All Stephen King Movies Ranked

For as long as King’s been been publishing, Hollywood’s been knock-knock-knockin’ on Stephen’s door for more. First came 1976’s Carrie, two years after he published that first novel, which made household names of the author, Brian De Palma, Sissy Spacek, and the humiliating viscosity of pig’s blood. The 1980s saw a slew of adaptations, the highlights being The Shining, Stand by Me, and The Running Man (the book for which was published under pulp fall-guy name Richard Bachman). As for the ’90s, well…it’d be the best decade ever for just The Shawshank Redemption. But nope, there was also Misery and The Green Mile!

In recent years, it’s been about cats (Pet Sematary), clowns (It Chapter Two), and kids (Doctor Sleep). So let’s get this fire started with all rated Stephen King movie adaptations by Tomatometer!

(This is a guide to theatrically released King adaptations. If you’re interested in King on different platforms, look to our guide of Stephen King TV Series, Miniseries, TV Movies Ranked.)

#48



Adjusted Score: 6.659%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This special-effects-laden sequel features two evil corporate executives who revive Jobe, the virtual psychotic genius who lives in a computer… [More]

#47



Adjusted Score: 12.319%

Critics Consensus: Shoddily crafted and devoid of suspense, Cell squanders a capable cast and Stephen King’s once-prescient source material on a bland rehash of zombie cliches.

Synopsis: Stephen King’s best-selling novel is brought to terrifying life in this mind-blowing thriller starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson…. [More]

#46



Adjusted Score: 8.687%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Loosely based on the Stephen King novel, this thriller is about a man working the graveyard shift in a rat-infested… [More]

#45



Adjusted Score: 15.39%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After radiation from a comet showers the earth, inanimate tractor-trailers come to life and terrorize a group of people trapped… [More]

#44



Adjusted Score: 15.345%

Critics Consensus: A bland, weightless horror film that seems to want to mock itself as the proceedings drag on.

Synopsis: An obese attorney finds himself the unwilling subject of a horrifying weight-loss plan when he is cursed by a vengeful… [More]

#43



Adjusted Score: 27.537%

Critics Consensus: Go then, there are other Stephen King adaptations than these.

Synopsis: There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the… [More]

#42



Adjusted Score: 19.842%

Critics Consensus: As disposable as its predecessor is indispensable, The Rage: Carrie 2 mimics the arc of Stephen King’s classic story without adding anything of value.

Synopsis: In this film, the boys on the high-school football team compete to see who can seduce the most girls. When… [More]

#41



Adjusted Score: 18.17%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This 1992 horror sequel concerns a journalist (Terence Knox) and his son (Paul Scherrer), who must travel to Gatlin, Nebraska… [More]

#40



Adjusted Score: 22.987%

Critics Consensus: Not realizing that it had no unfinished business, Pet Sematary rises from the grave once more to beat an undead corpse.

Synopsis: This follow-up to the sizable horror hit concerns a Maine teenager who discovers the eerie power of a legendary local… [More]

#39



Adjusted Score: 19.743%

Critics Consensus: Stephen King adaptation veteran director Mick Garris has lofty storytelling goals which ultimately flail and undercut the story’s terror.

Synopsis: A young man who has flirted with death is forced to come to terms with mortality in this tale of… [More]

#38



Adjusted Score: 22.661%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A policeman investigates a series of mysterious deaths at an industry laundry in this supernatural horror film. He soon discovers… [More]

#37



Adjusted Score: 33.136%

Critics Consensus: An incoherent and overly long creature feature.

Synopsis: Jonesy, Henry, Pete and Beaver. Twenty years ago they were just kids in a small town in Maine – kids… [More]

#36



Adjusted Score: 31.156%

Critics Consensus: Not even the melding of Stephen King and George A. Romero’s writing sensibilities can elevate this spineless anthology, which is too simple in its storytelling and too skimpy on the genuine scares.

Synopsis: Horror writer, Stephen King was behind some of the terror in this horror anthology comprised of three not-very-creepy-but-kind-of-fun-anyway supernatural tales…. [More]

#35



Adjusted Score: 32.386%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Based on a novel by horror-meister Stephen King, Needful Things is set in a tiny New England town and refers… [More]

#34



Adjusted Score: 31.021%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: When her husband (Anthony LaPaglia) of more than twenty years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson… [More]

#33



Adjusted Score: 12.753%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Stephen King’s short story, The Night Flier, originally appeared in Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror… [More]

#32



Adjusted Score: 33.555%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A shapeshifting, cat-fearing mother and son move to a new town and must feed on young virgin women to survive…. [More]

#31



Adjusted Score: 36.542%

Critics Consensus: The Lawnmower Man suffers from a predictable, melodramatic script, and its once-groundbreaking visual effects look dated today.

