New Stephen King Movie Loses Rotten Tomatoes Record (After Initially Beating 49-Year-Old Classic)

by

Over the years, many of Stephen King’s stories have been adapted for the screen, with varying degrees of success. His latest adaptation, *The Long Walk*, is being hailed as one of the very best – not just recently, but ever. Critics praised the film’s suspenseful direction and strong performances, particularly from Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, even before it was released earlier this month. For a short time, *The Long Walk* held the record for the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any Stephen King adaptation, surpassing the classic *Carrie* from 1976. While it’s no longer at the top, it still boasts an excellent score.

Okay, let’s talk about *The Long Walk*. I’ve been keeping an eye on its reception, and it’s currently sitting at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. It actually dipped a little from its initial 96% right before release, but don’t let that fool you. With 237 reviews in, it’s still incredibly well-regarded. In fact, it’s tied with *The Shawshank Redemption* as one of the highest-rated Stephen King adaptations out there – a pretty impressive feat!

Rank Movie Critics Score
1 Carrie 94%
2 Stand By Me 92%
3 1922 92%
4 Gerald’s Game 91%
5 Misery 91%
6 The Shawshank Redemption 89%
7 The Long Walk 89%

Can The Long Walk Be 2025’s Best-Reviewed Stephen King Movie?

Despite being the third Stephen King adaptation released in theaters this year, *The Long Walk* continues the trend of critical success. *The Monkey* earned a 77% approval rating from critics in February, followed by *The Life of Chuck* with 81% in June (after premiering at film festivals last year). *The Long Walk* has also resonated with audiences, achieving an 85% audience score.

Stephen King has had a busy year for movie adaptations, and there’s one more coming soon. Edgar Wright’s new version of *The Running Man* arrives in November. It will be interesting to see how critics receive it, especially compared to the recent adaptation of *The Long Walk*. Wright’s films are generally very well-received; even his lowest-rated movie, 2021’s *Last Night in Soho*, earned a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most of his other films score in the 80s and 90s, with *Shaun of the Dead* and *Baby Driver* sharing the highest score of 92%.

While Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a popular version of *The Running Man* in the 1980s, even he believes a new take from director Edgar Wright could be even better. Wright appears to be staying more faithful to the original story, combining its serious tone with his signature action and humor. This isn’t a simple remake, but a fresh adaptation. Early signs are promising, with Glen Powell poised to deliver a compelling performance as the lead. With a strong team behind it, this new *Running Man* has the potential to be another critical success for Wright.

Getting a score of 89% on review sites is a significant achievement. While Edgar Wright has reached this level of critical success before, it’s not a sure thing for any movie. It’s possible *The Running Man* will receive very good reviews, but land closer to the 83% rating of *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* instead of the 91% achieved by *Hot Fuzz*. Given Wright’s history, it’s unlikely the film will be poorly received. So, even if it doesn’t surpass *The Long Walk* in terms of critical acclaim, fans of Stephen King should still find a lot to appreciate in 2025.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/10-stephen-king-adaptations-that-ignored-the-books-including-the-long-walks-superior-ending/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-20 19:15