Hollywood certainly loves the author Stephen King, and we do too! It’s safe to say, he really is the King of horror. However, he has plenty of great novels that are not horror and not scary. Over fifty of his books have been adapted for the big screen.
The latest film adaptation, IT, is a classic that will have you watching from behind your fingers. It’s utterly terrifying and will haunt your dreams, just as the book does. After a few sleepless nights from watching ‘It’ we thought we’d share our top five Stephen King movie adaptations.
This film scared the living daylights out of us. We guess we aren’t the only ones who have been scared by the movie though, as the ‘It’ film has topped the box office and is now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. The 1986 horror novel focuses on the experiences of seven kids as they are terrorised by a shape-shifting clown. Hopefully, Pennywise the clown won’t frighten you off a trip to the circus for life. ‘It’ is a gripping book and a great film.
The Oscar-nominated prison drama is based on Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, from his 1982 short story collection Different Seasons. The film tells the tale of a top American banker that is sent to Shawshank prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He befriends a number of fellow prisoners and most notably, an inmate named red. It’s a must-watch movie that focuses on the man’s transformation and experiences during his time in prison.
The Shining is a petrifying and spine-chilling story that will haunt you long after you turn the lights out. The movie is based on King’s third published book and is arguably his most famous piece of literature. The story scared us off going on holiday for a while (a very short while) as the story is based on a haunted hotel. We’ll say no more – find out what happens for yourself and watch it, we dare you!
Grab a box of tissues before watching this – you’ll need them. The ending of this film is a real tear-jerker. The Green Mile novel was published in 1996 and hit the big screen in 2000. The movie tells the story of a prison guard that develops a friendship with an inmate. The inmate, Coffey, is built like the hulk but seems to be kind at heart. The prison guard begins to question whether Coffey is truly guilty of murder.
This is one of King’s favourite screen adaptations too. The movie is based on the novella The Body, which was originally published in his 1982 collection Different Seasons. It’s a touching coming-of-age story that combines youth, nostalgia and a dead body.
So there you have it – our favourite Stephen King film adaptations. If you’re a big King fan too and have some old books that you want to flog, then send them to us. We’ll give you cash for any unwanted books that are sat on your shelf gathering dust. Click here to turn your books into cash.