How to Watch the Carrie Movies in Order
Stephen King's Carrie is a groundbreaking horror novel, focusing on a high school girl with telekinetic powers who endures relentless bullying and abuse. The terrifying blood-soaked climax of her story has become an iconic moment in horror cinema. Since its debut in 1974 as King's first novel, Carrie has been adapted multiple times into films, making it a significant cultural touchstone in the horror genre.
The Carrie films offer various takes on Stephen King’s seminal horror novel, from the original 1976 classic to the modern 2013 retelling. Whether you're revisiting the iconic prom scene or discovering Carrie’s tragic story for the first time, the films highlight the terror and heartbreak of this telekinetic girl’s journey from victim to destroyer.
Below is a guide on how to watch all the Carrie movies in order of release. Our streaming guide also shows all the platforms where you can watch, buy or rent these movies online.
The original Carrie is a classic, directed by Brian De Palma. Released in 1976, it remains one of the most celebrated horror films of all time. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie White, a shy, abused teenager whose discovery of her telekinetic powers coincides with her horrific treatment at school and home. Piper Laurie plays her fanatically religious mother.
The film culminates in the unforgettable prom night massacre, which cemented Carrie’s place in horror history. Both Spacek and Laurie earned Oscar nominations for their performances, a rarity for a horror film.
In 2002, a made-for-TV version of Carrie premiered and served as a more faithful adaptation of King’s novel compared to De Palma’s iconic film. Directed by David Carson, this version stars Angela Bettis as Carrie White and Patricia Clarkson as her mother, Margaret. The 2002 adaptation is known for its attempt to adapt the book's epistolary format, using police reports and interviews to frame the events. While it doesn’t surpass the original, Bettis’ performance was praised, and the film serves as an alternative take on the Carrie story.
The Carrie story later received a modern-day retelling in 2013, with Chloë Grace Moretz starring as the title character and Julianne Moore playing her abusive mother. Directed by Kimberly Peirce, this remake follows the original story fairly closely but introduces modern elements, such as social media, into Carrie’s bullying experiences.
While it didn’t achieve the same acclaim as the 1976 version, it attempted to update the story for a new generation, and Moore’s portrayal of Margaret White was particularly well-received.
