Shubhabrata Dutta
Divulging the eerie and equally captivating world of Stephen King’s imagination is not everyone’s cup of tea. The spine-chilling adaptations of his works have both petrified and bewildered audiences across the globe, delivering unforgettable journeys through the master of horror’s iconic tales. If you are up for it, we bring you the best Stephen King movies you can stream on Hulu, Prime Video, and Max.
7. Creepshow 2 (1987)
A comedy horror anthology film directed by Michael Gornick, ‘Creepshow 2’ incorporates elements of three Stephen King stories: “Old Chief Wood’nhead,” “The Raft,” and “The Hitchhiker.” In the film, each of these stories is a part of the latest issue of the horror comic Creepshow that young Billy finds and starts to read. “Old Chief Wood’nhead” is about a statue of a Native American that comes to life to avenge the murder of the shop owners who had the statue. “The Raft” deals with a blob-like creature that lives in a lake, and “The Hitchhiker” follows an adulterous businesswoman who is followed by a hitchhiker whom she had run over. The cast includes George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, Dan Kamin, Paul Satterfield, Lois Chiles, and Tom Wright. You can watch it on Tubi for free.
6. Children of the Corn (1984)
This movie gives shape to a possible scenario from the future, i.e., children deciding to take control. In fact, that is what happens in this film. Led by a 9-year-old Isaac Chroner (John Franklin), who is possessed by an invisible dark entity, the children of a small Nebraska town start brutally killing all the adults to prevent them from burning the corn fields for government subsidy. Dark, twisted, and certainly bingeworthy, the movie is directed by Fritz Kiersch. You can watch it on Prime Video.
5. The Monkey (2025)
Based on a short story by King, Oz Perkins’ ‘The Monkey’ centers on the titular toy that is a harbinger of death. The plot shows how Hal Shelburn finds himself around the cursed toy monkey, which unleashes its wrath on random people, killing them in the most gruesome ways. As Hal and his son Petey try to figure out a way to get rid of the money, someone else close to Hal tries to use the monkey to his advantage. Starring Theo James and Colin O’Brien, ‘The Monkey’ is a bingeworthy splatter movie that is as bloody as it is funny. You can watch it on Hulu.
4. Salem’s Lot (2024)
Gary Dauberman’s ‘Salem’s Lot,’ based on Stephen King’s eponymous horror novel, is its third adaptation and the first feature adaptation. It revolves around Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), an author who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, AKA Salem’s Lot, in Maine, after 25 years. Why? To probe for inspiration for his new novel. His search, unfortunately, takes a dark turn when he finds out that his town is being tormented by an ancient force of evil that is turning his townsfolk into vampires. Leaving his search for inspiration, Mears takes on the responsibility of saving the people and finding a way to end the torment. ‘Salem’s Lot’ does a good job of grounding the supernatural plot and is an entertaining binge-watch for horror fanatics. It can be streamed on Max.
3. It: Chapter Two (2019)
Andrés Muschietti’s ‘It: Chapter Two’ is a sequel to ‘It’ (2017). Set 27 years after the events in the first film, it brings together the main characters, who are now adults, AKA the Losers Club. One of them has a vision and contacts the rest, and they all return to Derry, Maine, because Pennywise is back. With their respective emotional baggage on their back, they set out to end Pennywise’s torment once and for all. But is that even possible? Starring James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Jay Ryan, and Bill Skarsgård, ‘It Chapter Two’ ups the scary quotient with its depiction of Pennywise’s tricks that have “grown” with the age of our protagonists. If you liked the first one, this one is a must-watch. It can be streamed on Max.
2. It (2017)
Considered one of the best R-rated horror films ever, if not the best, ‘It’ is directed by Andy Muschietti and has been adapted from King’s eponymous horror novel. The film’s villain is an evil clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), who returns to the fictional town of Derry, Maine, every 27 years to feed on fear, particularly that of children, as they are easy targets. This time, it targets a group of outcast kids who decide to fight the clown despite their differences and personal issues that have become Pennywise’s food. A must-watch Stephen King adaptation, ‘It’ smartly fades the line between horror and fun, giving the audience a rare and cool viewing experience. You can watch the film on Max.
1. The Life of Chuck (2024)
Based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name, ‘The Life of Chuck’ features Tom Hiddleston as Charles “Chuck” Krantz, a person who is associated with the end of the universe. The movie is divided into three parts, each showcasing a different period in Chuck’s life, and how little things seem to connect to form a larger universe within his mind, a universe that eventually collapses with Chuck’s death. ‘The Life of Chuck’ can easily be called an apocalyptic drama, which King has effectively explored from a philosophical angle. The movie is directed by Mike Flanagan. You can watch it here.
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