With nearly a hundred books to his name, Stephen King is one of the most prolific and celebrated authors of our time, widely acknowledged as the master of horror. From haunted hotels and ghostly supermarkets to possessed prisoners and mysterious shopkeepers, King’s work has covered every shade of terror, both supernatural and psychological, and his works have been adapted for the screen numerous times over the years. But the problem with being so prolific and having so many adaptations of your work is that some are better than others.
Netflix has a sizable collection of titles adapted from Stephen King novels and novellas in its catalog, including shows and movies based on some of his most gripping, chilling, and thrilling works. So if you’re a fan of the King of Horror, there’s a lot to choose from on the streaming platform, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our ranked guide to the best Stephen King movies and shows you can watch right now on Netflix.
7
‘Firestarter’ (2022)
Directed by Keith Thomas, Firestarter is a sci-fi horror thriller based on King’s 1980 novel and a remake of the novel’s 1984 film adaptation by Mark Lester. The film tells the story of Charlene “Charlie” McGee (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), a troubled little girl with anger issues and dangerous pyrokinetic abilities who is hunted down by a secret government agency that seeks to control her. The film also stars Zac Efron, Sydney Lemmon, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Greyeyes, Gloria Reuben, and John Beasley in his final film role.
2022’s Firestarter received much tougher criticisms than the 1984 adaptation, with critics panning the film for its uninspired narrative and lack of thrills. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 10%, it is definitely not one of the better screen adaptations of Stephen King’s stories, nor is it one of Blumhouse’s best productions. That being said, the film’s campy quality might find its audience in genre fans seeking a totally escapist streaming movie.
6
‘In the Tall Grass’ (2019)
A Canadian supernatural horror thriller written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, In the Tall Grass is an adaptation of the eponymous novella written by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill. The story follows a pregnant young woman and her brother on the drive to San Diego, who are drawn into a field of grass by a little boy’s cry for help and soon find themselves lost in a primal horror. The film stars Harrison Gilbertson, Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Will Buie Jr., Rachel Wilson, and Patrick Wilson.
Combining themes of the paranormal, philosophical, and mystical, In the Tall Grass is both engaging and terrifying. The film thrives mostly in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the never-ending maze of towering grass and the cosmic horror narrative. On its release, the movie earned a mixed response, with critics praising the film’s faithfulness to the original story and the way it successfully translates the source material’s atmosphere to the screen, and it also earned positive reviews for Patrick Wilson’s compelling performance.
5
‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’ (2022)
Written and directed by John Lee Hancock, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is an adaptation of King’s novella from the collection If It Bleeds. The film follows Craig, a teenage boy who befriends the titular billionaire, but after Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig discovers that he can communicate with his friend from the beyond. Donald Sutherland stars as John Harrigan, Jaeden Martell as Craig, with Joe Tippett, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Cyrus Arnold in supporting roles.
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is part supernatural horror story and part coming-of-age drama, exploring grief, technology addiction, and revenge in a grounded, emotional narrative. Unlike generic horror films whose core purpose is to incite fear of an impending doom, the Netflix film is more character-driven, diving into Harrigan and Craig’s particular character arcs and their dynamics. While the film had mixed reviews on its Netflix premiere, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone was deemed “brilliant” by King, and it is a well-made horror film that the author’s fans are sure to enjoy.
4
‘11.22.63’ (2016)
Based on Stephen King’s 2011 novel, 11.22.63 is a sci-fi thriller miniseries developed by Bridget Carpenter and produced by J.J. Abrams. James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a divorced English teacher who travels back in time to the 1960s to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But when he starts getting attached to his new life in the past, it puts his mission and history itself in danger. The show also features Chris Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Lucy Fry, George MacKay, and Daniel Webber in key roles.
11.22.63 is a well-crafted alternate history series that successfully blends history, conspiracy theory, drama, sci-fi, and time travel into a thrilling narrative. The eight-part series is anchored by James Franco’s outstanding performance as a man torn between past and present, with critics comparing his acting style to Old Hollywood stars. Interesting and intriguing in every episode, the Hulu original series is easily one of the most well-made and well-performed screen adaptations of King’s work.
3
‘1922’ (2017)
Written and directed by Zak Hilditch, 1922 is a horror film based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name, published in his 2010 collection, Full Dark, No Stars. Set in Nebraska in the early 20th century, 1922 follows a farmer named Wilfred “Wilf” James, who murders his wife with the help of his teenage son and becomes tormented by guilt and shame as they slowly lose everything they held dear. Thomas Jane leads the cast as Wilf, with Dylan Schmid, Molly Parker, Kaitlyn Bernard, Bob Frazer, Brian d’Arcy James, and Neal McDonough in key roles.
Often considered one of Netflix’s best original thrillers, 1922 has been well praised by critics for its justice to the theme, tone, and essence of the original story. The narrative steers clear of any dramatic moments or clichéd horror motifs, but plays more on the slowly corroding life and psychological decay of its protagonists. The well-paced storytelling and strong performances make 1922 one of the better adaptations of King’s stories ever to hit screens, even if it’s a relatively underrated one.
2
‘Castle Rock’ (2018–2019)
Created by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason, Castle Rock is a unique screen adaptation of Stephen King’s work, in that it’s not based on any specific novel or short story but the eponymous fictional town that appears as a frequent setting for the author’s stories. The anthology series consists of two separate stories, each following a diverse set of characters who are linked to the titular town through unpredictable, mysterious events. Each season of Castle Rock stars an ensemble cast, with Bill Skarsgård, André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Lizzy Caplan, and Tim Robbins playing notable roles.
Castle Rock intelligently combines supernatural horror, mystery, and psychological thriller into an intimate, intense drama that does justice to King’s world-building. Despite strong allusions to various popular works, the show’s characters and storylines remain distinctive to the show, elevated by chilling performances by Skarsgård in Season 1 and Caplan in Season 2. A dark, character-focused, and atmospheric horror series, Castle Rock is easily one of the best TV renditions of Stephen King’s literary canon.
1
‘Gerald’s Game’ (2017)
Directed and co-written by Mike Flanagan and adapted from King’s 1992 novel, Gerald’s Game is a chilling psychological thriller that follows Jessie and Gerald, a couple who go to an isolated lake house for a romantic getaway. While exploring a sexual fantasy, Gerald handcuffs Jessie to the bed, but dies of a heart attack, leaving her trapped with no way to escape or get help. Bruce Greenwood stars as Gerald and Carla Gugino as Jessie, with Carel Struycken, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel in supporting roles.
King’s novel was long considered unfilmable because of its deeply internal narrative, until Flanagan came along and masterfully translated it into an atmospheric horror that largely takes place in Jessie’s mind. Although slow and deliberate, its pace never feels stagnant, creating constant tension through Jessie’s physical and mental struggles, which Carla Gugino brings to life with a phenomenal performance. Gerald’s Game has been critically acclaimed for its direction, acting, and treatment of the novel, and it’s easily one of the greatest Stephen King adaptations of all time.
- Release Date
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September 29, 2017
- Runtime
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104 minutes
- Producers
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D. Scott Lumpkin, Matt Levin, Trevor Macy
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