Flynn
Dark Places
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Dark Places
Gillian Flynn - Novel books
Flynn's twisting crime fiction adapts to screen as effectively as King's horror. Gone Girl set the template.
thrillercrimetwisty
Adaptation guide
Stephen King books & movies in order
Every essential book matched to its screen version - 12 adaptations - Updated June 2026
Stephen King has more screen adaptations than any living author. The quality varies wildly, from all-time classics to forgettable made-for-TV movies. This guide covers the best and most notable adaptations across film and television.
King
The Shining
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1
King
The Shining
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1
Start with the book that defines King
Start with The Shining by Stephen King, then follow the full reading order.Listen on AudibleStephen King books in order →Best Stephen King book to start with →Books like Stephen King →
Book to screen, by book publication
| Book | Pub. | Adaptation | Released | Type | Score | Watch on | Get the book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carrie | 1974 | Carrie | 1976 | Film | 94% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
The Shining | 1977 | The Shining | 1980 | Film | 84% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
The Body | 1982 | Stand by Me | 1986 | Film | 92% | Peacock | Read on Kindle→ |
Misery | 1987 | Misery | 1990 | Film | 90% | Paramount+ | Read on Kindle→ |
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption | 1982 | The Shawshank Redemption | 1994 | Film | 91% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
The Green Mile | 1996 | The Green Mile | 1999 | Film | 78% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
It | 1986 | It | 2017 | Film | 86% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
Gerald's Game | 1992 | Gerald's Game | 2017 | Film | 91% | Netflix | Read on Kindle→ |
The Outsider | 2018 | The Outsider | 2020 | Series | 83% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
11/22/63 | 2011 | 11.22.63 | 2016 | Series | 79% | Hulu | Read on Kindle→ |
The Dead Zone | 1979 | The Dead Zone | 1983 | Film | 89% | Paramount+ | Read on Kindle→ |
Doctor Sleep | 2013 | Doctor Sleep | 2019 | Film | 78% | Max | Read on Kindle→ |
Best way to read and watch
There is no required order since each adaptation is standalone. For a best-first approach: The Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, The Shining, Misery, It. These five give you the full range of King on screen.
Where to watch
Max7 titles
Paramount+2 titles
Peacock1 title
Netflix1 title
Hulu1 title
Streaming availability changes monthly. We re-check this table regularly.
Buy or rent on Amazon →Where to buy & read
Frequently asked questions
Gerald's Game on Netflix is remarkably close to the source material. Misery is also extremely faithful. The Shining is famously the least faithful - brilliant film, very different story.
Yes. The 2017 film and its 2019 sequel capture the terror of Pennywise effectively. They cut the book's more controversial scenes and streamline the dual-timeline structure.
The 1990 It miniseries has Tim Curry's iconic Pennywise but has not aged well otherwise. The 1994 The Stand miniseries is solid but long. The 1997 Shining miniseries is more faithful than Kubrick's but less artful.
If you like Stephen King
More to read and watch.
Cronin
The Passage
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The Passage
Justin Cronin - Novel books
Epic horror that spans decades, like The Stand. The Fox series covered the first book faithfully.
horrorpost-apocalypticepic
Malerman
Bird Box
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Bird Box
Josh Malerman - Novel books
Tight, claustrophobic horror that became a massive Netflix film. If you liked Gerald's Game, start here.
horrorsurvivalpsychological
King
Stephen King books in order
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Stephen King books in order
Stephen King - Novel books
The full catalog of King novels with publication order and starting points.
King
Best Stephen King books ranked
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Best Stephen King books ranked
Stephen King - Novel books
The top 10 King novels ranked for new and returning readers.
King
Where to start with Stephen King
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Where to start with Stephen King
Stephen King - Novel books
The best first King book based on what kind of reader you are.
Flanagan
Midnight Mass
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Midnight Mass
Mike Flanagan - TV books
Flanagan directed Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep. This original series channels King's small-town horror without adapting a specific book.
horrorlimited seriesNetflix
Brothers
Stranger Things
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Stranger Things
The Duffer Brothers - TV books
Openly inspired by King and Spielberg. If you enjoy It and The Body, this is the spiritual successor.
sci-fi horrorcoming-of-ageNetflix
Flanagan
The Haunting of Hill House
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The Haunting of Hill House
Mike Flanagan - TV books
Another Flanagan series. Grief, ghosts, and a fractured family. The closest thing to King on TV that is not King.
horrorfamily dramaNetflix
Ready to start reading?
Start with The Shining, then follow the full reading order when you are ready to keep going.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026