didn't like it is because they portrayed Jack as a bad guy from the beginning when in the book he was a good guy and family man and the hotel changed him.

[@miserablepileofsecrets]

I love how she always has a big flower

[@numerikproductions]

Love this guy. I learned a lot of English by reading his novels with a dictionary.

[@griseldadominguez8734]

I learned English by reading him!!!

[@rishoutfield2043]

Hell, I'm a native English speaker, and I've had to look up a bunch of his words over the years.

[@riofan5]

Fact: Drew Barrymore actually lit Stephen King's Cigarette at the premiere of Firestarter. Really you can find the picture some where. Just lighting it up with a match.

[@QueenRee17]

Charlie is one of my favorite characters of Drew's. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen that movie.

[@ifightbears7609]

I love that Stephen says that he doesn’t like the movie but doesn’t blame people who do like the film.

[@jorsehph9216]

​@@ArcanumAscentNo, he's not alone. Pretty fifty-fifty these days. The film in my opinion is bad.

[@Dirkschneider]

What a confession! It's not like we have known about this for 40 years.

[@fullcircle8564]

I like the idea of his new book. I always thought if psychic abilities or being able to speak to the dead was truly a real phenomenon that law-enforcement and people like that would take advantage of that and almost use those people to solve cases. Like I know some psychics give advice on where to look for bodies or if someone’s missing or not but to actually truly find somebody who can speak to the dead and prove it and then use it to help the living would be amazing

[@yeverino1970]

How lucky is Drew to meet one of her favorite authors. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors of all time. 👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼❤️

[@AbsoluteApril]

seriously? I mean she was in two of his movies as a kid and one of the first things she says is how she's known him her whole life...

[@ilovestrawberries5856]

I loved castle Rock tv show which is underrated I guess. Drew ending it with "I am your no.1 fan " is so cute rather than creepy 😃.

[@sweiland75]

Fans have known this for years. He did like the sequel, Doctor Sleep, though.

[@aidani4633]

Yeah he has the worst taste in film.

[@jasonw586]

Stephen King is the master storyteller!

[@KenMasters.]

Especially horror.

[@TheJathys]

Love the reaction of her hearing that Stephen King read her book.

[@ihatemickiegee]

So much better when an interview is done by a friend (and colleague technically) of the author !! so much more authentic and intimate

[@ne2952]

I love him and his work so much!!!! Drew has the best guests 🙌🏼

[@unknownwords3121]

I love Stephen king books! Amazing author ✍️!!♥️♥️

[@Nightmare-wo7ms]

He is right! The book is way better than the movie in my opinion. I did not see the movie, but saw some scenes, but this novel has dragged into the world of reading...thanks Mr King

[@Hey_its_Koda]

I love reading steven kings books. His imagination is astounding.

[@robind8149]

Completely agree with Stephen, of course!!! Drew was really terrific in Firestarter... and as for The Shining, fortunately I read the book before I saw the movie, and knew they wouldn’t be able to do it justice, so I wasn’t as disappointed with it as I might have been. Look forward to the new book!😊🙏❤️

[@FreyaF...]

I just realized that you may be right. You knew they couldn't equal the book and, therefore, you weren't disappointed with the movie. I too read the book first and I realized how detailed and excellent it was. So I too should have realized it would never be as good as the book. Except for one major issue I have with the movie... They/Kubrick changed almost EVERYTHING about the book. That is why, in and of itself, the movie sucks. It's really bad.

[@jorsehph9216]

​@@FreyaF...Right. The film is terrible.

[@PrinceAliTheGreatest]

@@jorsehph9216 How so?

[@BlackJackLopez]

I'm feeling a "Neil Gaiman/Tori Amos" vibe here, y'know? I love this. The barn story reminded me of one book I wish Mr. King talked about, and I don't know if Drew is reading this ones, so it goes out to everybody: If you haven't, read "Lisey's Story". Right now that is THE ONE adaptation from Stephen King that I want to see in a movie, and it's one of the most beautiful SK stories I've read, right up there with "Shawshank" and "The Body". I seem to recall it was already on the works, but I haven't heard about it lately.

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

I can’t recommend LATER enough! It's so good!

