The popularity of It: Welcome to Derry (2025) proves that Stephen King adaptations never go out of style. From acclaimed hits like Misery (1990) and Carrie (1976) to campy delights like Creepshow (1982) and Maximum Overdrive (1986), Hollywood loves a Stephen King horror movie. However, King's reputation for writing some of the scariest stories in history can create confusion. There are plenty of amazing Stephen King movies that aren't horror, and those are usually the ones people never suspect the King of Horror to have crafted.
From acclaimed hits warranting preservation by the National Film Registry to lesser-known gems lurking on streaming, here are seven movies you (probably) had no idea Stephen King originally published before they made their way to the big screen. Watch them now on Netflix, Plex, and more to experience a different side of Stephen King.
Stand by Me (1986)
Most people have heard of Rob Reiner's Stand by Me, but they don't always recognize it as a Stephen King adaptation, even if the movie takes place in Castle Rock—a famous fictional setting for many of King's stories. Stemming from King's 1982 novella, The Body, the film follows the quest of four young friends to locate the remains of a missing boy.
If you like It (2017), Stand by Me has a similar coming-of-age vibe, just without the scares. Set against the backdrop of summer vacation, the movie drips with nostalgia as it chronicles an adventurous yet emotional story about friendship. There are no killer clowns here, but you'll feel just as protective of these four boys, memorably played by Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
As a longtime Stephen King fan, I've found The Shawshank Redemption elicits the biggest jaw-drops when unassuming people learn it's a King adaptation. Considered one of the most beloved movies of all time, most audiences have seen it at least once, and most cinephiles rank it among their favorites.
Again, Stephen King is so closely linked to horror that few suspect him capable of writing such a powerfully emotional story about perseverance and institutional corruption. Yet, that's precisely what he did in the 1982 novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. While Frank Darabont's movie makes some changes to the source material, it manages to capture the story's essence and deliver one of the most satisfying endings in cinema history. Really, The Shawshank Redemption is for anyone looking for a good movie.
The Green Mile (1999)
Hot off the success of The Shawshank Redemption, Frank Darabont dove into another Stephen King adaptation with The Green Mile. Starring Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard, the movie follows his relationship with a wrongly convicted inmate with supernatural abilities played by Michael Clarke Duncan. Similar to Shawshank, The Green Mile takes aim at institutional injustice, just with more of an emphasis on race.
Prepare yourself. At three hours and fifteen minutes long, The Green Mile takes commitment. However, I can assure you that it's worth it. Expect to cry… or, at least, tear up. If you enjoy big-feeling, deeply moving movies that blend their drama with the supernatural, like Big Fish (2003), you'll fall in love with The Green Mile and Michael Clarke Duncan's character, John Coffey.
Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
Among Stephen King readers, Hearts in Atlantis is well-known, even if just for its sheer size. In 2001, Scott Hicks took a crack at adapting the novel. The tricky thing about the book is the format. While technically an anthology, the five stories are interconnected to create a mainline story. Thus, to simplify things, Hick primarily pulls from the story "Low Men in Yellow Coats," which features a young boy's relationship with his new neighbor with psychic powers.
As far as King adaptations go, Hearts in Atlantis is pretty underrated, despite starring names like Anthony Hopkins and Anton Yelchin. The issue here is finding the right audience. If moody, almost mundane, coming-of-age stories work for you, Hearts in Atlantis will impress. However, those looking for big action set pieces might find themselves underwhelmed… or worse, bored.
Secret Window (2004)
Based on the Stephen King novella Secret Window, Secret Garden, this Johnny Depp-led thriller follows an author's encounter with a stranger who accuses him of plagiarizing his story. These author-specific fears are a common theme in King's work, including favorites like Misery and Lisey's Story. However, Secret Window is perhaps the most straightforward psychological thriller of the bunch.
While it received mixed reviews, I personally love this movie. It's engaging, twisty, and pretty suspenseful. Unlike many of the other entries on this list, Secret Window feels the most classic King. Although it isn't technically a horror movie, fans of other dark psychological thrillers like Shutter Island (2010) or Frailty (2002) will find a similar mind-bending vibe here.
Apt Pupil (1998)
Apt Pupil frequently falls under the radar as a Stephen King movie, probably because the novella isn't that well-known either. While the Bryan Singer film made some significant changes to the source material, the essence is the same: A teenage boy discovers his neighbor is a Nazi war criminal in hiding and becomes disturbingly obsessed with him. Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro both deliver terrific performances as the two leads.
Like Secret Window, Apt Pupil is meant for fans of dark psychological thrillers that teeter on the edge of horror. The Nazis element just adds another layer of scary. Chilling, intense, and appropriately disturbing, Apt Pupil shines a light on the darkest and shadowiest parts of humanity. If anything, its biggest mistake was toning down the source material.
The Running Man (2025)
Despite The Running Man's recent release making it a talking point in pop culture, many assume it's just a remake of the 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, both films are actually adaptations of Stephen King's novel of the same name. Again, King is so closely tied to horror that anything outside the genre tends to get brushed aside and attributed to someone else.
Similar to Battle Royale (2000) or Squid Game (2021), the movie takes place in a dystopian future and follows one man's attempt to survive a brutal reality TV show where winning means money and losing means death. If you like fast-paced, action-packed movies, 2025's The Running Man will keep you thoroughly engaged and might even leave you exhausted. The 1987 version has a certain charm, too, but your best bet is starting here.
