AuthorStephen Kingseems to have another big-screen classic on the way with the sci-fi dramaThe Life of Chuck, an adaptation of his novella of the same name. Directed byhorror movie and TV icon Mike Flanagan,The Life of Chuckis a star-studded movie depicting the emotional and mind-bending life of Tom Hiddleston’s protagonist, Charles Krantz, which all seems to lead to the end of the world.
2025’sThe Life of Chuckis an exciting story for both King and Flanagan, given that they are famously known for creating more horror-centric stories. However, since premiering at the Toronto Independent Film Festival,Mike Flanagan’sThe Life of Chuckhas been declared one of thebest Stephen King movie adaptations of all time. This early reception has made the film’s theatrical release on July 01, 2025, much more exciting. While the public has to wait a bit longer, King has other similar films and TV shows based on his work for people to enjoy in the meantime.
10Mr. Mercedes (2017-2019)
An Underrated And Thrilling Suspense Drama
Mr. Mercedesfeatures a classic crime thriller as it follows a detective trying to find the killer responsible for an unsolved massacre when the latter begins taunting him from the shadows. The series surely isn’t afeel-good story likeThe Life of Chuck. Like many of Stephen King’s stories,Mr. Mercedeshighlights the dark potential of humanity as Brendan Gleeson’s Bill Hodges investigates the killer’s dark deeds, all while exploring the dangers of obsession and unresolved grief. On top of that, the performances delivered by Gleeson and co-star Harry Treadaway keep this show a gripping game of cat and mouse.
9Dolores Claiborne (1995)
A Grounded Exploration Of Trauma And Domestic Violence
After Kathy Bates terrified audiences as Annie Wilkes inMisery, the Oscar-winning actor returned to the Stephen King universe as the titular protagonist ofDolores Claiborne. This thriller movie follows Dolores when she is accused of murdering an elderly woman and reunites with her estranged daughter, forcing them to confront their traumatic past together with Dolores’s abusive dead husband.
The way the film explores issues of physical and sexual abuse in a world that seems stacked against women has made it one of Stephen King’s most insightful and grounded tales. Considering the film’s script was written byAndorcreator Tony Gilroy, it’s no surprise thatDolores Claibornecontinues to stand out among King’s numerous adaptations.
8Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
An Overlooked But Compelling Stephen King Adaptation
Loosely based on a novella linked toThe Dark Towerbooks, this film shows a boy befriending a stranger with telekinetic powers on the run from the “low men.“Hearts in Atlantisis notable for featuring the late Anton Yelchin in his award-winning feature film. However, while there is a great supernatural mystery surrounding this movie,Hearts in Atlantisshines brightest as a miraculous coming-of-age story, the kind that King is skilled at creating. The movie focuses more on how Anthony Hopkins’s superpowered character and his new friend change each other’s lives for the better, showcasing the power of intergenerational friendships.
711/22/63 (2016)
An Emotional Adventure Through American History
This Hulu miniseries follows an English teacher whose friend shows him a hole that can send him back in time, tasking him with preventing John F. Kennedy’s assassination.11/22/63features several thrills as James Franco’s protagonist faces off against the monsters of the past, as well as history itself, which refuses to be changed.
As the series builds up to the fateful day and unweaves the many mysteries surrounding JFK’s assassination,11/22/63adds plenty of drama as its protagonist finds a new life and new love in the past, making it a gripping and emotional time-traveling adventure.
An Iconic Vision Of Terror From Director David Cronenberg
Featuring Christopher Walken in one of his most defining roles, director David Cronenberg’sThe Dead Zonefollows a man who, after waking up from a coma, gains the ability to see the lives and past and future of whoever he touches. While the film includes plenty of terror with Walken’s nightmarish visions, much of the story is carried by the protagonist’s personal journey.
As Johnny Smith struggles to live with his newfound fame as a psychic, he is also forced to rebuild his life now that his girlfriend has moved on with hers while he was asleep. Overall,The Dead Zoneis the best kind of superhero movie, one that prioritizes the humanity of its hero.
