Stephen King has long been considered the most talented horror author around, and these great horror movies will remind fans of his most memorable stories. Ever since the dark high school tale Carrie was published in 1974, fans have enjoyed going into his back catalog and waiting eagerly for new releases. Since King is known for being as prolific as he is masterful, the wait is never that long for new works. He dove back into the world of Detective Holly Gibney in Never Flinch, which was published in May 2025, and has been sharing updates about The Talisman 3 on social media.
Fans have gotten a few chances to head to their local movie theater to see many King adaptations in 2025, from Edgar Wright’s remake of the action-packed The Running Man to Osgood Perkins’s take on the short story The Monkey. And, given King’s incredible influence on the genre he loves so much, it’s no wonder that so many horror films feel like they’ve taken a page out of his book.
‘Haunt’ (2019)
Pennywise the Dancing Clown may be the most famous, but there are some other cruel clowns in the horror genre who deserve recognition. When watching the 2019 movie Haunt, which stars Katie Stevens as Harper, a young woman who goes to a sinister haunted house with her friends on Halloween, it’s easy to imagine that the various versions of Pennywise might have served as some inspiration for this story.
While the killers in the creepy attraction wear masks depicting various figures, from a ghost to a devil, the villain wearing the clown mask is the most horrifying. The clown is also featured prominently in Haunt‘s final scene, which ties together the movie’s themes of empowerment, abuse, and childhood trauma. Harper is more than just a final girl; she’s also a character who has lived a hard life, and therefore, arguably, also feels like she came straight out of a King novel.
‘Let the Right One In’ (2008)
Salem’s Lot, King’s novel, which was published in 1975 and tells a dark story about vampires in a small town, has no doubt inspired countless takes on this idea. Skip the terrible HBO adaptation and watch a film that hits a few of the same notes instead. The 2008 Swedish horror movie Let the Right One In has all the heavy emotions and honesty about how tough it is to be a child that is present in many of King’s works. He’s written about bullies in many of his books, and this movie shows the brutal experience of dealing with cruel classmates.
As Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) gets to know their new neighbor Eli (Lina Leandersson), who is a vampire, they lean on one another, and the characters help each other feel less lonely. The remake Let Me In, which was released in 2010, is also fairly good, although it’s worth watching the original for its haunting beauty and miserable atmosphere.
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Ari Aster’s masterful 2018 horror movie Hereditary stars Toni Collette as Annie Graham, a mother who learns more about her awful past when her mother Ellen passes away. As her family’s connection to a demon named Paimon becomes clear, the entire family is affected. From that shocking scene (you remember the one) to the end of Hereditary, it’s an emotional and bleak ride.
It’s easy to see some nods to Carrie here. While Carrie White lives in the shadow of her mother Margaret, who is very religious, Hereditary discusses whether people can truly escape their family backgrounds, which is a sobering thought. Both stories explore trauma and characters who believe in something with all their being, and Annie’s fate feels as out of her control as Carrie’s is. If King’s brilliant 1970s novel gets under your skin, so does Aster’s impressive film.
‘Run’ (2020)
Another horror movie about mothers and daughters, Run stars Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen as Diane and Chloe Sherman, who are trapped in a toxic and terrifying relationship. Run is a harsh and honest look at Munchausen’s by proxy, and it doesn’t provide any simple answers about how someone can move forward after learning the truth about their parent.
Besides depicting another disturbing mother/daughter connection, Run might also remind viewers of Stephen King’s novel Carrie because it’s another story about a teenager who desperately wants to fit in and be a regular high schooler. It’s fascinating seeing Chloe figure out what her mom has been doing, and the pacing is perfect, sharing a bit more with each scene. However, there’s no denying that the 2020 film is a more empowering tale than King’s, and Chloe has a greater chance of actually escaping from her horrifying situation.
‘The Innkeepers’ (2011)
The Shining is undeniably the most classic horror movie about a haunted hotel, and The Innkeepers is a great contemporary film that feels very similar. Ti West may be known for his X trilogy, but not everyone has seen his 2011 movie, which follows Luke (Pat Healy) and Claire (Sara Paxton), who work at an inn that is going to close down. While the prospect of ghosts might freak most employees out, these two characters love spirits and are determined to find them.
While King himself might not love The Shining, there’s no getting around how popular and influential it is. If you’re looking for another scary story that scratches the itch, The Innkeepers won’t disappoint. Although it’s not quite as wacky, wild, and out there as the 1980s film, it’s a quieter take on an old building with secrets and scares.
‘Hush’ (2016)
The underrated horror movie Hush feels like it could be a Stephen King novel, which makes sense since filmmaker Mike Flanagan is a big fan of the author. The film, which Flanagan co-wrote with his wife Kate Siegel, who also stars as the main character, tells an empowering story about survival, loneliness, and the life of a writer.
As Maddie Young, an author who is deaf, fights back against intruders in her country home who want her dead, it’s easy to think of Jack Nicholson’s The Shining protagonist, who begins living at the iconic creepy hotel and wants to get some writing done. Although Hush is more grounded in reality than that classic story (and Maddie is a more successful writer than Jack), both movies feature artistic characters. Flanagan fans will also love Hush because Maddie’s book is called Midnight Mass, which Flanagan turned into one of his best Netflix horror miniseries a few years later.
