Stephen King’s stories have been turned into movies and TV shows many times, with mixed results. However, films like It, The Shawshank Redemption, and Misery remain popular with audiences. Several King adaptations, including Carrie and The Green Mile, have even received Academy Award nominations.
Let’s be real, not every Stephen King adaptation is a winner. For every Shining or Shawshank, you get a Dreamcatcher, the recent Salem’s Lot, or that surprisingly flat take on The Dark Tower from a few years back. And King himself even directed Maximum Overdrive – a film that’s become infamous, though it does have a dedicated cult following. Some, like the 2022 Firestarter and The Lawnmower Man (which King has publicly disowned, by the way), are just…not good. But the biggest disappointment? King inadvertently became the inspiration for one of the most critically-panned franchises ever. Viewers pretty much knew it all along, but critics have confirmed it: not a single Children of the Corn movie has managed to earn truly positive reviews. It’s a tough track record, even for a master of horror.
The ‘Children of the Corn’ Yield a Rotten Harvest
Lionsgate
Horror films often face criticism, with some dismissing them as simply being overly graphic. However, that hasn’t stopped dedicated fans from enjoying movies that others might avoid, like the 1984 film Children of the Corn. Many consider Children of the Corn a classic of the genre, thanks to Linda Hamilton’s performance and its incredibly memorable, frightening visuals. The film has become a cultural touchstone – even people who haven’t seen it can make jokes about children and cornfields because the imagery is so well-known.
Despite receiving largely negative reviews – critics gave the original Children of the Corn a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences weren’t much kinder at 40% – the movie stuck with viewers and launched a franchise. It took almost ten years for a sequel to appear, partly due to complications with the film rights, but that led to a series of follow-up movies. There are now 11 Children of the Corn films, including a remake in 2009 and a reboot in 2020. Interestingly, despite changes to the stories and characters over the years, all eleven movies share a common trait: consistently low ratings from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | Critics | Audiences |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Children of the Corn’ (1984) | 36% | 40% |
| ‘Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice’ (1993) | 30% | 20% |
| ‘Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest’ (1995) | N/A | 26% |
| ‘Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering’ (1996) | N/A | 25% |
| ‘Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror’ (1998) | 14% | 21% |
| ‘Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return’ (1999) | 0% | 30% |
| ‘Children of the Corn: Revelation’ (2001) | 0% | 23% |
| ‘Children of the Corn’ (2009) | 0% | 16% |
| ‘Children of the Corn: Genesis’ (2011) | N/A | 11% |
| ‘Children of the Corn: Runaway’ (2018) | N/A | 14% |
| ‘Children of the Corn’ (2020/2023) | 11% | 38% |
Let’s be honest, the Children of the Corn movies haven’t exactly been critical darlings. The original film scraped by with a 36% rating – that’s the highest score any of these movies have ever received! In fact, three entries earned a dismal 0%, and four sequels weren’t even worth scoring. Thankfully, audiences have had their say, but even they aren’t huge fans. The original Stephen King adaptation still comes out on top for viewers, with the 2020 reboot surprisingly close at 38%. While nothing hits a flat zero, 2011’s Children of the Corn: Genesis is definitely the black sheep of the family, scoring a measly 11%. It’s a bit baffling why this franchise keeps going, but I guess that speaks to the enduring power of horror and the pull of the Stephen King name.
Even Stephen King’s Had It With the ‘Children of the Corn’ Movies
Dimension Films
The sheer number of Children of the Corn movies is remarkable, and there are a few reasons why so many were made. Stephen King’s popularity created a recognizable brand, which allowed filmmakers to keep producing sequels, particularly for the home video market in the 1990s and early 2000s. Because the quality was consistently low, there were no negative repercussions, and the franchise ultimately became one of the most critically panned in history. This has happened with other King works too, like sequels to Sometimes They Come Back, Larry Cohen’s A Return to Salem’s Lot, and even Carrie, where his name was used to make money. King himself admitted in a 2016 interview with Deadline that he wasn’t pleased with the endless Children of the Corn films.
I’m not a fan of the many Children of the Corn sequels, but I actually enjoyed the first movie – I thought it was well done.
Dimension Films
Beyond the many sequels, it’s interesting to note how many well-known actors got their start in the Children of the Corn series. While Courtney Hamilton had a significant role in the original, several later films also featured future stars. Charlize Theron had a small part in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, and Naomi Watts starred in Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering. Eva Mendes actually began her acting career in Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror.
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The Children of the Corn movies have become a lasting horror property, and with a recent installment only a few years old, we can expect to see more in the future. While the endless stream of sequels has thankfully stopped, the franchise isn’t likely to disappear. Stephen King remains popular, and the title itself still has recognition, even among those who haven’t read his work. Despite criticism of the adaptations, Children of the Corn maintains a dedicated fanbase and a cult following.
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2026-01-09 20:05