[@walterwurzburger8975]

Later was a great read. Read the book in a day and half. Good interview. Keep up the good work Stephen and Drew.

[@TheCondello]

this is a fantastic interview. Well done both of them !!!

[@KLeeExplores]

Excellent interview! So enjoyable to watch ❤️ Really surprised IT wasn’t mentioned tho. Movie had me terrified from childhood into adulthood 😂

[@ivaneames4354]

The original IT was a two part miniseries rather than a movie so it wouldn't have counted here.

[@KLeeExplores]

@@ivaneames4354 cool I didn’t know that!

[@metaknight4230]

I agree with Stephen. The Shining as Horror Movie: Cinematic Masterpiece. The Shining as Novel to Movie: Poor, they just used the title.

[@TheTuubster]

You forgots "The Shawshank Redemption", Imdb's No. 1 movie for years how, based on a short story from King.

[@MrParkerman6]

Just cuz someone doesn't include something in a video- doesn't mean they forgot, dumbass.

[@evenflowsteven]

Just saw a video on “the Wendy Theory”, and it blew my mind!

[@valentinaminauro352]

What is the Wendy Theory?

[@jaytops]

@@valentinaminauro352 it's this theory, about the character of Wendy.

[@mallorym.]

Definitely going to have to pick up his new book Later!! Such a fan of you both ❤❤

[@peterkrug2327]

Funny they skipped over "Cat's Eye", another King film Barrymore starred in.

[@kimchiandquesofresco]

He brought it up

[@TaylorAmelia]

They skipped a lot. You can't fit them all in a short interview

[@DavidMichaels-q5d]

I've liked all the films I've seen Drew in. I watched one recently from 20 years ago for the first time, entitled 'Duplex' in the U.S and over here in England it's ' Our House'. The title was changed because we don't use that word over here, and I had to look it up to know what it meant. With regard to Stephen King, i've been reading his books since being a teenager, I'm now 45, and i still love his writing. I'm not a huge movie buff, but i do love a movie that stands out and is original, and movies based on King's books always do stand out. He's a one off!!

[@jessicagarcia5500]

Loved this interview

[@carooteiza8074]

God I love this man. His writing.

[@numerikproductions]

Fear is something everyone can relate to, he's a master in digging into our fears and his probably...

[@sandrao9668]

Hey?! What about Doctor Sleep? Part two of The Shining! Awesome book written by Stephen King and his son Owen King. The novel came out in 2013 and the movie came out in 2019.

[@AmandaChapman]

The Shining is my all time favorite film! 🖤

[@maxisenberg9093]

Watch king's mini series remake

[@dereksue4877]

@@maxisenberg9093 He's talking about the movies not the miniseries. And the miniseries aren't really that better, only more faithful.

[@maxisenberg9093]

@@dereksue4877..I'm aware he was talking about the move. Thags why told him to watch the mini series. Which is better because it's faithful. Morenpower to people who like the moie but it's awful

[@andy1181-l3m]

Stephen King - GOAT

[@christinehorror8178]

When someone asks me my name like at Starbucks I say "christine, like the car" lol.. some people get it. But I was born before the book/ movie so I cant say I was named after it..

[@ericfrancque557]

What an epic talk show! Best one ever - great interview!

[@blackhawkjohn1]

Should collaborate with Stephen King and ask him to write a true sequel to Firestarter, not that other film we got without Drew. Have Charlie be a recluse and living alone and she hasn't used her powers in a long time and things go bad. There's definitely a story there, would be cool.

[@michelehengeveld644]

THAT IS IT DREW! You NEED to be in another King Movie!

[@danastagg8783]

To the greatest writer of all time.....love your 2,987,654th fan 😘

[@christopherangeli1141]

I like how Stephen King has an iPod and dock in the background. Classic.

[@juliafonseca4440]

Stephen King is a genius!! I'm your number 1 fan from 🇧🇷 Lol ❤️❤️

[@khard3r]

Later was a fun read! And I did have a good time reading it. The concept of the boy seeing dead people is cool. Who doesn't love a supernatural child. Ps I'm stephen kings number 1 fan 🪓

[@denny8093]

Drew is great because she knows just about everybody and i do not think there is a person who thinks Ill of her

[@captmarvelhero2342]

0:28 0:50 1:35 1:41 1:54 2:02 2:11 2:46 3:25 4:17 5:31 5:40

[@numerikproductions]

Can't believe he wasn't already super rich after the early novels like Carrie and The Shining???

