Friday Favorites: Stephen King Flicks

It’s been so long since I last did a Friday Favorites post, I thought to get back into things by sharing my favorite Stephen King flicks! At this point, I suppose, Stephen King is a genre in itself. There are so many films to choose from, after all. My choices, however, may not be what is often considered “the best” by mainstream audiences, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Also, in this case the terms “TV shows”, “miniseries”, and “films” are kind of used interchangeably. Sorry about that.

Oh, and I may also have mentioned some of these in the past, but they’re worth mentioning again. 🙂

So, in no particular order, here are my favorite …

Stephen King Flicks

The Langoliers (1995)

Okay, so technically The Langoliers is classified as a TV miniseries, but it’s pretty long and it simply doesn’t get enough love, in my opinion. I like the premise of time being chewed up by weird time-eating creatures. I watched it during my formative years *coughs* and something about it just stuck. If it wasn’t for the hilarious Windows 95 CGI and the lackluster ending, it would’ve probably gotten a much better reception by critics, but you know what? I still like The Langoliers and watch it more often than I probably should.

Rose Red (2002)

Rose Red is another TV miniseries that wasn’t exactly one of Stephen King’s most renowned adaptations. I don’t know why, though. It’s a solid piece, with mystery and horror found in abundance. This one is kind of special to me for another reason, too, because my Husband introduced me to Rose Red in 2004, when we just started dating.

The Shining (1997)

So, this one may get some tongues wagging, but I actually prefer The Shining‘s TV miniseries to Stanley Kubrick’s version. The reason is, mainly, due to the horrific sets. It’s so cliche 1970s, it really just didn’t age well aesthetically, which is weird because I find A Clockwork Orange to be a visual masterpiece. Let’s rather not get into how my brain works (we’ll be here for months).

Thinner (1996)

A controversial entry, I’m sure, but there’s something about Thinner that’s just awesome. Maybe it’s because, as a woman who sometimes wouldn’t mind a quick fix for getting rid of some extra weight, this speaks to me on a personal level? I don’t know. Perhaps it’s the extreme way the curse works that just tickle my fancy. *shrugs* At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. Thinner is just a cool popcorn flick that would never have seen the light of day had it been written recently.

Firestarter (1984)

While most of the world was first introduced to Drew Barrymore in E.T., I first got to see her in this little gem … Years after it was first made, I should add (I’m not that old). Firestarter remains one of those Stephen King films I can re-watch, no matter what mood I’m in. Barrymore stole the show (of course), and I think—because I was so young when I first watched this movie—I just found the idea of having such a destructive super power awesome.

Pet Sematary (1989)

So, I think it’s already been established I was allowed to watch horror movies from a very young age (with supervision). I thank my mother for that leniency every single day, because noooooo it didn’t mess me up. If anything, the horror genre taught me valuable life skills. That being said, Pet Sematary gave me nightmares for weeks, which is weird because the only other movie that’s ever given me nightmares is The Exorcist (and I only watched that in my teens). On the upside, until today I look both ways before crossing the street (see? life skill right there).

Let it be known, I have not watched the remake yet. I’ll get to it once I forget about all the bad reviews I’ve seen.

Dreamcatcher (2003)

Okay, so Dreamcatcher isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I get it. But I’ve always kind of enjoyed Dreamcatcher. There’s a stellar cast, the cinematography and CGI doesn’t suck, and the ending is surprisingly good in comparison to some other Stephen King flicks. I don’t know why it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Maybe it’s the idea of explosive diarrhea could be a sign of you being infected by aliens that puts people off? No idea. All I know is I enjoy Dreamcatcher immensely.

Misery (1990)

Ah, there’s nothing quite like channeling my inner-Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) when the patriarchy gets on my nerves. I mean, I won’t actually hobble anyone, but sometimes I really relate to Annie. So, yes, Misery totally has a special place on my list of favorite Stephen King flicks.

Honorable Mentions

As I said earlier, there are so many Stephen King flicks to choose from! I honestly couldn’t mention all of them. It should be noted, however, that I feel each Stephen King adaptation has its merits. Some are better than others, too. It’s cool, we can have our own favorites … our own opinions. Nobody’s hating on you here, don’t worry.

My honorable mentions includes: 1408, The Mist, It (both versions), The Green Mile, Children of the Corn, Apt Pupil, and Cat’s Eye. My husband would probably have also added Silver Bullet, Stand by Me, and The Lawnmower Man to the list if he was in control of this post. He’s not, but hey, I know what he likes. And like I said, it’s cool.

Love ’em or hate ’em, one thing you can’t deny is that Stephen King wears the crown for a reason.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this week’s Friday Favorite list and have gotten some ideas of what to watch this weekend. 🙂

See you again soon with a brand new themed list with all my favorite films!