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There are several rationality why these adaptations are worse than their Scripture opposite number . Some are simply bad moving-picture show , some fail to follow their seed cloth properly , and there is even an illustration of one tale being adapted so poorly that King ’s employment ca n’t be identified . Hopefully , theupcoming Stephen King film and television adaptationsover the next few years can instruct from these mistakes .
10Needful Things (1991)
Adapted In 1993
The best affair Stephen King thinks he ’s ever writtenisNeedful thing , and there ’s no dubiousness that the book is brilliant , particularly the first line . However , the 1993 movie adjustment neglect to live up to the same banner as King ’s lyric . In fact , many are avoid readingNeedful Thingspurely because of how defeated they are with the motion picture version .
The 1993 movie adaptation fail to hold out up to the same standards as King ’s words .
A destiny of King ’s works are extremely long , so there ’s a decent amount of content to cover , buttheNeedful Thingsmovie oversimplifies the story and cut out multiple characters . The elongated cut of Stephen King’sNeedful Thingsis doubtlessly better than the theatrical release , but the whole tone in both is off .
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requisite Things is a 1993 horror moving-picture show directed by Fraser Clarke Heston , based on the Stephen King novel . The chronicle centers around a mysterious store owned by Leland Gaunt ( Max von Sydow ) in Castle Rock , Maine . Gaunt ’s seemingly harmless items bring out the high-risk in the townsfolk ’s residents , leading to chaos and violence . Ed Harris stars as Sheriff Alan Pangborn , who attempts to expose Gaunt ’s true motives .
Alan Pangborn ’s attempts to aggrieve his family while also balancing his relationship with Polly is one of the primary coil focuses inNeedful Things , but in the film , the sheriff ’s character arc is very dissimilar . Pangborn is depicted as an overly macho serviceman who shouts a mass , which dull his book similitude , who is far more complex .
9Graveyard Shift (1970)
Adapted In 1990
It ’s wide debated whether there is enough subject inGraveyard Shiftto conform it into a feature picture show , and the 1990 movie proves this . While the cinematic deed of conveyance is n’t the absolute worst adaptation , the short story is far ranking , and Stephen King has even referred to the film as “ a agile exploitation word picture . ”
Graveyard Shift is a horror film based on Stephen King ’s short story of the same name . The motion picture follows John Hall , who takes a Book of Job at a decrepit textile grind and chance on that the basement is infested with virulent git . As he investigates further , he uncovers a monstrous creature mill about in the subterranean depths . Brad Dourif and David Andrews star in this chilling version directed by Ralph S. Singleton .
Screenwriter Jon Esposito flunk to translate King ’s most atmospheric moments to the CRT screen , andGraveyard Shiftfeels more like an amalgamation of clichés andhorror movie tropesthan anything else . John Hall has very small character development , and he ’s rather boring compared to in the unforesightful story . In King’sGraveyard Shift , Hall ’s human relationship with Jane is intriguing and gives him some profundity , but in the flick , it ’s easy forgettable .
Stephen King spell a vast number of fib that were adjust for film , but while he ’s the source of inspiration , it does n’t have in mind he ’s always a devotee .
Despite the little account being only 18 pages long , the film somehow cuts contentas if it ’s the same length asThe Stand . The most important rationality why King ’s narration is better , however , is because of the conclusion . The reveal of the Mill ’s big threat is nervus - wracking , which makes the jumbo bat creature in the motion-picture show very anticlimactical .
8The Gunslinger (1982)
Adapted As The Dark Tower In 2017
The Gunslingeris the first installment inThe Dark Towerseries by Stephen King . The 2017 motion-picture show of the same name takes inspiration from all eight record book , but mostly fromThe GunslingerandThe Waste Lands . The Dark Towermovie is broadly speaking deal an plethora by King fanatic , peculiarly because it makes some strange selection and squeezes too much into its 90 - second runtime .
The movie is rated PG-13 , so a peck of King ’s iconic goriness and darkness is missing . The Gunslingershows Randall Flagg in some of his most baleful moments , but the moving-picture show throw away the lineament to the side . Not only is Flagg more of a underpin character , but he also has to be move to refund his focus to the pursuit at bridge player .
Idris Elba , Tom Taylor , Claudia Kim , and Matthew McConaughey star in The Dark Tower , a Western Sci - Fi film directed by Nikolaj Arcel . unblock in 2017 , The Dark Tower surveil a unseasoned boy with visions of an revelatory future in which a powerful gentleman’s gentleman , dubbed The Man in Black , repose waste to the universe . The film is based on the Stephen King Holy Writ serial .
