Stephen King’s Favorite Movies of 2025

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Stephen King’s fans know they can always count on two things: a new book and a movie he recommends. King loves watching films and TV as much as he loves writing – some even say he still types on a typewriter! While he’s not a filmmaker himself (his movie Maximum Overdrive wasn’t a hit), as a master storyteller who’s captivated millions, he has a great eye for a good story.

Throughout 2025, Stephen King has publicly praised a number of movies. As expected, he particularly enjoyed the film adaptations of his own novels, The Long Walk and a new version of The Running Man that didn’t star Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s also been impressed by films across various genres, including horror, thrillers, westerns, and comedies.

Leaving aside films based on his own books, here’s a list of movies Stephen King has publicly complimented in 2024, based on his posts on X (formerly Twitter) and interviews.

9
‘Companion’

As a huge cinema fan, I was immediately hooked by Companion. It centers around Iris, played brilliantly by Sophie Thatcher, and her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid). Their relationship takes a seriously dark turn when Iris discovers she’s not a real person – she’s a robot Josh is renting! It gets even stranger when she finds out Josh controls her feelings and even her intelligence with an app – he’s kept her at just 40% to keep her compliant. Trust me, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The story quickly spirals with twist after twist, and let’s just say the body count rises fast. It’s a wild ride!

Love Don’t Cost a Thing? Not Really

Many are calling Companion the best science fiction film of the year, and it has a similar unsettling vibe to an episode of Black Mirror – Charlie Brooker probably wishes he’d come up with the idea himself! The movie juggles several storylines, but it manages to keep everything clear and easy to follow. While it’s not perfect, the strong performances from both Quaid and Thatcher, combined with Drew Hancock’s skilled direction, make it a film you’ll want to champion. Even Stephen King enjoyed it, saying he was glad he saw it, even if it was at home, and praised Sophie Thatcher as a rising star.

8
‘Our Hero, Balthazar’

Balthazar Malone, a wealthy teenager nicknamed Balthy (played by Jaeden Martell), tries to get the attention of a girl he likes, Eleanor (Pippa Knowles), by making videos about gun control. However, he attracts the ire of an online troll named “Deathdealer16,” who starts harassing him. Balthy becomes convinced this troll is planning a mass shooting, and impulsively travels to Texas to confront them. This is the story of Our Hero, Balthazar.

Content Creator Vs. Troll

Oscar Boyson, a quickly emerging filmmaker, wrote and directed the excellent comedy-drama, Our Hero, Balthazar. He also tackles the difficult subject of gun control with a light touch. Critic King called it a thrilling independent film, and noted it will remind viewers of Mean Streets. Like the Scorsese classic, the film centers on a character who tries to appear strong and impress others.

7
‘The Rule of Jenny Pen’

In the 2025 film The Rule of Jenny Pen (completed in 2024), elderly Judge Stefan Mortensen, played by Geoffrey Rush, has a stroke while sentencing someone in court. Though partially paralyzed, he’s determined to recover and enters a care home expecting a short stay. He’s annoyed to have to share a room, but even more disturbed to discover that a fellow resident, Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), pretends to be senile during the day and then frightens people at night with a disturbing hand puppet named Jenny Pen. When the staff dismisses his concerns, Judge Mortensen takes it upon himself to stop the nighttime terror.

Forget ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

Geoffrey Rush, famous for his role as Albert Einstein in Genius, delivers a quieter, more thoughtful performance in this unsettling film, though he still shows flashes of his quirky energy. He skillfully portrays his character’s difficult emotional and physical journey, showing a mind that remains sharp even as the body weakens. John Lithgow also deserves recognition for his role, which adds significant psychological depth to the movie. Stephen King was so impressed he called it one of the best films of the year and recommended it before it was even available on Shudder, praising it as The Rule of Jenny Pen.

6
‘Bring Her Back’

After losing their father, teenager Andy and his younger sister Piper, who is blind, are sent to live with Laura, a woman still heartbroken over the death of her own daughter. Laura focuses all her attention on Piper, unintentionally neglecting and isolating Andy. Things take a dark turn when Laura becomes involved in a dangerous occult ritual, desperately trying to resurrect her daughter. Now, someone needs to rescue Andy and Piper from Laura’s increasingly dangerous obsession in Bring Her Back.

Worse Mother Than Margaret White From ‘Carrie’

Stephen King describes the horror film by Australian twins Danny and Michael Philippou as “thoughtful, textured, and terrifying.” Sally Hawkins delivers a remarkable performance as the villain, cementing her character as one of the genre’s best. However, be warned: Bring Her Back is truly only for dedicated horror fans. The movie is filled with intensely disturbing scenes, including one involving a cantaloupe and a kitchen knife that is likely to stay with you long after the credits roll.

