Love Stephen King books, but are sick of the same old page-to-screen adaptations? The good news is there are plenty of movies that feel like they're ripped from the mind of Stephen King. Whether it's because they exude nostalgia for eras past or they capture King's distinctive brand of small-town horror, these eight movies might leave you scanning the credits just to ensure the author's name isn't there.
While most of them are horror-heavy (because, yes, that's how most of us like Stephen King best), a couple of them are tame enough to enjoy with the whole family. Spanning popular streamers like Netflix and free platforms like Tubi, here are eight movies that feel like a Stephen King book but actually have nothing to do with the horror author.
The Goonies (1985)
Including The Goonies on a list like this might seem controversial to some. After all, the Richard Donner classic is a family-friendly adventure story that lacks King's usual horror elements. However, Stephen King also writes outside of horror. It's not scary, gutter clowns and telekinetic high schoolers all the time. Sometimes, it's slow-burn, character-driven dramas like The Shawshank Redemption (1994), for example. My point: In another universe, I could totally see King thinking up an adventure comedy like The Goonies.
It's got a similar "kids on bikes" vibe to stories like It (2017) and Stand by Me (1986), with a close-knit group of young protagonists delving into adventure and peril. Plus, it's dripping in '80s nostalgia, which plays a big role in so many of King's books and movie adaptations. If you're craving horror, look elsewhere. However, anyone wanting the essence of a Stephen King story without the scares, The Goonies might be your best bet.
The Sandlot (1993)
Stephen King? Family-friendly? Again? However, when I was writing the entry for The Goonies, I couldn't help but think about how The Sandlot captures a similar vibe. Perhaps what's even more fitting here is the baseball plot. Anyone who reads Stephen King knows he's a big Red Sox fan. References to the Boston team litter his books, and he even wrote a survival horror novel titled The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon in 1999. So, yes, in another alternate universe, The Sandlot could've been a Stephen King story, too.
Centered on a group of kids playing baseball during the summer of 1962, The Sandlot is the ultimate coming-of-age comedy for those needing some nostalgia and laughs. It manages to capture the innocence, wonder, and fears of childhood, giving it mass appeal despite anchoring its plot to baseball. I'll also say there's something just so Stephen King about the kid's encounter with The Beast (you know, the dog chained in the yard over).
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
If you're reading this list in order, hooray! We've finally gotten to the horror entries, and what better way to kick them off than with In the Mouth of Madness? Sam Neill stars as John Trent, an insurance investigator assigned to investigate the disappearance of a horror author, only to get sucked into a surreal, supernatural mystery. And if that doesn't already sound like a Stephen King book, I don't know what would.
Director John Carpenter masterfully delivers a mind-bending, psychologically taxing movie that will leave you questioning reality right alongside Neill's character. While In the Mouth of Madness pulls heavy inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft (the title even pays tribute to one of his novellas), there's also something very King about it. No stranger to homaging Lovecraft in stories like The Mist (2007) and Revival, King has dabbled in cosmic horror. In that regard, In the Mouth of Madness is perfect for anyone wanting a mash-up of two of history's greatest writers.
Frailty (2001)
Calling all psychological thriller fans. If you haven't seen Frailty yet, it's an absolute must-watch. Bill Paxton plays a serial killer. However, the crux that will have your eyeballs glued to the screen and your jaw inching open in disbelief: He believes God commands his killings and his two sons become entangled in his religiously motivated crimes. Twisted? Absolutely, and that's why it's such an engrossing watch for dark thriller fans.
King frequently explores religion as a motivation for horrific actions. Think of Margaret White (Piper Laurie) in Carrie (1976), for example. Yet, Paxton's tormented father will also spark comparisons to Jack Torrance from The Shining (1980), whose increasingly disturbing behavior will leave you thinking about him long after the credits roll.
Joy Ride (2001)
If you spent any time at all flicking through channels in the early '00s, then you probably stumbled across Joy Ride at some point. Starring Paul Walker, Steve Zahn, and Leelee Sobieski, the horror thriller follows the trio's desperate attempts to escape a deranged trucker (voiced by Ted Levine) hellbent on seeking revenge after a prank involving the CB radio.
While I wouldn't call Joy Ride a masterpiece, it's certainly a lot of fun. Tense, slick, and surprisingly funny at times, it will entertain anyone who likes suspenseful cat-and-mouse thrillers. Rusty Nail, the deranged trucker in question, feels like a villain ripped straight from a Stephen King book, while certain menacing shots of his truck will conjure similarities to Christine (1983) and Maximum Overdrive (1986).
Summer of 84 (2018)
Perhaps lesser known than most of the entries on this list, Summer of 84 is perfect for anyone looking for a time capsule of summer vacations from a bygone era. Much more horror-leaning than The Goonies, but not quite as scary as It, the movie focuses on a group of teenagers who begin to suspect their neighbor is responsible for the disappearances of local boys.
While the nostalgia might pull you in, the mystery will keep you there. Although more of a slow-burn than some of the entries on this list, Summer of 84 builds to a divisive, albeit brutal, ending. If you like Stranger Things (2016) or, obviously, the childhood friendships King creates in many of his books, Summer of 84 is worth watching at least once.
The Black Phone (2021)
Perhaps it's cheating to put The Black Phone on this list, considering the movie stems from a short story written by Joe Hill, Stephen King's son. However, no one can emulate Stephen King like him. (Fun fact: The first time I read Joe Hill, I thought, "This author sounds exactly like Stephen King. Little did I know, they were related at the time.) All this to say that The Black Phone feels pretty reminiscent of Stephen King fare like It or The Boogeyman (2023).
Ethan Hawke's Grabber makes quite the impression as a certifiably creepy serial child killer. He may not be as memorable as Pennywise, but overall, The Black Phone is a decently entertaining horror movie, especially for fans of supernatural thrills. Funny enough, Black Phone 2 might surpass it in terms of quality (rare, I know), but I'd recommend starting with the first one before jumping into the sequel, regardless.
Dark Harvest (2023)
As a child of the '90s, I'm well acquainted with R. L. Stine's Goosebump series, and in some ways, Dark Harvest feels like it could exist in that universe. However, its R-rating, thanks to ample amounts of gore and violence, places it more firmly in Stephen King territory. But, hey, isn't Stephen King just R. L. Stine for adults? Right? Am I on to something?
Anyway, Dark Harvest manages to mash together fantasy and horror to deliver a story about an annual ritual where teenage boys must hunt and kill a malevolent creature known as Sawtooth Jack. Set in a small Midwestern town in the 1960s, Dark Harvest has all the small-town horror one has long come to expect from Stephen King. Likewise, its rural, cornfield-lined setting makes it the perfect companion to Children of the Corn (1984).
