Stephen King has just as many movie adaptations as he does books. While films like Carrie (1976) and Misery (1990) remain critically acclaimed, well-loved classics, other adaptations miss the mark entirely. Still, for B-movie lovers and purveyors of cheese, these "bad" movies are the ultimate guilty pleasures.
Whether it's clunky practical effects, disappointing acting, or bizarre premises, these movies earned the nose-turn of critics and most mainstream audiences. However, for the rest of us, those very same flaws are what make them so charming. Here are seven bad Stephen King movies that are still worth watching. As a bonus, you can find the majority of them on free streamers like Hoopla right now.
Children of the Corn (1984)
With a 10-movie franchise, Children of the Corn's success cannot be understated. Yet, it remains one of Stephen King's most divisive adaptations. For many, the original 1984 movie is cheesy and poorly acted. My personal favorite review of the movie goes to TV Guide for describing it as "lame." Because, yeah, in some ways, a giant corn monster with a faithful following of evil children is pretty lame.
Still, there's something genuinely creepy about the movie's desolate Nebraska setting. Just like a ghost town populated by murderous children is goosebump-worthy. If creepy kid movies like The Bad Seed (1956) or The Omen (1976) are your thing, Children of the Corn is a worthy addition to the subgenre. Cheesy? Sure. But there's a reason so many movies and shows pay homage to it still.
Silver Bullet (1985)
To the critics who called Silver Bullet "low-grade" and "cheesy," well, you're right. However, that low-grade cheesiness also gives the movie a fun '80s charm that fans of campy creature features are sure to appreciate. Corey Haim takes the lead as Marty, a boy who uses a wheelchair and engages the help of his sister (Megan Follows) and uncle (Gary Busey) to confront a werewolf.
If you've seen The Gingerdead Man (2005) and Hider in the House (1989), then you already know Gary Busey can ham it up in genre fare, and his performance here is one of the movie's biggest draws. Perfect for anyone looking for a light werewolf story, just don't expect the same groundbreaking practical effects of American Werewolf in London (1981).
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Take it from someone who has watched this movie over a half-dozen times. Maximum Overdrive is a lot of fun if you know what to expect. Chronicling a vague machine uprising after a comet passes over Earth, the plot primarily follows a ragtag group of protagonists taking shelter at a truck stop. While movies like The Terminator (1984) and I, Robot (2004) deliver serious, thought-provoking stories about machines breaking bad, Maximum Overdrive gives us the total opposite.
Stephen King's directorial debut is campy, wild, and totally bonkers, but that's precisely what makes it so fun. If you love movies with that '80s feel, Maximum Overdrive delivers. From bright red blood to cheesy practical effects, this movie is as charming as it is stupid. Plus, it's got a pretty recognizable cast, with names like Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, and Yeardley Smith of The Simpsons fame.
Pet Sematary (1989)
Do I think Pet Sematary is a bad movie? No, I don't. However, the general public generally tends to lean that way. Truthfully, no adaptation could ever capture the pure heartache and scariness of King's novel. Still, 1989's Pet Sematary remains the most faithful to the source material and delivers something equally atmospheric and quintessentially '80s.
The film, of course, follows Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff), who decides to utilize a plot of supernatural burial land to reanimate his dead son. While critics took issue with the movie's overreliance on tropes, that's part of its appeal. Not only does director Mary Lambert capture King's signature small-town New England setting, but she does so with one hell of a soundtrack. If you enjoy supernatural horror with heavy themes, Pet Sematary truly is a must-watch.
Sleepwalkers (1992)
Don't get me wrong. Sleepwalkers is bad, but it's not necessarily out of place among the other late '80s and early '90s horror slop. As far as this list goes, it's also unique in that it isn't based on a Stephen King book. Instead, King acted as the screenplay writer, delivering a story about an incestuous, vampire-like mother and son duo who seek survival by sucking the life from virgins. You know, normal horror stuff. *Grimaces*
Questionable material aside didn't stop Sleepwalkers from becoming a cult classic among those with an appetite for campy horror. It's undeniably silly, yet it packs enough gore to elicit delightful disgust. If you like Critters 2: The Main Course, director Mick Garris delivers something similarly humorous and almost self-aware here.
The Mangler (1995)
Listen, of all the entries on this list, The Mangler arguably ranks as the worst. For B-movie fans who appreciate hefty helpings of cheese and camp, it might just work, though. However, asking most audiences to get behind a story about a possessed industrial washing machine is a tough sell. Ludacris premise aside, the movie's over-the-top performances, low production value, and questionable practical effects even put off more experienced horror fans.
Funny enough, The Mangler has an impressive cast of horror legends. With Tobe Hooper in the director's seat and Robert Englund and Ted Levine starring, it's worth watching just for that. If cheesy movies with outlandish plots are your niche interest, like Microwave Massacre (1983) and Motel Hell (1980), then The Mangler makes a great "so bad, it's good" option.
Dreamcatcher (2003)
If you like sci-fi, Dreamcatcher is the most classic sci-fi offering on this list. It follows four friends who encounter an alien invasion while on a hunting trip. There's also a plot point about their telepathic connection, which they gain from a boy with Down syndrome. Like Stephen King's book, the story gets… confusing, despite the unique premise.
As for the movie, it waddles into cheesy territory with some poor special effects and moments of awkward dialogue. I'd also argue that Dreamcatcher suffers from a weird tonal shift, with the first half setting up an intriguing, suspenseful mystery that doesn't quite have the payoff anyone wanted. At almost two hours and 30 minutes long, it also requires some patience. Still, everyone should see that toilet scene at least once.