5
‘Together’

The movie Together stars real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie. They play a married couple who relocate from the city to a rural area when Millie gets a new teaching job. Soon after moving, and following a strange incident involving Dave drinking from a wild pool, they begin to physically merge – and must then figure out what’s happening to them.

Till a Miracle Does Them Apart

One of the most frightening films of the year, Together is truly unsettling and might even make you think twice about going for a hike. Dave Franco delivers a strong performance, and Alison Brie is captivating as a woman desperate for peace, but constantly facing challenges. Even Stephen King praised the acting, calling Franco and Brie “great—and brave.” He also highlighted the film’s focus on its characters, saying that horror is most effective when you connect with the people on screen, and that Together succeeds in doing just that.

4
‘Weapons’

The series Weapons is set in the small town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania. It begins with a shocking event: seventeen third-grade students disappear at 2:17 a.m., leaving only one child, Alex Lilly, behind. As teacher Justine Gandy and grieving father Archer Graff begin to investigate the disappearances, their search leads them to Alex’s aunt, Gladys.

Aunt Gladys is Hiding Something

Stephen King called the supernatural horror film “confidently told and very scary,” and praised it highly. The script was so sought-after that multiple studios fiercely competed to acquire it, with New Line Cinema ultimately winning the bid. The competition was intense enough that Jordan Peele parted ways with his managers after his production company, Monkeypaw Studios, lost out. Critics agree the film, titled Weapons, is exceptional, featuring outstanding acting and inventive scenes. One particularly memorable and chilling sequence involves a long, unbroken shot of a woman approaching Julia Garner’s sleeping character with scissors inside a car – it’s considered a standout moment in recent filmmaking.

3
‘Wolf Man’

Things quickly unravel for writer Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott) in Wolf Man. After his father dies, he brings his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), and daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth), to his family’s secluded farmhouse. But their visit turns terrifying when a strange creature attacks, leaving Blake with a wound. Now, trapped and frightened, the family tries to secure the house, but they face a growing problem: Blake begins to act and change in unsettling ways.

“Daddy, What Big Teeth You Have”

Stephen King praised the film Wolf Man on social media, describing it as “lean, mean, and scary as hell,” and “a real monster movie for a new generation.” He emphasized that the film demands your full attention. King believes this frightening and streamlined movie offers insightful commentary on how families cope when a member starts to change. Christopher Abbott gives a particularly strong performance as Blake, a desperate family man. The role was originally intended for Ryan Gosling, but he had to withdraw due to other commitments – though Abbott proved to be a great fit. Julia Garner also shines as Blake’s wife, delivering a vibrant performance.

2
‘Killing Faith’

In the 1800s American West, amidst a deadly plague, the story of Killing Faith follows Dr. Bender (Guy Pearce), a doctor who has lost his wife. He reluctantly agrees to guide Sarah (DeWanda Wise), a formerly enslaved woman, and her daughter (Emily Ford) to a renowned faith healer. Sarah believes her daughter is cursed – that anything she touches withers and dies – but Dr. Bender believes a medical explanation is more likely. Their differing beliefs create friction and tension as they journey through dangerous lands.

Who Is Right?

“Killing Faith” is a captivating and intelligent film that deserves recognition. While it may not appeal to everyone, viewers will likely find it deeply rewarding, thanks to its compelling exploration of the conflict between science and the supernatural. As Stephen King notes, the film feels like a Western with a touch of the eerie, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s work. King particularly highlights the film’s shocking opening scene – a young girl touches a horse, and it instantly dies – as a moment that immediately grabs your attention and leaves you wanting to see what happens next, and the film delivers on that promise.

1
‘A House of Dynamite’

The film, A House of Dynamite, begins with a shocking event: an intercontinental ballistic missile is heading towards America, and its origin is a complete mystery. The story follows the unfolding panic as everyone scrambles to respond, from the missile defense teams in Alaska to the President (played by Idris Elba) as he attempts to maintain control.

Best Race-Against-Time Movie This Year

Okay, so Stephen King really went there with his review of A House of Dynamite. He made some pretty strong statements about the political climate, even referencing the then-current president and suggesting a leader like that could escalate things to a dangerous point – mirroring the film’s premise. Honestly, I’m more interested in the movie itself! And wow, Kathryn Bigelow has done it again. It definitely has that same intensity as Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker, but it feels perfectly suited for a streaming release. The suspense is relentless, and the ending? Forget about it – it’s the kind of thing you’ll be discussing with everyone you know for days. It’s a really thought-provoking film.

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2025-10-30 23:57