Stephen King Listed His 10 Favorite Movies Ever And The Real Shock Is How Unscary They Are

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Stephen King recently shared his top ten favorite films, interestingly enough with a scarcity of typical “scare” elements. While there are some big-name selections, not a single upcoming film from 2025 or contemporary horror movies found their way onto the list. In fact, most of the choices date back to the late ’70s and beyond, with very few exceptions that could even be considered horror films. Let’s delve into his surprising picks.

Stephen King’s 10 Favorite Movies (No Particular Order)

The horror master has shared on his X account a personal list of his top 10 favorite movies, stressing that the order is not significant. To maintain clarity, he omitted movie adaptations based on some of his own popular novels (Misery, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me) from this particular selection. You can view the post below for details.

The picks skew heavily toward some of the best ’70s cinema. Here’s the complete list:

  • Sorcerer (1977)
  • The Godfather Part II (1977)
  • The Getaway (1972)
  • Groundhog Day (1993)
  • Casablanca (1942)
  • The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
  • Jaws (1975)
  • Mean Streets (1973)
  • Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
  • Double Indemnity (1944)

Initially, it seems odd for the “Master of Horror” to compile a list devoid of frightening elements, giving off an air of unexpected jump scares. However, considering the context, is it truly a shocking revelation?

Why The Lack Of Horror Is The Most “Stephen King” Thing Ever

Upon reviewing the titles, it seems a pattern arises: these are films that explore themes of stress, consequence, and the human condition rather than monsters. Some standout noir movies include ‘Double Indemnity’, where greed becomes destructive, and ‘The Big Sleep’ where flawed characters grapple with their lives. The Western genre is also present, such as ‘Sierra Madre’, which shows the corrosive effects of greed. Even seemingly light-hearted films may surprise: ‘Jaws’ offers terror in broad daylight, while ‘Groundhog Day’ is a comedic take on a man stuck in a loop until he finds redemption.

One way to rephrase this in a more natural and easy-to-understand manner: The films of directors like Friedkin, Coppola, Peckinpah, Scorsese, and Spielberg during the ’70s have a gritty quality that runs throughout their works. This era’s moral ambiguity and focus on working-class themes are similar to the atmosphere in which King’s stories are set. Although the list doesn’t feature many horror films, it does contain plenty of elements reminiscent of Stephen King’s writing. If you pick up any book by this author from the shelf, you’ll encounter both frightening moments and explorations of human frailty, mounting tension, and the chilling effect of small decisions with grave consequences. Essentially, there’s more emphasis on suspense and impact rather than just jump scares.

Fans Weigh In On The Horror Author’s Picks

Fan comments, as usual, showcased a mix of questioning, affirmation, and advocacy for their favorites. Here are some standout replies:

* “I’m still not sure if I fully agree with that take… Thoughts?”
* “100%! [Favorite artist/team] all the way!”
* “They need to collaborate more! Can you imagine the magic they would create together?

  • @cwfreenews: “Some wild swings. No Blade Runner?”
  • @ElBurroDOro: “Not gonna mention the unmentionable club, fair enough.”
  • @wattoclone: “Respectfully disagree, except Jaws.”
  • @salvador__1: “Stand by me, Shawshank redemption, Jaws, Close encounters of the 3rd kind, Misery, All impeccable movies. 100% agree on that.”
  • @Mile_Zee: “I approve that you have Jaws in here. It’s my favourite of all time.”
  • @drocktrot: “I agree, those are some great movies, it would be awesome to have a online book club discussing some of your greatest novels. Just a little revisit back to those days of Pet Cemetery, IT, Thinner, Carrie, Cujo, Misery too name a few ”
  • @joanne_paulson: “Oooooo Sorcerer. Not a lot of peeps I know remember/have watched that movie, but I thought it was brilliant and kind of chuffed to see it here.

The consistent theme? Shock at what was left out, an affection for the movie “Jaws”, which resonates deeply if you initially watched it in cinemas, and a small surge of advocacy for “Sorcerer”, and truthfully, it’s likely the most “Stephen King-ish” choice on the list.

Indeed, this renowned storyteller tends to choose films outside the horror genre. However, the author’s narratives have always been primarily about characters, with fear taking a backseat. The supernatural elements usually serve as a vessel for exploring empathy, decisions, and consequences. This selection simply brings that underlying theme to light. The shock effects diminish, but the ethical aftermath lingers. It might surprise you that his preferred films lean more towards human experiences than supernatural terror, which could be the most chilling twist of all.

Well, who knows? Perhaps a film scheduled for release in 2026 might catch Stephen King’s attention and end up on his list. We’ll just have to wait and see.

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2025-09-09 18:26