[@marcelamacedo4472]

A Drew linda como sempre 💕

[@DFWTexan42]

It's endearing, that even though Drew is Hollywood royalty, she sincerely fan girls over stars she's known for years.

[@jellythelang2558]

My favorite author of all time.. ❤️

[@williamlacey1981]

Stephen King hated The Shining movie because Stanley Kubrick’s movie was a lot different from the novel that it caused Stephen to create The Shining 3 part mini series on ABC

[@liteflightify]

This is rather old news. King has been talking publicly about not liking the adaption for decades. The movie is very much just the bare bones plot of book. Kubrick entirely does his own thing. So, I understand King’s frustration. Still, the movie is an influential classic and still popular for a reason. It is about time he moves on from that topic.

[@michelehengeveld644]

I just recently saw a theory on KZbin of what possibly Kubrick's adaptation of Kings novel could have been and why it was so cold and different and bare bones.. Kubrick is known for making movies his own - It is the Wendy theory... That Wendy is mentally ill and made up A LOT of what was going on. They note how in most of Kubrick's movies he is Meticulous with details. And a lot of details if you re-watch the Kubrick shining does not have consistent continuity. Look up the Wendy Theory... Gives his version an entire different perspective... I still love the book WAY better than movie - even tv mini-series - but I thought it explained why Kubrick did what he did.

[@liteflightify]

I just look at the movie and book as completely separate entities. It’s not really an adaptation. But it is a great movie.

[@Logan_Baron]

Well he was asked a question. He's not just bringing it up randomly like he can't move on. I'm sure it doesn't keep him awake at night, but he doesn't like it, and if someone asks you about a movie or something you don't like, you still don't like it, even if you have moved on and don't dwell on it. "What do you think of [old movie you don't like]?" "I don't like it" Come on it came out 20 years ago, you need to move on.

[@jacobbaranowski]

He has such great stores, he is Jesus Of The Shining.

[@toddstarks226]

Steve is one of the most (down to earth) stars in the biz

[@fradancer]

I love these two so much😩

[@Mrtop9-ji5ex]

How did I forget about Drew being in Firestarter!!

[@jude1515]

Good interview.

[@club1fan552]

Barrymore and King. Love them both!

[@williamssilvasantos2929]

I agree with him. The Shining was so tedious that i fell asleep while i was watching it. Doctor Sleep, on the other hand, was great. I loved it.

[@MurderousVillainRobloxCreator]

Stephen king is a brave and smart and not afraid of work and genius and imaginative

[@spaces5295]

What a creatively made segment.

[@beckyhines3814]

My brother read all Mr. King's books.

[@Ian-hd3od]

Cool?

[@TheFbiFilesRepeat]

Ok? My mother is a woman

[@ajgreenman112]

Awesome I'm on my way

[@InternetUser-d7s]

My childhood dog was called Nigel.

[@hrcutz]

This show rocks 🙌🏼❤️

[@annarosanelli6558]

I would like to hear his comments on the movie Dreamcatcher I always felt like a lot of his books tie-in together if you connect the dots... very interesting

[@CrazyBunny123]

I loved Drew Barrymore since Firestarter

[@jamesdarwinsmithii7039]

I love Stephen King's work. But with that said. Kubrick's shining is one of my alltime favorite movies.

[@maxisenberg9093]

Watch king's mini series

[@alexander2685]

I loved drew was also in the cats eye.🐈

[@ClubStephenKingFR]

Thanks for that interview :)

[@Rskillswitch]

I love all of his genius works has this beautiful story with his wife.

[@ericaletchford1214]

Come on people PET SEMETARY great book great movie WE DONT TALK ABOUT THE REMAKE

[@SoloCrafter378]

maybe the shining wasnt what he wanted, but I feel like he should still appreciate it for the masterful craft it is.

[@sahej6939]

he really doesn’t have to

[@SoloCrafter378]

Sahej he should though

[@LukeBailey182]

Later is here! Though I can't buy Later today because I have no money so I'll wait till later.