There's no question that Stephen King is the one of the most prominent, influential horror authors ever. Since selling his first short story in 1967, Stephen King has been a publishing machine over the past 50 years. He's penned more than 50 novels and more than 200 short stories, with plenty of other written work in between. Over the years, King has even built his own fictional universe in connecting the worlds described in his work, many of them to The Dark Tower series along with several other characters and locations that either appear or are referenced in other stories.
Not only has his work been the prime inspiration for several other authors, but for movie and television studios as well. To date, there have been more than 60 films and TV series adapted from novels, novellas, short stories, and even original screenplays. The next to be released is The Dark Tower, which is a continuation of the book series that combines elements adapted from the eight novels. The story from the movie will continue on in a Dark Tower TV series and as with the books, it is said to connect to other stories in King's universe. IT, the next Stephen King adaption to be released theatrically, is also said to have connections to the Dark Tower universe, which is evedent in the latest video tweeted out by Sony (btw, the latest IT trailer is terrifying!). You can see the full list of Stephen King's adapations and learn more about some of the connections in our infographic below!
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Stephen King's Adaptations: Film & Television Adaptations of Stephen King's Work Transcript
Over the past 50 years, Stephen King has published an expansive library in the form of books, short stories, screenplays and more. Here is a timeline of all his work that has been adapted for film or television.
*Note: Several sequels to the films listed have been produced, but they are not adapted from Stephen King's work and therefore not listed here.
1976
Carrie
Movie Based on 1974 Novel
- This was the first Stephen King novel adapted into a movie.
- The ending of the movie is different than the ending from the novel, and in fact, Stephen King liked the ending to the movie better than the ending of his own book.
1979
Salem's Lot
TV Mini-Series Based on 1975 Novel
- This was the first television mini-series (and the second film) to be based on the writings of author Stephen King.
- In the novel Pet Sematary, Rachel passes a sign for Salem's Lot proving the two are connected to the same universe.
1980
The Shining
Movie Based on 1977 Novel
- According to Shelley Duvall, the infamous "Here's Johnny!" scene took 3 days to film and the use of 60 doors.
- The book was written inside the Stanley Hotel. Stephen King stayed in the room that Danny is told not to go into.
1982
Creepshow
Movie Based on 1982 Short Stories + Original Writing
- Consists of five short films; two based on the short stories Weeds from 1976 and The Crate from 1979, the rest King wrote specifically for the film.
1983
Cujo
Movie Based on 1981 Novel
- Although King contributed significantly to the script, he declined Writer's Guild credit.
The Dead Zone
Movie Based on 1979 Novel
Christine
Movie Based on 1983 Novel
1984
Children of the Corn
Movie Based on 1977 Short Story
- Based on a short story that was originally featured in the March 1977 issue of Penthouse; it would go on to inspire seven sequels.
- On the dashboard of Burt and Vicki's car is a copy of Night Shift, the Stephen King short story collection in which Children of the Corn originally appeared.
Firestarter
Based on 1980 Novel
1985
Cat's Eye
Movie Based on Short Stories + Original Writings
- Consists of three short films; two based on the short stories Quitters, Inc. from 1978 and The Ledge from 1976, the other one was written specifically for the film.
Silver Bullet
Movie Based on 1983 Novella Cycle of the Werewolf
1986
Maximum Overdrive
Movie Based on 1983 Short Story
Stand By Me
Movie Based on 1975 Novella
- The movie is based on a short story called The Body from a book of short stories called Different Seasons. This book also includes the models for The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Apt Pupil (1998).
1987
Creepshow
Movie Based on Short Stories + Original Writings
- A sequel to the 1982 film, Creepshow 2 consists of three short films; one based on the short story The Raft from 1982, the other two were specifically written for the film.
The Lawnmower Man: A Suburban Nightmare Zone
Short Film Based on 1975 Short Story
The Running Man
Movie Based on 1982 Novel
Pet Sematary
Movie Based on 1983 Novel
- The idea for this story came about when King's daughter's cat, Smuckey, was killed on the highway outside their home. Smuckey's name appears on gravestones in the pet cemetery, in both the film and the novel.
1990
Tales From the Darkside: The Movie
Movie Based on 1990 Short Story
- The movie consists of three short films; one based on the short story The Cat from Hell from 1977, the other two, Lot 249 & Lover's Vow have no connection to King.
Graveyard Shift
Movie Based on 1970 Short Story
It
TV Mini-Series Based on 1986 Novel
- The night guard in the asylum is called Koontz, named after Stephen King's rival author Dean R. Koontz.
- It was released in 1990, the same year that Bill Skarsgård was born. Skarsgård will portray Pennywise in the theatrical remake of It (2017).
Misery
Movie Based on 1987 Novel
- As of 2017, Misery is the only Stephen King adaptation to receive an Academy Award; Kathy Bates won for Best Actress.
- In the film, there is mention of a "guy who went mad in a hotel nearby". This is a reference to The Shining.
1991
Sometimes They Come Back
TV Movie Based on 1974 Short Story
Golden Years
TV Series, Original Screenplay
- King called Golden Years a "novel for television"; it originated as an idea for a novel that sat in King's notebook for years.
- King credited Twin Peaks for making it possible for Golden Years to be produced.
1992
The Lawnmower Man
- An adaptation in title only; King eventually sued New Line Cinema in order to have his name removed from the film's title.
Sleepwalkers
Movie, Original Screenplay
1993
The Dark Half
Movie Based on 1989 Novel
- The Dark Half and Needful Things both featured the character Sheriff Alan Pangborn. However, the character was portrayed by different actors in each film.
