Every Stephen King Adaptation Of The Last 5 Years In Order

Inspired by Stephen King's short story, Jerusalem's Lot, Chapelwaite (2021) follows a man who takes his children to their hometown of Preacher's Corners after his wife died on a whaling ship. However, upon returning home, he finds a bevy of superstitious occurrences tied to his family’s history.

Chapelwaite is often considered a bit long in the tooth, particularly in terms of how the story drags, but it still features a serviceable mystery as well as some great scares. It’s definitely not one of King's best adaptations, but still a fun and atmospheric watch.

A remake of the original Firestarter (1984) starring Drew Barrymore, Firestarter (2022) follows a father and daughter who are trying to hide from people looking for her due to her pyrokinetic abilities and her father's telekinetic abilities. It builds on the lore that Carrie introduced around people with powers, but also adds to it with organizations tied to giving kids powers.

Unfortunately, Firestarter didn't do much to move the needle for King fans. While it does have its entertaining moments, it still feels very safe overall and doesn't try anything new. Even so, if you're a fan of Stephen King's world, it's a movie you will want to check out.

Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022) follows the friendship of a young boy and an elderly businessman who both get their first iPhones. When Mr. Harrigan passes away, their connection doesn't die, and he and the young boy stay connected through their phones. Though Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is a supernatural film at its foundation, it's also a coming-of-age story with a heartfelt message.

If you're looking for a scary movie, Mr. Harrigan's Phone isn't one of them. While this may disappoint some viewers, it makes up for it with great performances and a meaningful message. Similar to The Life of Chuck (2025), Mr. Harrigan's Phone is all about the impact over anything else.

Inspired by the short story, The Boogeyman (2023) follows a family plagued by a creature that thrives in the dark and terrorizes children. In every sense, he's essentially the Boogeyman, but somehow even more terrifying than you'd expect.

The film sets up some great scares and delivers a fun creature design alongside great performances. However, not many gave this film the attention it deserved, perhaps because it's not tied to King's other big films like The Shining (1980) or Pet Sematary (1989). But even with its faults, it's still a great creature feature.

Salem's Lot (2024) is one of the few vampire stories that Stephen King has worked on, but it’s also one of his most popular. The film is a remake of the original Salem’s Lot (1979), in which a writer returns to his hometown for inspiration for a new book. Instead, he discovers that the town is slowly being overrun by a vampire, changing the residents in town.

Salem's Lot doesn't have the same impact as the original, but that doesn't mean it lacks merit. With effective scares, strong performances, and a fun creature design, the movie does a great job of getting audiences invested in its world, especially for those who weren't able to connect with the original.

The Life of Chuck is yet another King adaptation that doesn't focus on scares or monsters. While such stories are rare, they are often considered some of his best. In this film, we follow the life of a man named Chuck in reverse, from his death to his childhood. We also explore the idea of Chuck creating his own worlds as he navigates the highs and lows of life.

The Life of Chuck reminds us to live life to the fullest and treat everyone with kindness, making it one of the most important King adaptations of the last five years due to its message. Tom Hiddleston shines as Chuck, and his performance alone this a movie that deserves attention.

In a word, The Monkey (2025) is chaos incarnate. The film follows twin brothers, both played by Theo James, whose lives are upended for decades by a toy monkey that, when activated, leads to the horrific deaths of people around them. The Monkey is a dark comedy, but that doesn't mean the deaths aren't still bloody and shocking.

Theo James delivers a hilarious performance as both brothers, but it's seeing their reactions to all the death and destruction caused by the monkey that makes the movie so fun. While it’s not a well-known King story, the movie is definitely a standout.

It: Chapter One (2017) kickstarted a new iteration of the classic King story, and following the end of the book's retelling, a spin-off/prequel was released with It: Welcome to Derry (2025). Set 27 years before the films, the series explores Pennywise’s feeding grounds during the '50s. What makes the show work is how we learn more about Pennywise, along with the tragic fates of some of the kids who try to stop them.

With a second season on the way, we get to see the clock turn back even more on Welcome to Derry, but for those who haven't watched the first season, there's still a lot to enjoy. With deeper connections to King's world as well as some great scares and surprises, any fan of this world should watch It: Welcome to Derry.

The Institute (2025) explores a group of children with supernatural abilities who are experimented on under the pretense that what they're doing will save the world. However, when they learn the truth, it becomes a fight to escape with their lives.

With a second season on the way, there's a lot to enjoy about The Institute, and it all boils down to the cast and the overall story. While there aren't many scares, the series contains a rich world filled with mystery that's fun to explore.

The Long Walk (2025) is set in a dystopian past where 50 boys compete annually in a walking competition for a cash prize if they're the last one standing. However, those who slow down receive three warnings, after which they’re killed.

What makes The Long Walk such a beloved movie is the friendship between its two main characters. We want to see them both survive, but know the odds are low, and watching them bond is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.