Considering Stephen King’s history of writing terrifying novels like The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Christine, Doctor Sleep, It, Misery, and Pet Sematary, it’s no surprise he’s a big fan of horror movies. He generally enjoys going to the movies, no matter the genre, but he definitely has a preference for scary films. And, being very active on social media (especially X), he often shares his latest favorites. Here are ten horror movies (including some that mix genres) that he’s recently praised.
Whether it’s a classic horror film from the 1960s or 70s, or something brand new released this past summer (2025), these movies have all been recommended by Stephen King. Which one sounds good for your next movie night?
7) Deep Blue Sea
Deep Blue Sea is a fun and engaging movie that blends action, horror, and science fiction. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable watch, and even the author of Carrie is a fan!
In a 1999 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King recalled seeing Renny Harlin’s shark movie as his first outing after a serious van accident. He said he attended in a wheelchair and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite almost being killed beforehand.
6) The Witch
When The Witch came out in February 2016, Stephen King shared his reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter. He wrote that the film genuinely frightened him, calling it a tense, thought-provoking, and powerfully visceral experience.
The Witch is a truly chilling and memorable modern horror film. It was the breakthrough project that introduced audiences to the skills of director Robert Eggers and actress Anya Taylor-Joy.
Stream The Witch on HBO Max.
5) Night of the Living Dead
Stephen King shared with Entertainment Weekly that one of the scariest movie scenes he’s ever seen is in Night of the Living Dead. He described how the character Barbara is chased to her car by a stumbling zombie with white hair and a blank stare. What really frightened King was when the zombie picked up a rock and weakly started hitting the car window with it. He said the scene terrified him so much he was completely shaken the first time he saw it, and even on two subsequent viewings.
This scene in the first act is incredibly memorable for anyone who’s seen the movie. The cemetery sequence expertly builds suspense, showcasing the film’s ability to create intense moments. While a zombie picking up a rock to use as a tool is smarter than they’re typically portrayed in this film, or even in Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, it still creates a wonderfully gripping scene.
Stream Night of the Living Dead on HBO Max.
4) The Exorcist
I was reading an interview with Stephen King the other day, and he shared the five films that genuinely frighten him. He said William Friedkin’s The Exorcist is one of them, and he thinks it’s scary right from the beginning – a truly perfect horror movie in his opinion.
He explained that the film felt intensely confined, especially in Regan’s bedroom, and they always anticipated something horrifying would happen there. However, he felt it was the small, disturbing details that truly made the movie memorable, citing the iconic line, ‘Couldja help an old altar boy, fadder?’ as a prime example.
3) Together
Stephen King often uses his social media to recommend movies, especially those by horror directors (and filmmakers working in other genres too). He’s particularly praised two scary movies from 2025, calling them modern classics. One of these is the creatively disturbing film Together.
Stephen King praised the movie Together on X (formerly Twitter), calling Dave Franco and Alison Brie “great—and brave” in their roles. He explained that a good horror movie needs relatable characters, and this film delivers on that front.
2) Weapons
Stephen King really enjoyed Zach Cregger’s 2025 horror film, Weapons. He called it a “confidently told, and very scary” movie and added that he “loved it” in a post on X.
Cregger’s horror film, a spooky and cleverly plotted story, was a big hit with both critics and audiences. It earned fantastic reviews and performed exceptionally well in theaters, contributing to a successful year for Warner Bros.
Stream Weapons on HBO Max.
1) Jaws
Stephen King recently shared his ten favorite movies on X, and surprisingly, only one was a horror film: Jaws. The rest of his list included a variety of other genres, with films like William Friedkin’s Sorcerer, The Godfather Part II, the 1970s action movie The Getaway, Casablanca, Groundhog Day, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Mean Streets, Double Indemnity, and another Spielberg classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
King also believes the line “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is one of the greatest in movie history, and it’s hard to disagree. Most people would also agree that Jaws deserves a spot among the top ten films of all time.
https://comicbook.com/movies/list/5-side-characters-who-completely-stole-horror-movies/embed/#
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2025-11-30 17:41