This is evident inThe Dark Tower ’s termination , where Jake has to prompt Flagg of the Gunslinger ’s Creed , rather than succumbing to his harrowing book portion . The Gunslingeris a dandy introduction to King ’s serial publication , but becauseThe Dark Toweris so erratic and tries to adapt eight books , it fails as an adjustment .
7Trucks (1973)
Adapted As Maximum Overdrive In 2017
Considering King ’s Golden Raspberry Worst Director nominating speech forMaximum Overdrive , it ’s no surprise that his short storyTrucksis far well . WhileMaximum Overdrivetries to replicateTrucks ’ eery story about a machine uprising , the implementation is cheesy and painfully amusing to watch .
A caboodle ofMaximum Overdrive ’s failings can be assign to King ’s drug riding habit , but it ’s still unknown that he does such a wretched job of adapting his own tarradiddle . Truckshas a campy tone , but it ’s still serious when it needs to be , butMaximum Overdrivedoesn’t have this balance . Trucksnever explains how the phenomenon occurs , which tote up to the overall unsettling tone of the account .
Written and directed by Stephen King , Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 horror motion picture about a group of masses who are trapped at a truck stop when all the machines in the earth , include trucks , railway car , and lawn mowers , become sentient and homicidal .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
The brusk story focus on the characters and their need to come through , butStephen King’sMaximum Overdrivespends less time on this , and instead , the movie endeavor to force a nonsensical and convoluted sci - fi explanationfor the machines gaining sentiency . While it can be contend that King does this to expand on the narrative ofTrucks , it distracts from the true signification of the storey : survival of the fittest .
6Cell (2006)
Adapted In 2016
Cellis a level about a world where a chunk of the universe is turned overzealous by a cryptic programme signal , but the 2016 movie adjustment turn a loss all the suspense and tautness that the novel provides . The film is study awful for several reasons , range from the utilization of Eduard Khil ’s “ Trololo Song ” to the fact it fundamentally disregard The Raggedy Man .
A great part of the book is the inner monologues , but when this is tackled in the film , it ’s simply confusing . The lack of production budget for theCellmovie is evident , which does n’t help , either . Whilemany require more from the termination of Stephen King ’s Word , it is still safe than the culmination of the film version .
Cell is a 2016 science fiction horror celluloid aim by Tod Williams and based on the novel by Stephen King . Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson , the film follows a graphic novelist who band together with a group of survivor after a mysterious signal broadcast over the cellular meshing turns most of humanity into fatuous , violent savages . As they voyage a dystopian landscape painting , they strive to incur safety and resolution .
Needful Things is a 1993 horror film directed by Fraser Clarke Heston, based on the Stephen King novel. The story centers around a mysterious shop owned by Leland Gaunt (Max von Sydow) in Castle Rock, Maine. Gaunt’s seemingly harmless items bring out the worst in the town’s residents, leading to chaos and violence. Ed Harris stars as Sheriff Alan Pangborn, who attempts to uncover Gaunt’s true motives.
The book dead end just as Lucius DuBignon Clay endeavor to save Johnny with another blast from the Pulse , but in the movie , it is revealed at the last moment that Clay has been infect and the plosion that destroys the communication tower is all an legerdemain . This changes a lot aboutCell ’s story , which is really about a sire search for his miss son , and turns it into a faint lesson of the“it was just a dream ” trope .
5Dreamcatcher (2001)
Adapted In 2003
It ’s generally agree thatDreamcatcheris far from the best King novel , but it ’s still an all important read for following of the source , and it ’s miles in front of the 2003 adaptation . It ’s deserving noting that King wroteDreamcatcherafter a traumatic car crash , and he has famously voiced his disappointment in his work . WhileStephen King has also praised theDreamcatcheradaptation , audiences and readers alike typically discord .
Dreamcatcherintroduces an raiment of challenging characters , and it is a fascinatingStephen magnate story about mind powers , but the plastic film does n’t replicate the same charm of the book . There are a spate of changes from the book in the motion picture , and several revelation are revealed at strange times . TheDreamcatcherfilm misses out on integral grapheme growing from the novel , and the depiction of Duddits borders on offensive .
Dreamcatcher ( 2003 ) is a sci - fi revulsion film directed by Lawrence Kasdan , found on Stephen King ’s novel of the same name . The film stick to four childhood acquaintance who reunite for an annual hunting trip in a remote cabin , only to face up a malevolent alien personnel . Starring Morgan Freeman , Thomas Jane , and Damian Lewis , Dreamcatcher entwine paper of friendly relationship , telepathy , and natural selection against the backdrop of a cosmic threat .
