They call him the King of Horror, and frankly, it’s easy to see why. Having published 64 novels in his lifetime so far, and with the majority of them largely focused on the horror genre, the prolific author – who sometimes goes by the pen name Richard Bachman – is a pillar of not only the written word but the cinematic horror experience as well.
With that in mind, then, here’s a rundown of the ten best Stephen King horror movies you can watch right now. Let’s get into it!
10. Cujo
While doggos are often referred to as man’s best friend, Cujo, on the other hand, is more of a man’s best… KILLER.
Directed by Lewis Teague (Alligator, The Triangle), 1983’s Cujo tells the story of the eponymous Saint Bernard, who manages to fall victim to a pesky rabid bat. Once bitten, the poor ol’ doggo’s mind begins to unravel before ultimately transforming into an enraged mutt with an appetite for human blood.
Making matters even worse is the fact that a mother and son have popped by to fix their car, but with the car’s alternator on the fritz, they’re left trapped and stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Recipe for disaster? Check. Chance of escape? Minimal. A fun watch? You betcha.
9. The Langoliers
There was a time in my youth when I was obsessed with The Langoliers. From its likable characters to its arresting story to its genuinely eerie atmosphere, King’s mysterious horror-thriller is, at its core, a mammoth-sized episode of The Twilight Zone, which seriously intrigued me when I was a wee whippersnapper.
In many ways, 1995’s The Langoliers is typical Stephen King fare: a group of disparate characters from all walks of life are thrown into an explicable situation that threatens their very existence. In this case, the cast are passengers on an airplane flight that goes slightly awry.
Specifically, said passengers awaken to find that most of the plane’s voyagers have strangely vanished without a trace – except for the odd hearing aid, denture, or pacemaker left in their empty seats. How peculiar!
Frankly, even though this may not be the best Stephen King adaptation on this list, it’s a personal favorite of mine, thanks to its sheer ingenuity and originality. Highly recommend this one!
8. Creepshow
The horror anthology collection has pretty much dropped out of the cultural zeitgeist these days, but Creepshow arguably still remains one of – if not – the best of the entire bunch. Directed by none other than the “Father of the Zombie Film” George A. Romero (you may’ve heard of him), 1982’s Creepshow is a compilation of five short vignettes written by King.
From reanimated corpses rising from their grave to seek revenge on their murderer to swarms of cockroaches hellbent on eating a bug-hating recluse alive, Creepshow has something in there for everyone all you hardened gore-hounds. Oh, and it also stars The Naked Gun’s Leslie Nielsen, Three Men and a Baby’s Ted Danson, and even Stephen King in a few cameos as well.
7. Doctor Sleep
I’ll be honest: at first blush, I wasn’t immediately taken by Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 2013 novel. However, on repeated viewings, I’ve started to soften to the concept and appreciate what the Gerald’s Game director (another great King movie that didn’t quite make the list) managed to do with Doctor Sleep.
A sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s beloved classic (more on that later), Doctor Sleep essentially bridges these two different visions of the Overlook Hotel with each of their respective creators. Yes, it’s no secret that King wasn’t a fan of Kubrick’s interpretation of his best-selling novel, but Flanagan’s pic respectfully pays homage to both craftsmen. Plus, it also helps that Ewan McGregor is always a joy to watch, too.
6. The Dead Zone
Possibly Christopher Walken’s most layered and rich performance in his illustrious career, The Dead Zone is another Twilight Zone-esque thriller. This time the story focuses on a car crash victim who acquires the handy power to see into the future, and even potentially changes its outcome.