Stephen King may be the most prolific horror author of all time. King's role in making the genre more accessible is undeniable, as his works possess a cinematic quality tailored for the screen. Dozens, if not hundreds, of his novels and short stories have been adapted into major motion pictures, specials, and television series.
In addition to authoring the source material for so many popular shows and films, Stephen King has also tried his luck at penning screenplays over the years. Some of these scripts are based on King's published works, while others are original. Spanning the spectrum from supernatural horror to psychological thrillers, these films showcase the best and the worst of King's storytelling abilities.
9 Cell (2016) - 4.3
Despite starring the talented John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, Cell is a trainwreck of a film. Based on a King novel of the same name, Cell traces the fallout from a strange cell phone signal that turns users into bloodthirsty creatures.
King co-wrote the screenplay for Cell with Adam Alleca. Unfortunately, the film relies too heavily upon zombie tropes to forge any kind of unique path in the genre.
8 A Good Marriage (2014) - 5.2
King developed this screenplay by himself based on his novel of the same name. A psychological thriller, A Good Marriage co-stars Joan Allen and Anthony LaPaglia as a couple whose marriage starts to unravel after 25 years.
It turns out LaPaglia's character Bob harbors a dark secret, one Allen's character Darcy goes to great lengths to keep from being exposed. While it has a compelling premise, A Good Marriage never manages to evolve into a compelling story.
7 Sleepwalkers (1992) - 5.3
The first screenplay by King that isn't based on a preexisting work, Sleepwalkers is directed by Mick Garris, who is known for horror comedies like Critters 2 and Hocus Pocus. In Sleepwalkers, the few remaining members of a vampiric shape-shifting species hunt for victims.
The film was not well received by critics. While some praised its intense and compelling first half, most agree the film turns into a campy disaster by its end.
6 Desperation (2006) - 5.3
Desperation is a made-for-TV horror film featuring some familiar faces: Ron Perlman, Tom Skerritt, and Annabeth Gish included. Based on King's 1996 novel of the same name, it tells the story of a disparate group of people who are imprisoned by a crazed local sheriff portrayed by Perlman.
King himself wrote the teleplay while the author's frequent collaborator Mick Garris directed. Perlman stands out in this ensemble thriller, which received lackluster broadcast ratings due to airing at the same time as American Idol.
5 Maximum Overdrive (1986) - 5.5
King is known for his fascination with cars and automobile technology, and Maximum Overdrive is a testament to the author's macabre imagination. In the film, which stars Emilio Estevez, a comet close to Earth causes inanimate machines to become sentient and malevolent.
Estevez plays Bill Robinson, an ex-con working at a gas station in Wilmington, North Carolina, who realizes something is wrong when all the cars start moving around on their own. King wrote the screenplay after his short story "Trucks;" he also directed the 1986 film.
4 Cat's Eye (1985) - 6.3
An overlooked film featuring works from King, Cat's Eye is an anthology film based on three King stories: "Quitters, Inc.," "The Ledge," and "General." King wrote each story and their respective screenplays.
Each story is connected by a stray cat who weaves in and out of scenes. Dealing with everyday fears and phobias, the tales feature performances from the likes of Drew Barrymore, James Woods, and Charles S. Dutton.
3 Silver Bullet (1985) - 6.4
Based on King's novella Cycle of the Werewolf, Silver Bullet is considered a solid addition to the creature feature craze in '80s horror movies. King also wrote the screenplay for the film, which features an ensemble cast including Corey Haim, Gary Busey, and Everett McGill.
Haim plays Marty Coslaw, a 10-year-old paraplegic who decides to figure out the identity of the werewolf killing and eating people every full room in his small town of Tarker's Mill. With its memorable characters and climax, Silver Bullet entertains without getting too dark or grisly.
2 Pet Sematary (1989) - 6.6
King wrote the screenplay for the first adaptation of his novel Pet Sematary. Supernatural, psychological, and heartbreaking, the novel and film follow a family that endures terrible tragedy after moving to rural Maine.
Relying on a cursed burial ground in the woods behind the family home, father Dr. Louis Creed brings pets and family members back to life. The problem is no one comes back from the grave exactly who they were before.
1 Creepshow (1982) - 6.9
King joined forces with horror icon George A. Romero to make this beloved anthology horror film. Creepshow is King's screenwriting debut, and it even includes performances from King and his son Joe Hill, now a famous horror writer in his own right.
Consisting of five shorts, Creepshow pays homage to horror comics from the 1950s. The movie includes performances from the likes of Leslie Nielsen and Adrienne Barbeau; it also features special effects from Tom Savini.
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