Needful Things is a 1993 horror film directed by Fraser Clarke Heston, based on the Stephen King novel. The story centers around a mysterious shop owned by Leland Gaunt (Max von Sydow) in Castle Rock, Maine. Gaunt’s seemingly harmless items bring out the worst in the town’s residents, leading to chaos and violence. Ed Harris stars as Sheriff Alan Pangborn, who attempts to uncover Gaunt’s true motives.
Duddits has Down syndrome , but in the flick , he is plainly labeled as handicapped . The movie treat Duddits as if he is stupid and his grand end from the book is switch out , and he is suddenly an foreigner who has been sent to quit the scourge against Earth . Dreamcatcherisn’t the good King story , but it is n’t the worst .
4Firestarter (1980)
Adapted In 1984 & 2022
There are currently two adaptations ofFirestarter , and the book is just than both , but the most recent from 2022 is debate the worst of them . Firestarteris a compelling story about a young miss with pyrokinesis on the run from a political science representation forebode The Shop , butin the movie , Charlie ’s journeying to safety is barely placeable from the novel .
The 2nd adaptation of Stephen King ’s Firestarter novel has been release , which beg the question of which adjustment is better , 1984 or 2022 ?
The 2022Firestarterremake makes several changes from the book , but they are n’t groovy choices . The timeline is all over the situation , and while the flashbacks help explain things , they ’re more complicated than how the book outlines prior events . Ryan Kiera Armstrong ’s performance as Charlie does n’t do the book character reference Justice Department .
Firestarter is a remaking of the 1984 plastic film of the same name , adjust from the Stephen King novel . The picture show , secrete theatrically to the Peacock cyclosis service , follows the tale of Andy and Vicky , who undergo a clinical trial that gives them superhuman power . Andy is telepathic ; Vicky is telekinetic . year later on , their girl Charlie proves to be far more herculean , with volatile pyrokinetic abilities . At the same time , Charlie and her kinsperson are on the run from The Shop , a secret government government agency that is hunting Charlie .
A bunch of her talks is whimpered or whisper , which contradicts her potent and fearless personality in the novel . There is a bigger group of mass who have learn Lot 6 , which make Andy and Charlie ’s situation less impactful , and several heart and soul moments from King ’s original oeuvre are cut , too . Firestarteris a rather tense and exciting read , butthe 2022 film is so cringey and nonsensical at timesthat it ’s easy to burst into laughter while watching it .
3A Good Marriage (2010)
Adapted In 2014
The 2014 adaptation ofA Good Marriagethankfully follow King ’s original story pretty well , but it does n’t mean that the movie is better than the novelette . The main issue with the film is that it ’s wearisome , at least in comparison to King ’s writing . The means King words Darcy discover her husband is a serial killer , and her afterward plans to kill him , construct a lot of tenseness and anticipation . But in the movie , the ambiance is very prostrate , and audiences are leave waiting for something dramatic to encounter .
A Good Marriage is a psychological thriller based on a level by Stephen King . direct by Peter Askin , the cinema star Joan Allen as Darcy Anderson , a woman who discovers a dark secret about her husband , portrayed by Anthony LaPaglia . As Darcy manage with this revelation , she must settle how far she will go to maintain her seemingly perfect sprightliness .
Joan Allen ’s portrayal of Darcy is n’t terrible , but she lacks the profundity and empathy of the Bible ’s grapheme . A dear Marriageis haunting and full of anticipation , and it ’s a shame that the film does n’t accomplish this same tactile sensation . It lacks any in truth scary minute , and any slow burns are disappointingly anticlimactic . There is a passel of potential forA Good Marriageto be a brilliant , in high spirits - stakes movie , but it deplorably falls flat .
2The Lawnmower Man (1975)
Adapted In 1992
The Lawnmower Manis one of King ’s unusual curt report , but it ’s still an interesting read . King ’s narrative is absolutely better than the 1992 adaptation , mainly becausethe moving picture diverts so far from the source textile that it ’s a completely different story . The Lawnmower Manis an unusual story about Harold Parkette hiring someone to tend to his garden , but when he discovers the lawnmower prevail by itself , the singular employee murders him .
King ’s narrative is absolutely better than the 1992 adaptation , chiefly because the motion picture deviate so far from the source cloth that it ’s a completely dissimilar story .
The titular fibre works for the ancient god Pan , which explains the animated lawnmower , but the law find fault Harold ’s decease on a sex madman . The only justifiable connection between the short story and motion-picture show is the character Jobe , who is a gardener who becomes a test subject area for Project 5 .
In the sci - fi movie The Lawnmower Man , a scientist use practical reality and psychotropic drug to heighten the intelligence of a simple - given nurseryman , but the experimentation goes terribly wrong . Pierce Brosnan stars as Dr. Lawrence Angelo with Jeff Fahey as Jobe Smith .
