Netflix has recently cut quite a few Stephen King-inspired films out of their line-up, but King’s fans of creepy literature will be relieved to know that there are still a handful of solid adaptations available to stream at their leisure. Not only that, but the list of Stephen King film adaptations that are currently in the works include everything from In the Tall Grass (coming this year to Netflix), IT Part Two, Doctor Sleep, Pet Sematary, The Long Walk, and much more. Netflix’s recently released adaptations of 1922 and Gerald’s Game have been well-received by critics, audiences and even King himself, so it’s only a matter of time until Netflix attempts to strike gold yet again. Full-feature films aren’t the only King-inspired adaptations to look forward to; several TV shows, including Castle Rock (available on Hulu), Haven, and The Mist are based on his work as well. Here are all the Stephen King movies and TV shows available to stream on Netflix, as of February 2019.
Christine
True Stephen King fans are familiar with Christine, the 1983 horror cult classic directed by John Carpenter and based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The story revolves around Arnie Cunningham, an awkward teenage boy who buys a vintage 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine (which, unbeknownst to Arnie, has quite the sinister history).
In the short term, Christine seems to change Arnie’s life for the better, until strange things begin to happen to Arnie’s friends, families, and even his enemies. Eventually, it is discovered that Christine is possessed by an evil spirit who enacts revenge on anyone who does it wrong. The film was an instant success, grossing $21 million at the box office upon its release despite its lukewarm reception among critics.
Haven
Not all Stephen King adaptations are movies! The American-Canadian supernatural drama TV series Haven is loosely based on the Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid (2005), a story about strange events occurring in the fictional town of Haven, Maine. After FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) is dispatched to Haven, Maine, she encounters what the people in the town call “The Troubles,” or a plague of supernatural afflictions. Agent Parker begins to feel a strange, otherworldly connection to the town itself and finds herself exploring her own mysterious origins while also protecting the town’s residents. What should they fear more, “The Troubles” or the town’s own troubled residents? Watch all five seasons on Netflix and find out.
1922
1922 is a 2017 American horror drama film directed by Zak Hilditch, based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name. The movie features rock-solid performances by Thomas Jane, Neal McDonough, and Molly Parker. The story is set in the year 1922 on a family farm in Nebraska owned by Wilf, his wife Arlette, and his 14-year-old son, Henry.
Following a fight over whether to sell the farmland that Arlette recently inherited, Arlette suggests a divorce so she can move to Omaha and open a dress shop. Wilf, however, despises city life and refuses to lose his land or custody of his son. After some wily manipulation, Wilf murders his wife with Henry’s help and it’s just as brutal as Stephen King could imagine.
Gerald’s Game
Gerald’s Game, a Netflix Original based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, is widely considered to be one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made. Released in 2017, the psychological horror film was directed by Mike Flanagan and stars Carla Guigino and Bruce Greenwood. Stephen King himself called the film “hypnotic, horrifying and terrific” after watching the rough cut.
The story follows Gerald and Jessie Burlingame, a married couple who decides to use handcuffs in the bedroom to spice up their love life while on vacation at a remote lake house. Unfortunately, Jessie is left attached to the bed after Gerald collapses from a heart attack. Helpless and alone, Jessie is left with nothing except painful memories, hallucinations, and “the man made of moonlight,” a frightening figure who may or may not be real.
The Mist
The Mist is yet another Stephen King inspired TV series now available to binge watch on Netflix for those who are in the mood for the perfect blend of horror and science fiction. The 10-episode season originally aired on Spike before getting the axe due to poor reviews, but hardcore Stephen King fans should definitely give it a chance while it’s still available.
A town is mysteriously enveloped by a heavy mist, but residents soon realize that whoever enters the mist is viciously killed or never seen again. To avoid a similar fate, people begin to take shelter in buildings all over town, including a shopping mall, a church, and a hospital. Will they be able to safely wait it out, or will apparitions in the mist lead to their to their demise? Only time will tell (oh, and Netflix).
Coming Soon: In The Tall Grass
In The Tall Grass, co-written by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill, is about a brother and sister who stop their car to assist a boy seemingly lost in a field of long grass, where an unknown evil lurks and from which there is no escape. The story was originally published in two parts in the June/July and August 2012 issues of Esquire magazine, but a Netflix adaptation is now slated (and confirmed) to be released in 2019. The feature-length film is being directed by Vincenzo Natali, the man behind Splice and Cube, and will star Watchmen’s Patrick Wilson. Only Stephen King and his spawn could manage to make something as innocuous as “tall grass” scary, but this isn’t their only creepy collaboration heading to the big screen - their novella anthology series, Throttle, is next.
