The Ultimate Ranking of Stephen King’s Best Movie Adaptations!

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A larger number of Stephen King‘s numerous works have been transformed for either film or television (occasionally both, as in the case of IT) compared to those that have not been adapted. Sometimes, a director is engaged, produces a movie or miniseries, and then never revisits King’s horror literature again. Other directors seem to find a significant level of familiarity in adapting this author, as it’s a well they return to repeatedly. Regardless of whether they’ve directed two or eight adaptations, there is always one that surpasses the others, not by a substantial gap, but by some difference.

In this context, we’re focusing only on directors who have worked on multiple adaptations of Stephen King’s works, excluding producers such as J.J. Abrams, who has a notable role as executive producer in projects like 11.22.63, Castle Rock, and Lisey’s Story, but is not the main director for those productions.

1) Storm of the Century by Craig R. Baxley

1999’s “Storm of the Century” stands out among Stephen King’s TV miniseries as it wasn’t adapted from one of his novels. Instead, it was a unique screenplay that King himself penned. Despite not being based on a popular source material, it turns out to be the finest in the series. Watching an original story by King unfold is quite engaging.

Craig R. Baxley, who directed “Storm of the Century,” went on to helm three other Stephen King miniseries following that one. While each had its own strengths, none quite matched the impact of his debut. These were “Rose Red,” a prequel to which was “The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer,” “Kingdom Hospital,” and “Storm of the Century.” Similar to “Storm of the Century,” “Rose Red” was an original script by King himself. “Kingdom Hospital,” on the other hand, wasn’t adapted from a previously published King work but was loosely inspired by Lars von Trier’s “The Kingdom.

2) Cujo by Lewis Teague

Lewis Teague was one of the less recognized film directors in the genre category during the 1980s. The movie “Alligator” from 1980 can be considered a high-quality imitation of “Jaws,” but it only managed to earn a fraction of what a film centered around a smaller animal, such as a Saint Bernard, made.

As a cinephile, I’d say that “Cujo” isn’t flawless on the silver screen, much like it wasn’t perfect in print form. The movie, as a whole, feels fragmented – the initial part is dominated by characters who are hard to root for, and explores themes of infidelity extensively. However, the second half transforms into an exhilarating journey that never strays from within a Ford Pinto. Dee Wallace delivers an exceptional performance as Donna, a mother desperately protecting her asthmatic child from the menacing dog, Cujo. Moreover, while jump scares can often be overused and cheesy, “Cujo” has one genuinely terrifying one. Stephen King’s “Cat’s Eye,” which Teague directed two years later, certainly has its merits, but for me, “Cujo” takes the cake.

3) Salem’s Lot by Tobe Hooper

A significant number of prominent horror directors from the 1980s adapted Stephen King’s works at some point. For instance, John Carpenter, who directed ‘Halloween’, took on ‘Christine’, George A. Romero, the man behind ‘Dawn of the Dead’, created ‘Creepshow’, David Cronenberg, famous for ‘The Fly’, worked on ‘The Dead Zone’, and Tobe Hooper, known for ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’, directed 1979’s ‘Salem’s Lot’. While ‘Salem’s Lot’ isn’t as excellent as ‘Christine’, ‘Creepshow’, or ‘The Dead Zone’, it stands out as the superior adaptation of King’s vampire story among the three that have been released so far.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate the way Hooper masterfully adapted Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot,” a stark contrast to his work on “The Mangler.” Much like how the Harry Potter film sequels concentrated on scenes narrated from Harry’s perspective, “Salem’s Lot” brilliantly zeroes in on the most captivating aspects of one of King’s early, sprawling novels, skillfully trimming out what wasn’t absolutely essential to the story.

4) Mr. Mercedes by Jack Bender

Jack Bender, who directed “Child’s Play 3” in 1991, is primarily recognized for his work in television. For instance, he has been instrumental in producing episodes of popular series like “Game of Thrones” and “The Sopranos”. Additionally, he has made a significant impact in adapting the works of King to the small screen as well.

Initially, he was in charge of directing nine out of the total 39 episodes of the series “Under the Dome”. Similar to this show, his later King production, “Mr. Mercedes”, ran for three seasons. However, unlike “Under the Dome”, “Mr. Mercedes” was cancelled instead of ending on its own accord. He directed 23 out of the 30 episodes of “Mr. Mercedes”, and given that it’s one of Stephen King’s more well-received television adaptations, a significant portion of credit for its success should go to him. Coming up next for Bender is “The Institute”, starring Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker. Will it receive as much critical acclaim as “Mr. Mercedes”?

