The Sci-Fi Thriller That Stephen King Called ‘Painful To Watch’ Just Joined Paramount+

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Stephen King is a hugely popular author whose books have been made into many films and TV shows, and he’s also a big movie fan himself. He’s known for freely sharing his opinions on new releases, both positive and negative – he’s openly disliked films like Kill Bill Vol. 1 while enthusiastically recommending movies such as The Autopsy of Jane Doe. Now, Paramount+ subscribers can stream a film King famously described as “painfully good,” a sci-fi thriller that began streaming in November after being unavailable for 16 years.

I recently watched The Road, and wow, it’s a really powerful film. It’s based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel, directed by John Hillcoat and adapted with Joe Penhall. It takes place in a completely broken, post-apocalyptic America, and follows a father, played by Viggo Mortensen, and his son as they just try to survive. They’re constantly on the move, searching for a safe place, and avoiding some truly terrifying groups of people along the way. It’s a pretty bleak story, but incredibly moving. I just saw it added to Paramount+ on November 25th, so I finally got around to watching it.

Why Did Stephen King Say The Road Is “Painful To Watch”?

Simply put, The Road is a powerfully emotional film. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world and is a brilliant example of compelling storytelling. Director Hillcoat and screenwriter Penhall created a movie that continues to deeply move audiences, portraying a father’s unwavering fight to safeguard his son’s innocence and humanity in a desolate, ash-covered landscape where civilization has fallen.

As a huge fan, I think The Road is one of the most powerful and believable post-apocalyptic movies ever made. Even Stephen King, the author of the book it’s based on, said it was tough to watch – not because it was poorly done, but because it really gets to you emotionally. It’s a heavy film, and it stays with you long after the credits roll.

In his 2010 list of the best movies from 2009 for Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King praised the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s apocalyptic novel, The Road, calling it beautifully stark and haunting. He noted the film was often difficult to watch—he even recalled hearing the projectionist cry during a screening—but highlighted Viggo Mortensen’s performance as the devoted father as Oscar-worthy.

A lot of people appear to share King’s opinion, and Rotten Tomatoes’ critics agree, noting that The Road “might be too difficult for certain viewers.”

What’s New on Paramount+?

Paramount+ had a fantastic November for new content! The month kicked off with additions like 21 Jump Street, American Made, Catch Me If You Can, Cujo, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and most of the Indiana Jones movies. And on November 25th, The Road joined the lineup. Looking ahead to December, Paramount+ is adding even more titles on December 1st, including Annihilation, the 2005 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Forrest Gump, and Inglourious Basterds.

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2025-11-26 17:43