The Best Stephen King Adaptations of 2025: Every Movie & Show, Ranked

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Stephen King continues to be a major force in popular culture, even fifty years after his first novel was published. He first captivated readers in 1974 with Carrie, a horror story about a high school student with telepathic powers who gets revenge on those who bully her. Over the years, King’s writing has become more intricate, and his stories are frequently adapted into movies and TV shows.

2025 has seen some truly excellent adaptations, and surprisingly, they’ve come from both well-known and lesser-known Stephen King stories. While many of these adaptations have been released on both film and television, they aren’t all created equal, and one stands out as the best of the year.

The Institute Was a Decent Rehash of a Late King Novel

Given how often Stephen King’s work is analyzed, it made sense that a recent novel would be adapted into a series. In 2019, the renowned horror author published The Institute, a story centered around children with special powers. The book begins with Luke Ellis finding himself in a strange facility, where he discovers he’s part of a group of children being studied.

Ben Barnes played Tim Jameison, an outside police officer who quickly became suspicious of what was really happening. The show did a good job of highlighting elements from Stephen King’s stories, filling a similar niche to Stranger Things. While well-made, it didn’t quite reach the same heights as other successful Stephen King adaptations in 2025.

The Monkey Was a Welcome Addition to Oz Perkins’ Filmography

Osgood Perkins is known for creating unique and unsettling horror films, and his latest, The Monkey, fits that mold. Based on a short story by Stephen King from 1980, the movie centers on identical twins and a strange toy monkey that seems to cause a series of terrifying events. However, the film’s unusual style proved difficult for some viewers to connect with.

The film blended seamlessly with both Perkins’ wider artistic style and King’s more unusual tales. While King’s work isn’t always known for comedy, humor was central to this adaptation. And the graphic violence was a welcome element, showcasing the talent of the up-and-coming director.

The Running Man Was Unsubtle and Entertaining

Fans knew The Running Man was in capable hands with the new adaptation. Originally written by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, it was one of his most intense novels. While already made into a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, many felt it was time for a fresh take.

Glen Powell plays Ben, a surprisingly kind man in a world where poverty is rampant. Because he’s a good person, Ben has struggled to find work and earn enough money to help his daughter. Desperate, he joins The Running Man, a dangerous reality show where contestants are hunted for 30 days. The longer they survive, the more money they earn – and the higher the show’s ratings climb. But Ben soon discovers the game is fixed, and his only chance of survival is to expose and destroy the corrupt system behind it. While the message is delivered bluntly, it’s a story audiences are clearly ready for.

It: Welcome to Derry Is an Original Take on a Familiar Story

Stephen King’s It had been explored in fiction before, but HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry brought a fresh take to the story. Before Bill and his friends faced Pennywise, the terrifying clown haunted a different group of children. Decades earlier, in the 1960s – 27 years before the original movie – the town of Derry was once the center of unimaginable fear.

The show could have simply retold the story of the movies, but it took a different path, not limiting itself to the plot of the original book. It delved into the racial tensions of the era and offered scares that were actually more unsettling than those in the film. The series wisely delayed revealing Pennywise and gave compelling depth to existing characters while also introducing a memorable new cast.

The Long Walk Was a Well Regarded Adaptation

Based on the novel by Richard Bachman, the 2025 film The Long Walk was notably darker than the adaptation of The Running Man. Unlike The Running Man, which offered a glimpse of a potential future improvement, The Long Walk presented a disturbingly realistic dystopian world. Set in an alternate 1970s America under military control, the film—similar to Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games—focused on a competition boys willingly entered, organized by the government.

CBR Report

CBR Report

The televised event followed boys who volunteered for the “Long Walk” – a grueling endurance walk where they had to maintain a pace of at least three miles per hour, constantly monitored by armed guards, until only one remained. Driven by a large cash prize, many boys participated in this event, set in a time of widespread economic hardship. Above all, the film powerfully adapted the original story to create a deeply disturbing and unforgettable narrative.

Life of Chuck Was a Beautiful Meditation on the Human Condition

Mike Flanagan has done it again, delivering a compelling story with his latest film. He adapted “The Life of Chuck,” a relatively obscure tale from his own collection, and the result is a moving portrayal of a man’s life, played by Tom Hiddleston, with all its ups and downs.

Even though it’s different from his usual scary movies, Life of Chuck is arguably Stephen Flanagan’s best work. The film tells its story in a unique, non-chronological way, shifting between different genres. While it can be a bit complex, it ultimately reveals the beauty in life, even amidst difficulty. This creative and deeply engaging film is a must-see.

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2025-12-23 20:16