The Tommy Knockers
TV Mini-Series Based on 1987 Novel
Needful Things
Movie Based on 1990 Novel
1994
The Stand
TV Mini-Series Based on 1978 Novel
The Shawshank Redemption
Movie Based on 1982 Novella
- In Stephen King's original story, Red was written as a white Irishman. In the movie, they left the line, "Maybe it's 'cause I'm Irish" in as a joke, even after they had cast Morgan Freeman as Red.
- The Shawshank Redemption received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and was the most rented video of 1995.
1995
The Mangler
Movie Based on 1972 Short Story
Dolores Clairborne
Movie Based on 1992 Novel
The Langoliers
TV Mini-Series Based on 1990 Novella
1996
Thinner
Movie Based on 1984 Novel
1997
The Shining
TV Mini-Series; 2nd Adaptation of the 1977 Novel
- King, who disliked Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation in 1980, wrote the teleplay for this. He wanted to be more hands-on and was sure to include elements of the novel that were cut out of the film.
Quicksilver Highway
TV Series Based on Short Story
- The movie consists of two short films; one based on the short story Chattery Teeth from 1993, the other is based on a short story by Clive Barker.
The Night Flier
Movie Based on 1988 short Story
Trucks
TV Movie Based on 1978 Short Story
1998
Apt Pupil
Movie Based on 1982 Novella
Storm of the Century
TV Mini-Series, Original Screenplay
- The movie takes place on Little Tall Island off the coast of Maine, the same setting as King's Dolores Clairborne.
- The series refers to Derry, the fictional town in other Stephe King works, It (1990) and Insomnia.
1999
The Green Mile
Movie Based on 1996 Novel
- More than thirty works of Stephen King have been adapted to movies, but this was the only one to break the 100 million dollar mark ($136,801,374) at the U.S. box office.
2001
Hearts in Atlantis
Based on 1999 Novella
2002
Rose Red
TV Mini-Series, Original Screenplay
The Dead Zone
TV Series Based on 1979 Novel
Carrie
Movie, 2nd Adaptation of 1974 Novel
2003
Dreamcatcher
Movie Based on 2001 Novel
2004
Kingdom Hospital
TV Series Based on Lars Von Trier's Mini-Series The Kingdom
Secret Window
Movie Based on 1990 Novella Secret Window, Secret Garden
Salem's Lot
TV Mini-Series, Second Adaptation of 1975 Novel
Riding the Bullet
Based on 2002 Novella
2005
Gotham Cafe
Short Film Based on 1995 Short Story Lunch at the Gotham Café
2006
Desperation
TV Movie Based on 1996 Novel
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
TV Mini-Series Based on 1993 Short Story Collection
2007
The Mist
Movie Based on 1980 Novella
No Smoking
Movie Based on 1978 Short Story
1408
Movie Based on 1999 Short Story
- The axe the fireman uses to break down the hotel door at the end of the movie is the same axe the Jack Nicholson used in The Shining (1980).
- The numbers 1,4,0 and 8 add up to 13, a number of great significance to the movie.
2009
Children of the Corn
Movie, 2nd Adaptation of 1977 Short Story
Dolan's Cadillac
Movie Based on 1985 Short Story
2010
Haven
TV Series Loosely Inspired by 2005 Novel The Colorado Kid
2011
Bag of Bones
TV Mini-Series Based on 1998 Novel
Under the Dome
TV Series Based on 2009 Novel
- The series is based on Stephen King's novel Under the Dome. In his afterword, King says he first started the novel with 75 pages in 1976, then set it aside until 2007-2009.
2013
Carrie
Movie, 3rd Adaptation of 1974 Novel
- This was the third adaptation of Carrie. King questioned why this was made when the original was so good.
2014
A Good Marriage
Movie Based on 2010 Novella (Screenplay by Stephen King)
Mercy
Movie Based on 1985 Short Story
Big Driver
TV Movie Based on the Novella, 2010
2016
11.22.63
Hulu Original Programming Based on 2011 Novel
Cell
Movie Based on 2006 Novel (Screenplay by Stephen King)
2017
The Mist
TV Series Based on 1980 Novella
- Though the series was announced after the release of the film adaptation in 2007, production didn't begin until summer of 2016 with the show premiering in June 2017. (The story was released in stand-alone paperback form to coincide with the TV series as well.)
The Dark Tower
Movie Based on 1991 Novel
- Said to be based on part three of the eight-part series of novels, The Dark Tower movie will precede a television adaptation that is said to be a continuation of the franchise. Idris Elba, who plays the Gunslinger, is set to be involved with the series.
Mr. Mercedes
TV Series Based on 2014 Novel
It
Movie Based on 1986 Novel
- This movie is set to be released 27 years after the original television release. In the book, it is mentioned that "It" returns to Derry approximately 27 years.
- Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård is attached to the 2018 Hulu series Castle Rock based on stories by Stephen King.
Sources:
IMDb.com, StephenKing.com, StephenKing.wikia.com, Wikipedia.com
That's a whole lot of things to watch! We're pretty sure even more went into production in the time it took us to put this together. Which Stehen King movie or book is your favorite? Is there one that stands out to you as most scary? For us, it's a tie between IT and Pet Semetary, but there are tons of other honorable mentions. Leave us a comment on here or our Facebook page and let us know what you're afraid of. If you aren't coulrophobic (afraid of clowns), maybe you'll want to pick up a scary clown costume for scaring others. You know, for laughs.
Design Credit: Travis Green
