Stephen King Film Adaptations That Were Huge Hits

By Editorial Staff in Entertainment On 14th May 2016

His first book, Carrie, skyrocketed his career, and the success of the film adaptation secured his place as one of America’s greatest storytellers. Since then Stephen King has become on of the most prolific authors of our time, and the majority of those stories have Hollywood clamoring to make them into movies. Not all have been successful as films, but others have been named as some the highest ranking money makers of all time.

#1 Carrie (1976)

It all started with Carrie. Brian De Palma's original take on King's first published novel was, and still is, a revelatory thriller. Adding an unusual amount of depth and pathos to a traditionally shallow genre, De Palma added his signature flourishes to King's electrifying story and also scored a doozy with his cast. Both Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek received Oscar nominations for their roles. The film also starred John Travolta, William Kat, and Amy Irving. It also spawned to remakes, on in 2002 as a TV movie and a full-length feature film in 2013.

#2 Misery (1990)

Kathy Bates as the psychotic superfan Annie Wilkes earned an Oscar for her role in Misery, which also starred James Caan as a novelist she adored. Rob Reiner's nail-biting adaptation of Misery was an instant classic. Kathy Bates terrifying portrayal delivered one of the most shocking scenes ever witnessed with the infamous "hobbling" scene that made the film an instant success. Rumor has it that Warren Beatty turned down the role of Paul Sheldon, the novelist, as he thought that very frightening scene turned the character into a "loser".

#3 Dolores Claiborne (1995)

In her second Stephen King role, Kathy Bates gave another stunning performance as a woman driven to the edge. Earning her an Oscar nomination, this time the horror came from someone else, her abusive husband. There's less fright than in Misery but it's another psychologically fascinating drama, which also boasts great turns from Jennifer Jason Leigh, as her daughter, and David Strathairn, as her alcoholic husband. Bates refers to the role as the best performance she has ever given, and Time magazine named Dolores Claiborne one of the top ten greatest King adaptations.

#4 Cujo (1983)

For people who don't see dogs as big, slobbery, cuddle buddies, this movie based on the novel of the same name delivers all the horror one might expect from a Saint Bernard who is terrorizing a family after he becomes ridden with rabies. The movie was panned by critics but fans loved the suspense and terror and made it a huge blockbuster. The special effects crew did do a fantastic job in making the family pet look sick and ferocious, and that'll be enough for those people who are already unsettled by the presence of a such an enormous pup. There is a new remake based loosely on the story in the works, but this CUJO is a genetically engineered canine that has been designed purely for killing.

#5 Stand by Me (1986)

Based on the King novella, 'The Body,' Stand By Me is a coming of age story featuring an '80s all-star cast of child actors, including Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, and Kiefer Sutherland. For any 80s kid, it still stands as one of the defining films of the era and explores childhood friendship with more success than pretty much any other movie ever. King himself considered Stand by Me to be the first successful translation of his written work to film, and it ranks as one of the greatest coming of age films ever made.

#6 Children Of The Corn (1986)

Based on King's 1977 short story of the same name, critics haven't exactly been kind to Children Of The Corn, but there has been enough interest in the original movie to garner 8 sequels or revisions over the last 20 years. The story revolves around a group of Nebraska children who ritually slaughter adults to guarantee a good corn harvest. The kids are creepy, and actress Linda Hamilton finds herself stranded in the tiny town and discovers the truth about the blonde, dead-eyed children. Though the movie is based on an original Stephen King story, the entire thing seems eerily similar to the 1963 & 1964 movies Village Of The Damned and Children Of The Damned. But it must be included here as it was a very successful franchise for King.

#7 It (1990)

Technically this was a made for TV mini-series, but nonetheless, it was a rating's bonanza. The iconic 'It' clown monster image is part of pop culture. The novel of the same name was originally published in 1986 but it aired on television in 1990 as a two-night event. The clown was played by Tim Curry and the cast also included Annette O'Toole, John Ritter, and Jonathan Brandis. New Line is remaking the series as a full-length film to be released in 2017, with Will Poulter as the evil clown Pennywise.

#8 The Green Mile (1999)

After striking gold with The Shawshank Redemption, director Frank Darabont took another prison-set tale from King and turned it into another Oscar-nominated triumph. While Tom Hanks gave one of his finest performances (King originally envisioned him in the role), the real star was the late Michael Clarke Duncan who was a revelation as the gentle giant with incredible powers. Depth of storytelling combined with Stephen King's typical flair for the supernatural make The Green Mile one of the most critically acclaimed and universally loved films created from King's work.

#9 The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick directed this 1980 film which has now become iconic. It stands as one of the best films ever made and is forever embodied in the pop culture of America. The scene of Jack Nicholson with his axe breaking down the hotel room door and spurting out "Here's Johnny" has become part of the pop culture lexicon, spoofed and embraced by critics and fans since its release. The film still stands the test of time, frequently cited as one of the scariest horror films ever made. Although it veers dramatically from the original King source, it remains one of the most popular of the King based movies. It stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, and King considers this the only adaptation of one of his novels that he actually hates, despite the memorable imagery and the fortune it has earned him.

#10 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Based on a Stephen King short story titled Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, this movie touches the lives of several inmates in the Shawshank State Penitentiary, including the bond of friendship that is formed between Andy, played by Tim Robbins, and fellow inmate Red, played by Morgan Freeman. Unlike the macabre supernatural story Stephen King is known for, this one focuses more on the realistic characters behind bars at Shawshank Prison. This powerful prison-set drama took a mere 106 pages from a short story and turned it into a 142-minute epic blockbuster. It was nominated for seven Oscars and despite an underwhelming show at the box office, it became a huge hit on the television screen when it aired on pay cable networks a year later. It also helped to relaunch Morgan Freeman's career at the age of 57.

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