Synopsis: A mentally handicapped gardener (Jeff Fahey) allows a scientist (Pierce Brosnan) to experiment on him. Marnie: Jenny Wright. Timms: Mark… [More]

#30



Adjusted Score: 36.412%

Critics Consensus: Children of the Corn’s strong premise and beginning gets shucked away for a kiddie thriller that runs in circles.

Synopsis: Narrator Job (Robby Kiger) relates the tale of Gatlin, NE, where one day the children, led by a boy preacher… [More]

#29



Adjusted Score: 38.505%

Critics Consensus: Firestarter’s concept hews too closely to other known Stephen King adaptations, though it’s got nice special effects (including scenery-chewing George C. Scott).

Synopsis: Firestarter is based on a bone-chilling novel by Steven King. Drew Barrymore plays Charlie McGee the young daughter of Andrew… [More]

#28



Adjusted Score: 43.754%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Four short horror stories from the «masters» in the field. A mummy terrorizes a college dorm. A hitman tries to… [More]

#27



Adjusted Score: 45.754%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In this horror film, based on the novella Cycle of the Werewolf, by Stephen King, a werewolf is terrorizing a… [More]

#26



Adjusted Score: 50.381%

Critics Consensus: Depp is quirkily entertaining, but the movie runs out of steam by the end.

Synopsis: From writer/director David Koepp (Stir of Echoes) comes this filmed adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Secret Window, Secret Garden, one… [More]

#25



Adjusted Score: 53.279%

Critics Consensus: Hearts in Atlantis is well-acted and beautiful to look at, but the movie is nothing more than a mood piece.

Synopsis: One of the short stories in a best-selling collection by author Stephen King becomes this mystery adapted for director Scott… [More]

#24



Adjusted Score: 22.032%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A famous mystery writer seeks revenge against a serial killer who assaulted her and left her for dead…. [More]

#23



Adjusted Score: 56.922%

Critics Consensus: It boasts a talented cast, but Kimberly Peirce’s «reimagining» of Brian De Palma’s horror classic finds little new in the Stephen King novel — and feels woefully unnecessary.

Synopsis: A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers… [More]

#22



Adjusted Score: 53.174%

Critics Consensus: Pet Sematary is a bruising horror flick that wears its quirks on its sleeves, to the detriment of its scare factor.

Synopsis: After moving to an idyllic home in the countryside, life seems perfect for the Creed family… but not for long…. [More]

#21



Adjusted Score: 55.543%

Critics Consensus: A somewhat disturbing movie that works as a suspenseful thriller, yet isn’t completely satisfying.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old high school student Todd Bowden has uncovered a deadly secret. Far from suspicion, Nazi war criminal Kurt Dussander has… [More]

#20



Adjusted Score: 60.028%

Critics Consensus: The Dark Half is a highly serious psychological study that can be faulted for being more curious than actually scary.

Synopsis: Writing under the name of Richard Bachman, Stephen King’s twisted musing on his own experiment with an alter-ego spawns this… [More]

#19



Adjusted Score: 69.835%

Critics Consensus: Pet Sematary takes its source material in a few different directions, but this remake feels like an exhuming almost as often as it does a revival.

Synopsis: Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating… [More]

#18



Adjusted Score: 66.146%

Critics Consensus: Cujo is artless work punctuated with moments of high canine gore and one wild Dee Wallace performance.

Synopsis: Cujo is a frightening, but uneven horror tale of a rabid St. Bernard dog who terrorizes a woman and her… [More]

#17



Adjusted Score: 79.285%

Critics Consensus: It: Chapter Two proves bigger doesn’t always mean scarier for horror sequels, but a fine cast and faithful approach to the source material keep this follow-up afloat.

Synopsis: Evil resurfaces in Derry as director Andy Muschietti reunites the Losers Club in a return to where it all began… [More]

#16



Adjusted Score: 66.937%

Critics Consensus: The Running Man is winking sci-fi satire with ridiculous clothes and workmanlike direction.

