Top 5 Best Stephen King Films
Let’s get one thing straight, I realize this list of best Stephen King films isn’t terribly mind-blowing.
What I’m putting on my list is probably what 90% of other people would put on their lists. But they’re all just that good, there are others I may like as much as these but the entries here are clearly the best. What may be interesting is to see what exact order these Stephen King movies come in because before writing I never really had them specified in any particular way. So let’s get started.
5.) The Shawshank Redemption
A film so good that there are undoubtedly two reactions to me putting it at this number. First, why is it not higher?! Or second because the film is so loved and so well-reviewed that there is something of a backlash against it. When you hear over and over how great it is you can’t help but have unreasonable expectations. However, I think this film really is that good. All of the performances are perfect and despite it being a long film it moves very quickly. It’s often remarked for how inspirational the movie is and what I personally find so good is how it never feels like it’s trying. It just tells it story and you can’t help but feel a little better about your life afterwards. The truly remarkable thing to remember is that this is a film by a first-time director. Though it has that craftsman feel of a veteran. I don’t know what else to say mainly because while I know there are some who don’t care for the movie I don’t know what exactly their argument is. I think it’s more of a “this film just doesn’t work for me personally” thing. Which I can understand even if I disagree.
4.) Stand By Me
It is said that this was the first film adaptation that King felt truly captured his work. He had liked some of the movies made before this, but this was the one that reportedly left him gobsmacked after his first viewing. He couldn’t even talk to director Rob Reiner for bit until he collected himself. It’s not hard to see why given how well it captures that feeling of childhood, hanging out with your friends and growing up. On the surface this can seem like any other 80s film about a group of kids, but it is so much more than just that. Practically all coming of age stories after this owe so much to it. Why does it do it so well? Well the performances are one thing. Rob Reiner mentions in the making-of on the DVD how most child actor performances are created in the editing by taking each little bit that you need. The way you can tell the truly great child actors is how long the scenes of just the kids interacting between themselves are. It’s something I can’t not notice now. I think this was the first time I noticed how the bullies in Stephen King stories are more than just jerks, they’re psychopaths. Another thing I couldn’t not notice afterwards when watching other King adaptions.
