This weekend marks the latest in a very long list of occasions in which a Stephen King adaptation is opening in theaters. On the back of some incredible reviews, The Long Walk is about to hit the big screen having broken King’s long-standing Rotten Tomatoes score record. That makes it a great time to look back at some of the best King adaptations over the years, and pay particular homage to the chilling thriller that should get a lot more attention than it does.
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1990’s Misery is still, to this day, one of the very best movies inspired by a King novel. Kathy Bates gives an iconic performance (well-deserving of her Oscar), and James Caan is as good as ever. It may not get as much attention as The Shining, IT, or Salem’s Lot, but Misery deserves to be talked about with the best of the best. This month, movie fans have a new opportunity to check it out, thanks to HBO Max.
At the start of September, HBO Max added a wave of new movie titles to its streaming roster, and Misery was among the fresh arrivals. The film can now be streamed on the platform, making it easily accessible for fans trying to dive into King’s best works ahead of The Long Walk. It’s also the beginning of Halloween season, which is always a great time to check out Stephen King movies.
The Highest-Rated Stephen King Movies
This may have come as a major surprise a few weeks back, but The Long Walk is actually the highest-rated Stephen King movie adaptation on Rotten Tomatoes. Ahead of the film’s theatrical debut this weekend, director Francis Lawrence’s emotional thriller has set itself apart from the pack, earning a 95% “Fresh” score on RT. That surpasses a King record that has been around for years.
1976’s Carrie, starring Sissy Spacek, had been the highest-rated King film on RT, sitting with a 94% approval on the site. No one expected The Long Walk, once thought impossible to adapt, to knock it off the throne, but here we are.
Misery is also on the list of RT’s best-reviewed King adaptations, sitting with a stellar 91% score. Mike Flanagan’s Gerald’s Game shares that same score, while 2017 Netflix adaptation 1922 and ’80s classic Stand By Me both come in at 92%. Both Misery and The Long Walk are part of some rare company, which will hopefully help boost the latter at the box office this weekend.
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