5) Creepshow by George A. Romero

George A. Romero’s movie, “Creepshow,” stands as the ultimate horror anthology film, with such an exceptional blend of dark wit and unique horror narratives that not even its sequel managed to reach its lofty standard. It offers a delightful combination of humor and chilling tales, and it boasts one segment that showcases the Master of Horror himself. This particular segment is “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill,” which is among two segments adapted from Stephen King’s short stories. The remaining three were original stories written by King specifically for the big screen.

Creepshow was one of Romero’s most powerful horror films, which is understandable given his keen interest in Stephen King’s works. Besides Creepshow, Romero directed The Dark Half, created Tales from the Darkside (which adapted two King short stories, including one co-written by King himself), and wrote a segment for Tales from the Darkside: The Movie based on a pre-existing King work titled ‘The Cat from Hell’.

6) IT by Andy Muschietti

Similar to the following entry and its original content, “IT” stands out as a compelling narrative of adolescence. Just like its counterpart, this story excels with exceptional casting choices. Actors such as Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, and Sophia Lillis all deliver commendable performances. However, it is Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown that truly steals the show, offering a formidable challenge to Tim Curry’s iconic depiction.

While the film itself may not be as remarkable as its stellar cast, it unfortunately leans on subpar CGI and the questionable technique of having something charge straight towards the camera – a method that seems to believe this is frightening, but in reality, it isn’t. Nonetheless, “IT” emerges as a notable adaptation of the book’s superior half.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about the projects that Andres Muschietti is working on. While he did direct “IT CHAPTER TWO,” his involvement doesn’t stop there. He’s also taking the helm as director and executive producer for the upcoming “IT: Welcome to Derry.” Additionally, he has expanded his role beyond just directing, serving as an executive producer for “Locke & Key,” a series that brings Joe Hill’s comic book series of the same name to life.

7) Stand by Me by Rob Reiner

In terms of coming-of-age films, it’s hard to beat the 1986 movie “Stand by Me.” Stephen King’s novella “The Body” was excellent, but the film surpassed it with exceptional casting choices like Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, and particularly, River Phoenix. The movie is a strong contender for being superior to its source material. Rob Reiner’s direction in “Stand by Me” was outstanding, which is impressive considering his early films were consistently high-quality. This film was released after “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Sure Thing,” and preceded “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…”, another excellent King adaptation “A Few Good Men,” and “The American President.

Speaking of King’s adaptations, another notable one was “Misery,” which boasted excellent casting choices that truly brought the story to life. Interestingly, both films directed by Reiner from King’s works are exceptionally good yet distinct in mood. It’s intriguing that he didn’t adapt the author a third time. Yet, it’s equally surprising how Reiner managed to direct what is generally considered as the best ‘coming-of-age’ film and one of the worst – “Shirley Temple’s North.

8) The Stand by Mick Garris

Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ is one of his longer novels, making a film adaptation challenging and perhaps preferable to a miniseries. Even with extended running time, it’s quite difficult to do justice to the story. However, Mick Garris in 1994 came quite close to capturing its essence, closer than the more controversial 2020 attempt.

Additionally, Garris was responsible for directing the theatrical production and uniquely strange film “Sleepwalkers,” originally penned by Stephen King. He also directed the television movie “Riding the Bullet.” Apart from “The Stand,” he handled all three episodes of the 1997 adaptation of “The Shining” for television, and both episodes of “Bag of Bones.” Furthermore, Garris oversaw two TV movies based on King’s works: “Quicksilver Highway” and “Desperation.

9) Gerald’s Game by Mike Flanagan

Gerald’s Game was considered an impossible novel for film adaptation by many readers. However, director Mike Flanagan, together with actress Carla Gugino, successfully transformed it into one of Stephen King’s finest screen adaptations in recent years.

Following the triumph of sending “Gerald’s Game” soaring, Flanagan masterfully directed the underestimated sequel to Stephen King’s “The Shining,” titled “Doctor Sleep,” in 2019. Later on, after dabbling in a few non-King television productions, Flanagan reunited with the Horror Master himself, surprisingly enough, for a project that veered away from the horror genre: “The Life of Chuck“.

10) The Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont

Among many film enthusiasts, The Shawshank Redemption stands not only as their preferred Stephen King adaptation but as their ultimate favorite movie. For a considerable duration, it has reigned supreme on IMDb over other notable films like The Godfather, The Dark Knight, and Pulp Fiction.

Following the success of Shawshank, Darabont didn’t have just a single victory adapting King’s work. In fact, his subsequent adaptation (which was also his next film in general) earned a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This movie was titled The Green Mile. Later on, eight years after that, Darabont demonstrated that he could handle a memorable King horror story just as well with The Mist.

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2025-05-27 22:45