5Stand by Me (1986)
A Moving And Nostalgic Coming-Of-Age Classic
Director Rob Reiner adapted this iconic tale from King’s 1982 novella,The Body, which follows a group of young friends who venture into the woods to see a dead body in the summer of 1959. As the protagonists face off against junkyard dogs, speeding trains, and even knife-wielding local bullies,Stand By Mepresents an epic childhood adventure and a remarkable coming-of-age story. Told through the lens of protagonist, Gordie, looking back on his childhood, it’s a poignant story about what time takes from us and how we change.
Stephen King has succeeded in conveying the terrors of growing up in the most unconventional ways, andStand By Medisplays that talent best in this without relying too much on the author’s traditional brand of horror. The film is especially carried by the realistic performances by its four child leads, makingStand By Meall the more entertaining and heartbreaking.
4Doctor Sleep (2019)
A Haunting Sequel That Lives Up To Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining
Another film directed by Mike Flanagan, this horror movie does the impossible and presents an exceptional sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation ofThe Shining. Following the now grown-up Danny Torrance, who struggles with alcohol addiction like his father, Jack, before him,Doctor Sleepfinds Danny protecting a young psychic girl from a cult of immortal drifters hoping to kill her to absorb her power and extend their lifespan.
While King famously hated Kubrick’s version ofThe Shining, Flanagan stays true to both men’s stories as he continues Dan’s frightening, dreamlike journey as he encounters the ghosts of his past, brought on by both literal spirits and his own guilt-ridden memories.Doctor Sleepeven delivers the climactic book ending that King and his fans wanted to see in the original 1980 film, making it a worthy adaptation of both Kubrick’s film and King’s books.
3Gerald’s Game (2017)
One Woman’s Waking Nightmare Confined To A Single Bed
The Life of Chuckisn’t Mike Flanagan’s first film adaptation of Stephen King’s work. The director first associated himself with King by adapting the author’s suspense novel,Gerald’s Game. This Netflix film follows a woman who is handcuffed to a bed during a romantic getaway with her husband, only to find herself trapped there after the latter suddenly dies.
It seemed like a story confided mostly to a bed could have been a flop. However, Flanagan succeeds in turning King’s novel into a frightening and phantasmagoric odyssey into the protagonist’s mind. As Carla Gugino’s character struggles to survive, she is forced to face hallucinations and her own repressed trauma in the vein ofDolores Claiborne.
2The Green Mile (1999)
A Heartbreaking Portrait Of Love And Human Morality
This acclaimed drama film shows Tom Hanks as a prison guard who discovers a man on death row has miraculous healing powers, raising questions about his innocence. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture,The Green Milehas long been recognized as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.
WhileThe Life of Chuckseems to emphasize the positive aspects of life and humanity,The Green Milegoes the opposite way. The latter shows how hope and beauty tend to get snuffed out by senseless death, and how the brightest and most gentle souls are often ground down by the cruelty of the world. As such, it serves as a cautionary tale about what humanity can and should be. Such a heartwrenching story is carried by its exceptional performances, with the late Michael Clarke Duncan stealing the show as gentle giant John Coffey.
1The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
An Inspiring Prison Drama And One Of Stephen King’s Most Adored Films
The Shawshank Redemptionfollows Andy Dufresne, a man who, after being imprisoned for murders he claims he didn’t commit, is forced to spend years in the titular state prison. During his time there, he fends off abuse from his fellow inmates and the prison guards alike, Andy never loses hope or his humanity. WhileShawshan, Redemptionshowcases the very worst of humanity, the Oscar-nominated film also shows its very best.
As Andy forges an eternal friendship with fellow inmate Red and begins his long plan to escape, the film gives much-needed hope to audiences as the protagonist fights for freedom and salvation. In the end, director Frank Darabont took one ofStephen King’s novellas and created one of the most beloved and uplifting drama films of all time, the perfect thing to watch beforeThe Life of Chuck.
