Master horror author Stephen King might be best known for his numerous books, including The Shining and The Stand, but he’s also well known for his love of television and film. In fact, many of his works have been adapted to film or television, usually with great success (minus a few minor exceptions). King has also become known for sharing his thoughts on the media he enjoys, especially television shows, most often on social media platforms like X and Bluesky.

While one might expect a horror auteur like King to watch horror shows primarily, it turns out the author has incredibly varied tastes when it comes to TV, and he’s not afraid to gush over his favorites. (King even wrote an essay for The Times on one show that he loved.) He’s been known to recommend everything from thrillers to crime dramas to sci-fi and everything in between to his fans, giving these shows an official stamp of approval from a public figure whose taste and recommendations people trust.

The Americans

2013-2018 (FX)

One of King’s all-time favorite shows is an iconic spy thriller with no supernatural ties. When the author was questioned about his favorite TV show in a 2013 Reddit AMA, King’s answer was The Americans. Airing for six seasons, The Americans follows the lives of two KGB agents posing as an American couple in the 1980s, offering an intriguing look at Cold War-era espionage. It’s also widely considered one of the best American spy shows. It’s currently available to stream on Hulu.

Five years later, King was still praising the show on his X account, where he wrote: “One small reason why cable drama is better: In episode 3 of THE AMERICANS, Stan and Renee cover a dish of leftovers with Saran Wrap. It’s a little thing, but an authentic grace note. You’d rarely if ever see it on a network show.”

ZeroZeroZero

2020 (Sky Atlantic, Canal+)

ZeroZeroZero is an Italian crime drama that aired in 2020 and starred Gabriel Byrne, Andrea Riseborough, and Dane DeHaan. They played members of the Lynwood family, owners of a shipping company that dabbles in the world of drug trafficking by moving shipments of cocaine for various mafia and cartel leaders.

The show was well-liked by critics and by Stephen King himself. He praised the show, and specifically the cast, on X in March 2020 when he posted, “Hard to believe I will see anything this year that’s better than this.” He called Andrea Riseborough and Dane DeHaan’s performances “incandescent,” and commented that the show was “Bone-shaking, chilling, terrifying, epic.”

It was high praise coming from a man who has made a living creating chilling and terrifying works. Between King’s recommendation and the show’s critical acclaim, it’s definitely one to add to the “TBW” list, though sadly, ZeroZeroZero is currently not available to stream in the US.

Baby Reindeer

2024 (Netflix)

Netflix

When it comes to shows that King has recommended to fans, Baby Reindeer is probably the one he was most passionate about. His initial reaction on X merely consisted of: “BABY REINDEER. Holy s***,” but he later followed that up with an essay in The Times titled “Stephen King on Baby Reindeer: ‘One of the best things I’ve ever seen’.”

He said in the essay that “Every episode is like a short, swift stab of a very sharp knife — thank God my stalker novel Misery came out first.” Because Baby Reindeer is a semi-autobiographical dark comedy created by Richard Gadd about an aspiring comedian/bartender stalked by an infatuated woman, many did indeed compare it to Misery when it came out. The show became one of Netflix’s biggest limited series and was truly deserving of King’s admiration.

Dark

2017-2020 (Netflix)

Dark is a German sci-fi mystery thriller that aired on Netflix from 2017 to 2020. It received critical acclaim, and several publications hailed it as one of the best shows of the year, with some calling Dark one of Netflix’s strongest sci-fi shows. The show told the story of the town of Winden and its residents, who become pawns in an alternate-reality, time-travel mystery involving a local cave network.

With a Nordic noir vibe and an extremely complex storyline, Dark explored how time travel (and time itself) could impact humans, psychologically and existentially. Plus, the multi-layered plot included a child’s disappearance and a centuries-old conspiracy, which made attempting to figure things out incredibly fun and difficult.

King apparently agreed, as he took to X after the series finale, where he posted, “DARK (Netflix) is dark and complex…and…well…very German. Terrific show.” Dark is one of the few shows that audiences and critics completely agree on; the show has an average 95% Tomatometer score and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

From

2022-Present (MGM+)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Who doesn’t love From? This sci-fi horror show premiered in 2022 and was renewed for a fifth and final season in April 2026. One of the more disturbing shows currently on television and full of jump scares, it tells the story of a small town where the residents are trapped and unable to leave. The surrounding forest is full of terrifying creatures that hunt the residents (and any unfortunate new arrivals who stumble in) at night.

Last year, over on Bluesky, King shared that, “There are really only two ‘mystery box’ shows that I felt were worth my time last year and this coming year (for ‘mystery box shows, think LOST): FROM and SILO.” The final season is set to air on MGM+ in 2027. It will be fascinating to learn King’s final verdict on From once it’s wrapped.

Paradox

2009 (BBC One)

BBC

King seems to have his finger on the pulse of popular television, with recommendations for shows like From and Baby Reindeer, but he occasionally praises a lesser-known show. That was the case with Paradox, a 2009 BBC miniseries. With only five episodes, the show had a unique twist: it was a sci-fi crime procedural.

Scientists and detectives team up after one scientist receives supposed images from the future that allegedly predict future events. They and the police must work together to decipher what the images mean and stop them from occurring. The show was supposed to run longer than five episodes, but unfortunately, the numbers weren’t there, leading the British network to cancel it.

King found the series about a decade after it aired and gave it a go, resulting in a 2020 X post praising Paradox. He wrote, “The show I’ve had the most pure fun with this summer is [‘Paradox’]. Maybe a plot hole here and there, but the central situation is intriguing, the pace is relentless, and the cast is winning.” Unfortunately, his kind words weren’t enough to bring the show back, but they likely led more people to add Paradox to their watch lists. Paradox is currently unavailable for streaming in the US.

Silo

2023-Present (Apple TV)

Image via Apple TV

Based on Hugh Howey’s book trilogy, Silo is set in a dystopian world where 10,000 people live in an underground silo extending 144 levels beneath the earth. They’re supposedly stuck there because of the toxicity of the air on the planet’s surface and follow the numerous regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Until they begin to question things, that is, and challenge everything they’ve ever known.

Critics have praised the show for its production design, blend of genres, and world-building. King evidently agreed with the show’s critical acclaim, as he shared his enjoyment of the show on Bluesky and wrote, “Watching SILO. It’s very good.”

Since the show features themes often found in King’s novels, including anti-authoritarianism, it’s not surprising he would become a fan. Silo was renewed for its fourth and final season back in 2024, but that season isn’t due to air until July 2027. All season 3 episodes are now available to stream on Apple TV.

Marianne

2019 (Netflix)

For those who love Stephen King, there’s no better recommendation than a show he said had “a Stephen King vibe.” The show he said that about? Marianne, the French supernatural horror show that premiered on Netflix in 2019 and boasts a rare 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The series follows a horror novelist who discovers that the events and characters she has written into her stories exist in the real world. The terror the show brought to audiences was real, and King’s recommendation on X stated, “If you’re one of those sickos—like me—who enjoys being scared, MARIANNE (Netflix) will do the job.”

Despite the scares, the show also carries some humor. Stephen King commented that the flashes of humor “give it a STRANGER THINGS vibe.” Unfortunately, Marianne suffered the fate of many amazing Netflix shows and was canceled after only one season.

Birthdate

September 21, 1947

Birthplace

Portland, Maine, USA

Height

6 feet 4 inches

Professions

Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor