Stephen Kinghas earned the moniker “The King of Horror” for his many contributions to thehorror genre. His stories have inspired many adaptations, some of which have become classics on their own merit.The ShiningandMiseryare only two examples of the incredible work filmmakers have done translating his stories to the screen, but not every adaptation has been successful.
These 15 films feel incredibly dated by today’s standards. Some suffer from poor execution, while others are good films that could be made great with an update. Either way, this list covers the Stephen King movie adaptations that need a modern remake.
Dreamcatcher (2003)
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcheris the story of a hunting trip gone horribly awry. When they were children, friends Jonesy, Beaver, Pete, and Henry gained telepathic powers when they saved a disabled classmate from bullies. Years later, they have all arrived at a cabin in the Maine woods for their annual get-together hunting trip. However, the arrival of the military and the announcement of a quarantine cut their trip short. Suddenly, the group is besieged by an extraterrestrial threat, and after one of the alien parasites possesses Jonesy and the military attempts to clean up the mess, the friends are forced to make some horrible decisions.
Why It Needs a Remake
Despite Stephen King’s praise for the film, most critics and audiences felt thatDreamcatcherwas a major misstep. While its early 2000s release resulted in some decent monster animation and design, the plot lacks much of the heart of the original novel. Its ending alsogreatly deviates from the book, disappointing many fans. The story was rushed, condensed to fit the film’s runtime, and though it features an all-star cast, it just couldn’t hit the mark. While it isn’t dated in the traditional sense,Dreamcatcheris still in desperate need of a remake, one that can expand on the plot and deliver on the depth delivered in the book.
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Silver Bullet (1985)
Silver Bullet
Adapted from the novellaCycle of the Werewolf,Silver Bulletis the story of Jane and Marty Coslaw, siblings living in Tarker’s Mills, Maine. Tarker’s Mills has become the victim of a savage series of murders, and brutal deaths that prompt the citizenry to form their own vigilante league. Paraplegic, Marty is gifted a specialized motorcycle by his uncle Red, and breaks the Fourth of July curfew to go for a joyride. While lighting fireworks on a bridge, though, Marty discovers the true identity of the murderer. A werewolf besieges Tarker’s Mills, and all signs seem to point toward the monster’s connection with the local priest.
Why it Makes the List
Silver Bulletis one of the most memorable early adaptations of King’s work for all the wrong reasons. Critics panned this hokey film, with special focus given to the terrible practical effects. Even for 1985, those werewolf costumes are awful, and the film loses much of the novella’s drama. Despite this, it has gained a large cult following, with many especially praising the film’s ending. There is plenty of potential in this story, especially in the lead, Marty. King is known for his representations of people with disabilities, and Marty is one of his best. With the right director and effects,Cycle of the Werewolfcould be a great modern reinterpretation of the classic monster.
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Cat’s Eye (1985)
Cat’s Eyeis a three-part anthology horror series, mostly adapted from thrNight Shiftshort story collection. Following a tomcat from New York to North Carolina, the stories center around his experiences with the darkest parts of humanity. “Quitter’s, Inc.” follows Dick Morrison, a smoker who tries a radical new therapy to help him quit smoking that puts his wife and child in grave danger. “The Ledge” follows Johnny Norris, a tennis pro who has wronged a crime boss and is forced to perform a death-defying act to appease him. Finally, “General” follows the cat as it is adopted by a young girl who is threatened by a small supernatural entity.
There is nothing particularly wrong withCat’s Eye.In fact, critics and fans tend to praise the film, especially its special effects work and the individual stories (if not the overarching, interwoven narrative). Honestly,Cat’s Eyeneeds less of a remake and more of a sequel. Stephen King has so many short stories in his catalog, so another film in this vein would be a great way to highlight some of his more recent stories. Given that a young Drew Barrymore is central to the overarching plot, perhaps a sequel could see her reprise her role, this time acting as the centerpiece for a whole new suite of horrors.
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdriveis an adaptation of theNight Shiftcollection’s short storyTrucks.After the Earth passes by the tail of a comet, all technology on the planet becomes sentient. In a bid to claim the planet as their own, the machines begin a human killing spree. While most, like ATMs and mechanical bridges, are immobile, the greatest threat to humankind is the trucks and construction vehicles. Newlyweds Connie and Curt are on a road trip when the comet passes, and while filling up at a gas station, they are forced to flee in their car when a semi springs to life and attempts to kill them.
Why it Belongs Here
King’s first and only directorial effort,Maximum Overdriveis also considered one of the worst King adaptations (even by King himself). The film is full of terrible practical effects and designs, and while its themes are grounded in our dependence on technology, the story of the film never fully explores these depths.Still, the general ideas of the film and short story are solid, meaning a remake (or even a sequel) could and should definitely be on the table. After all,Christinehas a very similar formula but with a much bigger and more positive impact on pop culture. This means that the “car killing spree” storyline isn’t the problem. It’s the execution.
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The Running Man (1987)
The Running Man
Originally written under King’s original pseudonym, Richard Bachman,The Running Manis a novella from early in his career. Set in the distant future of 2017, the film follows Captain Ben Richards, a police helicopter pilot in the totalitarian United States. After refusing orders to kill a group of rioters, Richards is framed for the murders and sent to a prison labor camp, but he manages to escape. His freedom is short-lived, though, and a run-in with police at the airport sets him up as the star ofThe Running Man,a violent national television series that sees convicts hunted down and killed by mercenaries.