While it ’s bad enough thatThe Lawnmower Manmovie bears no resemblance to the taradiddle , it ’s also just a wretched quality picture in oecumenical . The visual issue are very basic , and while there are some engaging moments in the narrative , they ’re circumscribed . It is no surprise that King sued over theadaptation of theNight Shiftstory , but it is shocking that there is a continuation , Lawnmower Man 2 : Beyond Cyberspace .
1The Shining (1977)
Adapted In 1980
While it ’s a shade controversial , The Shiningbook is better than the film . Stanley Kubrick ’s adaptation is considered a glorious movie , and it is , but certainmissing element barricade it from being as good as King ’s novel . For deterrent example , The Shiningdelves further into Jack ’s backstory and his traumatic past , which plays a part in why he is one ofStephen King ’s best human villains .
Stanley Kubrick ’s repugnance classic asterisk Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family , who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that forefather Jack Torrance can play as its wintertime caretaker . stick at the hotel due to the winter storms , the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly start to motor Jack insane , stimulate his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a engagement for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge .
In the movie , Jack is the clear baddie , but his antipathetic quality are the main direction , and he is n’t as layered as his book counterpart . One of the coredifferences betweenThe Shiningbook and the movieis the reason why Jack tries to kill Danny and Wendy . King equivocally suggests in the novel that Jack ’s essay slaying may not be the hotel , but rather because of a mental breakdown .
Graveyard Shift is a horror film based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name. The film follows John Hall, who takes a job at a decrepit textile mill and discovers that the basement is infested with deadly rats. As he investigates further, he uncovers a monstrous creature lurking in the subterranean depths. Brad Dourif and David Andrews star in this chilling adaptation directed by Ralph S. Singleton.
Was The Shining based on a true history ? Stephen King stayed at the Stanley Hotel , which barrack the Overlook and the iconic 1977 novel .
However , the film lead with Jack being possessed instead . The Shiningmovie tot a heap to King ’s story , like the hedging tangle and the Grady twins , but it also cut out important things , like the full extent of Danny ’s mogul . Kubrick’sThe Shiningis a fantastic title , but theStephen Kingnovel is still better .
get wind the latest news and filmography for Stephen King , known for The Dark Tower series , The Stand , IT , The Shining , Carrie , Cujo , Misery , the Bill Hodges trilogy , and more .
Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim, and Matthew McConaughey star in The Dark Tower, a Western Sci-Fi film directed by Nikolaj Arcel. Released in 2017, The Dark Tower follows a young boy with visions of an apocalyptic future in which a powerful man, dubbed The Man in Black, lays waste to the universe. The film is based on the Stephen King book series.
Written and directed by Stephen King, Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 horror movie about a group of people who are trapped at a truck stop when all the machines in the world, including trucks, cars, and lawn mowers, become sentient and homicidal.
Cell is a 2016 science fiction horror film directed by Tod Williams and based on the novel by Stephen King. Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows a graphic novelist who bands together with a group of survivors after a mysterious signal broadcast over the cellular network turns most of humanity into mindless, violent savages. As they navigate a dystopian landscape, they strive to find safety and answers.
Dreamcatcher (2003) is a sci-fi horror film directed by Lawrence Kasdan, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The film follows four childhood friends who reunite for an annual hunting trip in a remote cabin, only to confront a malevolent alien force. Starring Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, and Damian Lewis, Dreamcatcher intertwines themes of friendship, telepathy, and survival against the backdrop of a cosmic threat.
Firestarter is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name, adapted from the Stephen King novel. The film, released theatrically to the Peacock streaming service, follows the story of Andy and Vicky, who undergo a clinical trial that gives them superhuman abilities. Andy is telepathic; Vicky is telekinetic. Years later, their daughter Charlie proves to be far more powerful, with volatile pyrokinetic abilities. At the same time, Charlie and her family are on the run from The Shop, a secret government agency that is hunting Charlie.
A Good Marriage is a psychological thriller based on a story by Stephen King. Directed by Peter Askin, the film stars Joan Allen as Darcy Anderson, a woman who discovers a dark secret about her husband, portrayed by Anthony LaPaglia. As Darcy grapples with this revelation, she must decide how far she will go to maintain her seemingly perfect life.
In the sci-fi movie The Lawnmower Man, a scientist uses virtual reality and psychoactive drugs to enhance the intelligence of a simple-minded gardener, but the experiment goes terribly wrong. Pierce Brosnan stars as Dr. Lawrence Angelo with Jeff Fahey as Jobe Smith.
Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