Synopsis: An unjustly accused prisoner in 2019 is given a slim chance at freedom if he enters a battle-to-the-death on a… [More]

#15



Adjusted Score: 68.368%

Critics Consensus: An effective if knowingly silly Stephen King anthology that combines comedy and terror.

Synopsis: Three tales, with a feline as the catalyst. Drew Barrymore, James Woods, Alan King, Kenneth McMillan, Robert Hays. Sally Ann:… [More]

#14



Adjusted Score: 71.006%

Critics Consensus: The cracks are starting to show in John Carpenter’s directorial instincts, but Christine is nonetheless silly, zippy fun.

Synopsis: She was born in Detroit… on an automobile assembly line. But she is no ordinary automobile. Deep within her chassis… [More]

#13



Adjusted Score: 75.618%

Critics Consensus: Frank Darabont’s impressive camerawork and politically incisive script make The Mist a truly frightening experience.

Synopsis: David Drayton and his young son Billy are among a large group of terrified townspeople trapped in a local grocery… [More]

#12



Adjusted Score: 75.897%

Critics Consensus: It’s uneven, as anthologies often are, but Creepshow is colorful, frequently funny, and treats its inspirations with infectious reverence.

Synopsis: Two of the most venerable names in the horror field, author Stephen King and director George A. Romero, present this… [More]

#11



Adjusted Score: 91.083%

Critics Consensus: Doctor Sleep forsakes the elemental terror of its predecessor for a more contemplative sequel that balances poignant themes against spine-tingling chills.

Synopsis: «Doctor Sleep» is the continuation of Danny Torrance’s story 40 years after the terrifying events of Stephen King’s The Shining…. [More]

#10



Adjusted Score: 83.856%

Critics Consensus: Though The Green Mile is long, critics say it’s an absorbing, emotionally powerful experience.

Synopsis: Director Frank Darabont, who made an acclaimed feature film debut with The Shawshank Redemption (1994), based on a Stephen King… [More]

#9



Adjusted Score: 85.727%

Critics Consensus: Relying on psychological tension rather than overt violence and gore, 1408 is a genuinely creepy thriller with a strong lead performance by John Cusack.

Synopsis: Renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin believes only in what he can see with his own two eyes. But after a… [More]

#8



Adjusted Score: 86.37%

Critics Consensus: Post-Misery Kathy Bates proves to be another wonderful conduit for Stephen King’s novels in this patient, gradually terrifying thriller.

Synopsis: A daughter who has come to imagine the worst about her mother learns the facts are quite different — and… [More]

#7



Adjusted Score: 92.796%

Critics Consensus: Though it deviates from Stephen King’s novel, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a chilling, often baroque journey into madness — exemplified by an unforgettable turn from Jack Nicholson.

Synopsis: «All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy» — or, rather, a homicidal boy in Stanley Kubrick’s eerie… [More]

#6



Adjusted Score: 101.405%

Critics Consensus: Well-acted and fiendishly frightening with an emotionally affecting story at its core, It amplifies the horror in Stephen King’s classic story without losing touch with its heart.

Synopsis: New Line Cinema’s horror thriller «IT,» directed by Andy Muschietti («Mama»), is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel… [More]

#5



Adjusted Score: 92.872%

Critics Consensus: The Dead Zone combines taut direction from David Cronenberg and and a rich performance from Christopher Walken to create one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations.

Synopsis: A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability…. [More]

#4



Adjusted Score: 94.68%

Critics Consensus: Elevated by standout performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates, this taut and frightening film is one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date.

Synopsis: Adapted from a Stephen King novel, Rob Reiner’s Misery cast James Caan as a writer at a career crossroads. The… [More]

#3



Adjusted Score: 95.988%

Critics Consensus: Stand By Me is a wise, nostalgic movie with a weird streak that captures both Stephen King’s voice and the trials of growing up.

Synopsis: Based on the Stephen King short story The Body, Rob Reiner’s easygoing nostalgia piece is set in Castle Rock, OR,… [More]

#2



Adjusted Score: 95.723%

Critics Consensus: The Shawshank Redemption is an uplifting, deeply satisfying prison drama with sensitive direction and fine performances.

Synopsis: In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double murder, even though he stubbornly proclaims… [More]

#1



Adjusted Score: 100.218%

Critics Consensus: Carrie is a horrifying look at supernatural powers, high school cruelty, and teen angst — and it brings us one of the most memorable and disturbing prom scenes in history.

Synopsis: This classic horror movie based on Stephen King’s first novel stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy, diffident teenager… [More]


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