In 2021, there were talks of an Edgar Wright remake ofThe Running Man,so the market for this film is definitely there. The problem is that it is very ’80s, as demonstrated by the Arnold Schwarzenegger casting. It deviates extensively from the source material for the sake of high impact action, and while this action is a highlight of the film, a remake could be more faithful to the source material and focus more intently on the characters and theme.The Running Man’sis meant as a biting critique of television culture and the media, making it an important thematic storyline, so a remake should focus more intimately on this central theme.
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Graveyard Shift (1990)
Widower John Hall is the protagonist ofGraveyard Shift,an adaptation of a short story inNight Shift.Hall signs on to work at a rat-infested textile mill, but he quickly comes to despise the job and his boss, Warwick. Hall and the others are tasked with working beside the exterminator to clear the basement of rodents to make way for new offices, but the team quickly discovers that rats aren’t the only issue. Something dangerous lurks beneath the mill, something that is hunting the crew in the darkness, and Hall must venture into that darkness to discover the true nature of this threat.
Why It Needs a Modern Update
All you need to know aboutGraveyard Shiftis that it holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is an objectively bad film, one thatStephen King himself has claimed is one of the worst adaptations of his work, but despite this, it has received a substantial following. The creature feature has a decent structure, playing on the natural disgust that people have for rats and amplifying it with a decently terrifying monster design. The film doesn’t necessarily do the story justice, but the groundwork is there for a great remake. Like many of these films, it simply needs to take more cues from the original story and avoid the exploitative pitfalls into which the film fell.
Sleepwalkers (1992)
Sleepwalkers
Charles and Mary Brady are a son and mother traveling across the country inSleepwalkers, but as is the case in every Stephen King story, there is far more to them than meets the eye. The pair, family, and lovers at the same time, are the titular vampires, beings who drain the life force of virgins through sex. After a murder spree in California, the pair have arrived in Indiana to seek their next victim, and Charles chooses his classmate Tanya. However, Charles' teachers, the police, and the town’s cats (the vampires' only true weakness) grow more and more suspicious of the monsters with each passing day, forcing Charles and Mary to work quickly.
Sleepwalkerswas written by King, but it isn’t an adaptation. Instead, it was written expressly for the screen by the author, a career first, which is a shame given how badly received the film was. The story was fairly successful during its initial release, but critics tore it apart from the beginning. The film is incredibly campy, and the mother-son intimacy element puts many viewers off. Like many of the films on this list, it has its following, but it suffers from a number of issues that a remake could rectify. The basics of the plot are interesting, and in the right hands, its flaws could be reworked to make a compelling vampire horror movie.
The Mangler (1995)
Inspired by his time working in an industrial laundry, Stephen King wrote the short storyThe Manglerfor hisNight Shiftcollection, the source for a number of the films on this list. Tobe Hooper helms the film of the same name, though it wasn’t the brightest point of his career. Set in the Blue Ribbon Laundry Service, the film follows a group of investigators attempting to determine the killer in a series of bizarre deaths surrounding the industrial laundry press known as the Mangler. Little do they know, the Mangler is possessed by a demon, along with the laundry’s ice box, forcing the investigators into a battle against pure evil.
Why it Belongs on the List
The Mangleris one of the most iconic films about a cursed object, but iconic doesn’t always mean good. The film is a bizarre and campy ride that takes itself far too seriously for its subject matter. Its villain is a possessed laundry machine, for goodness' sake. A remake could rectify this tonal disparity, leaning into the weirdness for an intentionally campy experience. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a straight-up horror comedy. Nevertheless, this particular subject deserves some tongue-in-cheek humor. Keep the gory kills and B-movie acting, maybe evena cameo from original lead Robert Englund, but draw the viewer in with a little more heart.
Riding the Bullet (2004)
Riding the Bullet
Alan Parker, the protagonist ofRiding the Bullet,is a college student and artist who is obsessed with death. With his life spiraling out of control, he attempts suicide but survives. When his mother is hospitalized with a stroke, Alan drops everything to go and see her, hitchhiking the whole way. However, this doesn’t go to plan, with his first ride crashing into the ditch. Alone in an abandoned cemetery, Alan takes refuge beside the grave of George Staub and sees visions of his past. Accompanied by his own ghost, Alan accepts a ride from a mysterious driver in a red car, none other than the late George Staub.
Mick Garris is the director responsible for a number of King adaptations, butRiding the Bulletwas not one of his successes. The film has low review scores across the board. Garris tries a number of unique storytelling devices, especially through the use of Alan’s flashbacks and hallucinations, but none of them make the landing in this scattered film. That said, the basis is here for a fascinating cerebral thriller. The movie isn’t perfect, but the ideas behind it could be used to influence a brilliant remake down the line. More than that, it could place a deeper focus on Alan’s internal life and his will to live, the true crux of this film’s themes.
The Dark Half (1993)
The Dark Half
Thad Beaumont has a secret inThe Dark Half. A famed writer, Thad is known for writing literary fiction, but for years, he has written a series of successful murder mystery novels under the pseudonym George Stark. Looking to pursue his own writing, Thad puts the pen name behind him and holds a mock burial for his other self. However, Stark has somehow appeared in the real world, and though he looks like Thad, there is something sinister hidden beneath. Soon, Thad is implicated in a number of grisly murders, all perpetrated by Stark. With his family in danger, Thad is forced to confront his darker half, but can he really fight his own demons?
Why We’ve Included It
LikeCat’s Eye,The Dark Halfsaw some success and praise after its initial release, with many highlighting Timothy Hutton’s performance as Thad and Stark. With horror legend George Romero at the helm, the film certainly has the right pedigree, though it most definitely shows its age. A modern update wouldn’t need to change anything about the plot, but it should put a more complex lens on Thad’s struggles. More importantly, it needs to delve deeper into the supernatural elements of the story, something that is overlooked in the original.
