Both Adaptations of Stephen King’s Teen Horror Debut ‘Carrie’ Now Streaming Free

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A highly acclaimed film adapted from the work of horror master Stephen King is now available to watch for free. This classic horror movie from the 1970s, directed by a groundbreaking filmmaker, brought a fresh and unsettling style of horror to audiences – one that felt more realistic and personal, while still exploring supernatural themes. It launched the career of a relatively unknown writer who would later become a hugely popular bestselling author.

We’re talking about the classic horror film Carrie – a powerful story of revenge that showed audiences the damaging impact of bullying. Both the original 1976 Carrie and the 2013 remake are now available to stream, though the remake is generally considered a much less successful and somewhat pointless update.

The Perfect Representation of Revenge

Both the book and the movie Carrie are based on Stephen King’s first published novel. The 1974 book tells the story of Carrie White’s experiences in high school, focusing on the intense bullying she endured. Carrie suffers not only from her classmates but also from her overly religious and strict mother, leaving her with nowhere to turn for support or help.

Carrie is deeply hurt after being bullied again. When some of her classmates are barred from the prom, they decide to get revenge by planning a humiliating prank to embarrass her publicly. This act pushes Carrie to her breaking point, and she reveals incredible telekinetic powers as she transitions into adulthood. Unleashing these powers, she becomes a force of terrifying destruction.

Brian De Palma’s 1976 film Carrie is a beloved horror classic, famous for the unforgettable performances of Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie as Carrie and her mother, Margaret White. Both actresses received Academy Award nominations for their roles that year. The film quickly became a cornerstone of supernatural horror and helped launch Stephen King’s career as a masterful storyteller, solidifying its place as a genre classic.

Calling the Remake Uninspired Is an Understatement

A sequel to the film came out in 1999, and a TV movie followed in 2002, but both were quickly forgotten. Still, Hollywood decided to revisit the story again. In 2013, a remake of Carrie was released, directed by Kimberly Peirce and written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lawrence D. Cohen. Cohen, who also wrote the 1976 film, helped keep the remake true to the original story and the feel of De Palma’s version. However, the Carrie remake wasn’t successful.

The remake of Carrie, starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore, didn’t succeed in any area. The acting felt unconvincing, and Moretz’s portrayal of Carrie was a departure from the original, leaning towards a more intensely vengeful character. She delivered her revenge in an over-the-top, theatrical way, which lost the coming-of-age nuance of Stephen King’s story.

The movie wasn’t a financial success, earning only about $85 million. Critics found it lacked originality and wasn’t needed, and it currently has a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it’s not the lowest-rated Carrie adaptation – the 1999 sequel and the 2002 TV movie scored even lower at 23% and 20%, respectively. The original 1976 film remains the best-reviewed Stephen King adaptation with a score of 94%. Both Carrie movies are currently available to stream for free, and another TV version of the story is in development.

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2026-04-11 19:20