Must Watch Stephen King Movies by Gruesome Magazine’s Dave Dreher
DAVE DREHER’S TOP 10 FAVORITE STEPHEN KING MOVIES and TV Mini-Series.
Dave Dreher joins Doc Rotten to share his top 10 favorite Stephen King films. These are films that mean something to GM’s News writer and film/book reviewer. He has read most every Stephen King book and has a interested take on what films and tv series will make his top 10 list. Join us and Enjoy!
IN CHRONILOGICAL ORDER
Salem’s Lot (1979 mini-series)
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Written by: Paul Monash (teleplay), based on Stephen King’s novel
Starring: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia
What It’s About: A writer returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot only to find the townspeople falling under the influence of a vampire master. The slow-burn tension, eerie buildup, and unforgettable window-scratching vampire boy scene cement this as one of the most frightening King adaptations of the era.
Creepshow (1982)
Directed by: George A. Romero
Written by: Stephen King (original screenplay)
Starring: Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen, E.G. Marshall, Stephen King
What It’s About: An anthology love letter to EC Horror Comics, containing five segments ranging from darkly funny to outright disturbing. King’s humor and Romero’s visual flair combine to make one of the most iconic horror anthologies ever made.
The Dead Zone (1983)
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: Jeffrey Boam
Starring: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Martin Sheen
What It’s About: After a near-fatal accident, Johnny Smith awakens with psychic abilities that allow him to see visions of people’s pasts and futures. His moral dilemma about stopping a future political catastrophe gives the film surprising dramatic depth.
The Stand (1994, mini-series)
Directed by: Mick Garris
Written by: Stephen King
Starring: Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Jamey Sheridan, Rob Lowe, Miguel Ferrer
What It’s About: A deadly superflu wipes out most of humanity, leaving survivors to choose between the forces of good and evil. King’s screenplay remains extremely faithful to the novel, giving fans a sprawling, apocalyptic epic.
The Night Flier (1997)
Directed by: Mark Pavia
Written by: Mark Pavia & Jack O’Donnell
Starring: Miguel Ferrer, Julie Entwisle
What It’s About: A hard-edged tabloid reporter investigates a mysterious serial killer who travels via private plane—and what he discovers is far more supernatural than expected. A cult favorite thanks to its gritty atmosphere and Ferrer’s intense performance.
The Shining (1997, mini-series)
Directed by: Mick Garris
Written by: Stephen King
Starring: Steven Weber, Rebecca De Mornay, Courtland Mead
What It’s About: King’s more faithful retelling of his novel, depicting Jack Torrance’s descent with more tragedy, addiction-focused drama, and supernatural clarity than Kubrick’s version.
Storm of the Century (1999)
Directed by: Craig R. Baxley
Written by: Stephen King (original teleplay)
Starring: Tim Daly, Colm Feore, Debrah Farentino
What It’s About: A mysterious stranger arrives during a ferocious blizzard, demanding one cryptic thing from the trapped townspeople: “Give me what I want, and I’ll go away.” The tension builds as secrets unravel and the town faces an impossible choice.
1408 (2007)
Directed by: Mikael Håfström
Written by: Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Starring: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson
What It’s About: A skeptical writer who debunks paranormal claims spends one night in a notoriously cursed hotel room—only to face psychological torment and supernatural horrors that may break him.
The Mist (2007)
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Written by: Frank Darabont, based on the novella by Stephen King
Starring: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, Andre Braugher
What It’s About: After a violent storm, a mysterious mist rolls into a small Maine town, trapping a group of people inside a supermarket. As monstrous creatures lurk outside, human fear and desperation begin to take over inside. The survivors must choose between staying put, fighting back, or risking the unknown beyond the mist.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Written by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran
What It’s About: An adult Danny Torrance faces his traumatic childhood and teams up with a gifted young girl to battle a nomadic cult that feeds on psychic power. Flanagan blends King’s novel and Kubrick’s film into a single, cohesive narrative.