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 Stephen King movies you can stream on Hulu, Prime Video, and Max, plus a free Tubi option.
10. 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.
9. The Boogeyman (2023)
Like Pennywise from ‘It,’ the Boogeyman also feeds off people’s fears. However, there’s one more thing that it feeds on: grief. So when it gets the taste of the grief of therapist Will and his daughters Sadie and Sawyer, all of whom are coping with an expected loss, it latches onto them. The question is: will it be with them forever? After all, pain only ends with death. Or will Sadie and Sawyer find a way to get rid of it? Directed by Rob Savage, ‘The Boogeyman’ stars Sophie Thatcher, Vivien Lyra Blair, Chris Messina, and David Dastmalchian. You can watch the film on Hulu.
8. Children of the Corn (1984)
In this adaptation, a couple arrives in a Nebraska town whose children have murdered the adults. Led by twelve-year-old preacher Isaac (John Franklin), the children belong to a deadly cult, and the visitors soon become its targets. Dark, twisted, and certainly bingeworthy, the movie is directed by Fritz Kiersch. You can watch it on Prime Video.
7. 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 monkey, 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.
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6. 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.
5. 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.
4. 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.
3. 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.
2. The Long Walk (2025)
Francis Lawrence’s ‘The Long Walk’ is based on Stephen King’s 1979 novel of the same name. It centers on a group of teenage boys who take part in the annual ‘Long Walk,’ arranged by the totalitarian military regime in an alternate 20th-century America. The rule is simple: walk at 3 miles an hour until only one person is left walking, no matter how long that takes. Slower than that, and a boy will receive three warnings before being executed by armed soldiers escorting them. Starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, and Ben Wang as some of the boys, and Mark Hamill as the Major in charge of the Walk, ‘The Long Walk’ is a must-watch for survival thriller fans. It can be streamed on Max.
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1. The Shining (1980)
What begins as a creative getaway at an isolated Colorado hotel turns into a terrorizing experience for Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) and his family in Stanley Kubrick’s cult classic horror flick that is based on Stephen King’s best-selling eponymous novel. Jack, his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and their son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), begin experiencing inexplicable events, starting with Danny’s psychic premonitions about the hotel’s dark past. As time progresses, Jack begins to unravel, his mind turning into that of a homicidal maniac who takes pleasure in terrorizing his own family. While the film failed to make a mark at the time of its release, it is now considered one of the best psychological horror movies ever. Nicholson’s performance remains a blueprint for actors to play unhinged characters. With countless influences in pop culture, ‘The Shining’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed here.
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