Stephen King is still one of the most popular sources for movie adaptations in the 2020s, but which of his films from this decade is the best? Ever since the publication of his debut novel, Carrie, Stephen King has been no stranger to Hollywood. Brian De Palma’s amazing adaptation of the aforementioned book sparked a gold rush that has never really slowed down.

Between TV shows and movies, there have been over 100 Stephen King adaptations over the years. While some of them are student films and other independent projects, most have been major Hollywood productions with serious funding. King remains big business on the silver screen, and there are a handful of movies and shows in development at this very moment.

Though there really hasn’t been a slow period for King adaptations since the 1970s, things have really picked up since 2020. Filmmakers are not only plumbing the depths of his catalog for untouched gems, they are also remaking his more popular stories. At this point, some King novels have been adapted several times. Despite this exposure, King’s popularity is showing no signs of fading.

Stephen King’s movies from the 2020s are a mixed bag. They represent some of his best and worst translations, and there is a lot in between as well. Director Mike Flanagan has jumped to the forefront as the preeminent King whisperer for this generation, but he isn’t the only stellar filmmaker with an interest in the Maine wordsmith. Halfway through the 2020s, we’ve already gotten some unforgettable Stephen King movies.

9

Children Of The Corn (2020)

You would be forgiven for not knowing that a Children of the Corn adaptation was produced back in 2020. The independent horror flick took another stab at King’s short story from Night Shift, and it is technically the 11th film based on the story ever produced. It follows a young girl who is possessed by a spirit, and her bloody rampage to rid her small town of adults. It makes pretty liberal changes to the source material, and is pretty distinct from the original film too.

Children of the Corn is easily the worst Stephen King movie of the 2020s so far. Though it has some interesting ideas, they are poorly executed and aren’t supplemented by even an ounce of scariness. The film eventually devolves into a boring series of occurrences with very little consistency or intrigue. The original film is far from perfect, but it blows the remake out of the water.

8

Firestarter (2022)

The 2022 remake of Firestarter was behind the eight-ball from the beginning, and never really had a chance to succeed. Though the original film from 1984 is one of those bad Stephen King movies that has some redeeming qualities, the remake is just plain bad. It concerns a young girl with pyrokinetic powers who becomes the target of a powerful government agency. Firestarter bears a striking resemblance to King’s earlier work, Carrie.

Both adaptations of Firestarter are built on a pretty sketchy foundation, but the 2022 version makes almost no attempt to improve upon its predecessor. It sure makes changes, but those changes are strange and largely unmotivated. The box office bomb feels like it was made up as it went along, so there’s nothing for the audience to latch on to. King’s name alone wasn’t enough to sell this turkey.

7

‘Salem’s Lot (2024)

After languishing in post-production hell for several years, Warner Bros. finally dumped ‘Salem’s Lot on HBO Max in 2024. The most recent version marks the third adaptation of King’s beloved vampire novel, and they have been getting steadily worse each time. The titular town becomes a haven for an ancient bloodsucker who slowly begins turning the residents into his legion of the undead.

Despite being based on one of King’s most frightening books, the 2024 adaptation is awkward, stilted, and frequently boring. It imitates the themes of the novel, but never fully commits to them. The changes feel arbitrary, and generally make the story worse instead of better. Considering the fact that they had so much time to work on the movie, it’s shocking it was delivered in such an unfinished state.

6

The Boogeyman (2023)

Many of Stephen King’s short stories are nearly the length of full novels, while others are only a few brief pages in length. “The Boogeyman” falls in the latter category, yet it’s one of his most effectively scary tales. Because of the original story’s brevity, the movie adaptation had to be built from the ground up. A grieving family unwittingly plays host to a deadly supernatural entity that lurks in the dark.

The Boogeyman is essentially a sequel to the short story, building upon the core concept and fleshing out what happens afterward. What results is a perfectly serviceable horror flick, with almost none of the charms of a Stephen King story. The movie lives and dies by its titular monster, and the film is guilty of being pretty lazy. When The Boogeyman finally does appear, it’s so generic that it’s hard to remember even an hour after the credits roll.

5

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022)

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone came and went without much fanfare back in 2022, but it’s one of the more unique King movies in recent memory. Though the story isn’t among the author’s greatest tales, it is reminiscent of his glory days when he could whip up a scary story about almost anything. When a teen’s wealthy mentor dies, he continues to receive mysterious communications from beyond the grave. What’s more, his enemies start turning up dead.

The Netflix original movie plays out like an extended episode of The Twilight Zone, but lacks the timeless quality of the classic show. What really works is the emotional drama, even if the horror elements are pretty lackluster. The evocative quality of King’s writing is usually overlooked in favor of his bombastic scares, but Mr. Harrigan’s Phone is a fitting tribute to that side of his work.

4

The Running Man (2025)

With Edgar Wright at the helm, the newest adaptation of The Running Man could have been an instant classic. Instead, it turned into a decent action romp with very few distinguishing features. King’s novel has been ripped off countless times over the years, and even the original film is overshadowed by movies that borrow the story’s ideas. It’s set in a dystopian future where a desperate father agrees to compete in a deadly televised game show.

The framework is strong enough so that The Running Man is a fun action movie. However, it fails to live up to the quality of the original, and is pretty bland for something directed by Wright. The biggest issue with the 2025 movie is that it feels like any other generic movie from the 2020s, and lacks self-awareness. For a story that has so much to say, the movie is surprisingly tongue-tied.

3

The Monkey (2025)

Osgood Perkins has staked his claim as one of the most refreshing voices in horror today, and his divisive adaptation of The Monkey is proof of that claim. Originally published back in 1980, King’s short story is often forgotten in a sea of other shorts he wrote during the decade. As such, the movie essentially has free rein. The plot involves a pair of twins who find a toy monkey that seems to cause horrific deaths all around them.

Instead of playing such a silly concept totally straight, The Monkey opts for the most ridiculous horror comedy in recent memory. The overt gruesomeness is itself a joke, and the movie pulls no punches with its shocking deaths. Every twist and turn is more jarring than the last, and it leaves the viewer on edge for 98 minutes. However, it is a bit one-note, and the joke can get somewhat repetitive.

2

The Long Walk (2025)

Yet another King classic that languished in development hell for years, an adaptation of The Long Walk finally hit theaters back in 2025. The author has toyed around with dystopian narratives on several occasions, but his second Richard Bachman book is arguably the best at capturing that concept. In an alternate America, young boys volunteer to participate in a deadly walking contest.

Despite being an allegory for the Vietnam War, the power of the narrative isn’t lost in a 21st century context. The Long Walk strikes the perfect balance between King’s often over-the-top storytelling and the grounded human elements that make his work so compelling. This is helped by a young ensemble that is exceptionally strong. Few King movies capture the raw intensity of its source material like The Long Walk.

1

The Life Of Chuck (2024)

On the surface, The Life of Chuck looks nothing like a Stephen King adaptation. Mike Flanagan’s interpretation of the author’s wistful novella is his most imaginative work, and further evidence that he really clicks with King’s writing. The title character experiences the triumphs and tragedies of his life in non-chronological order, and sees the beauty in every cosmic moment.

Though The Life of Chuck doesn’t have the obvious Stephen King hallmarks, it is still his work through and through. It is a heartfelt and emotional ride that feels effortlessly sincere. Many modern films lack sincerity, but the 2024 underrated gem embraces its own maudlin concepts without flinching. It isn’t just the best King movie of the 2020s, but one of his best adaptations of all time.

Birthdate

September 21, 1947

Birthplace

Portland, Maine, USA

Height

6 feet 4 inches

Professions

Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor