5 Must-Watch HBO Max Shows For Stephen King Fans

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For decades, Stephen King’s stories have been brought to life in movies and TV shows, and have influenced countless other creators. HBO Max offers a great selection for fans of the master of horror, who has captivated readers for generations with tales ranging from the supernatural to the terrifyingly human.

Stephen King’s stories have inspired many TV shows over the years, like From and Stranger Things, but these shows don’t simply copy his style. HBO Max is a streaming service with a wide range of excellent shows, and it’s a great place to find both Stephen King adaptations and other series that fans of his work will enjoy.

Mare of Easttown

As a huge fan of crime dramas, I was completely hooked by Mare of Easttown. It’s a series created by Brad Ingelsby and set in this really gritty, believable town in Pennsylvania. The show centers around Marianne “Mare” Sheehan, played brilliantly by Kate Winslet. She’s a detective who’s something of a legend in her community – everyone remembers her leading the high school basketball team to victory years ago. It’s a fantastic setup for a compelling story.

After a year of being unable to find a missing girl, the town started to question Mare’s abilities as an investigator. Now, she’s facing another difficult case: the murder of a teenage mother. This new investigation comes at a particularly tough time for Mare, as she’s still dealing with the emotional fallout from her divorce, the loss of her son, and a challenging legal battle with her son’s girlfriend over custody of their grandson.

Even though it’s not a horror series and doesn’t involve anything supernatural, Mare of Easttown feels similar to Stephen King’s more realistic stories, particularly his mysteries. Like many of King’s works, the show delves into difficult topics such as addiction, the impact of past trauma on families, and the bonds within a community.

The Leftovers

The Leftovers is a TV drama with supernatural elements, inspired by Tom Perrotta’s 2011 novel of the same name. The series takes place three years after a mysterious event called the “Sudden Departure” caused 2% of the world’s population to vanish. It centers around police chief Kevin Garvey (played by Justin Theroux) and his family as they try to navigate life in this changed world.

The show The Leftovers explores difficult topics like loss, grief, and faith, all centered around a mysterious event called the “Sudden Departure.” It follows the lives of realistic, imperfect characters as they cope with its aftermath. With its blend of the supernatural, mystery, and emotional drama, The Leftovers is likely to appeal to fans of Stephen King – and King himself has given it high praise.

The Last of Us

HBO Max’s show, The Last of Us, has been a huge success and is now getting ready for a third season. The series is based on the popular video game by Naughty Dog and takes place years after a fungal outbreak destroyed civilization, turning people into zombies.

The story of The Last of Us centers on Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler tasked with guiding a teenage girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a dangerous country. Ellie is unique because she can’t be infected, and their journey is filled with threats from both terrifying creatures and other people.

Fans of Stephen King will likely see echoes of his work in The Last of Us, particularly its themes of societal breakdown, the struggle to survive, and terrifying creatures. Similar to King’s novels, the game is full of unexpected turns, heartbreaking events, and truly frightening scenes.

The Outsider

Unlike the other shows listed, The Outsider is a TV adaptation of a Stephen King novel. It deserves a spot on this list because it’s available on HBO Max and is often overlooked. The show, based on King’s 2018 novel of the same name, centers around the investigation of a young boy’s murder.

When a terrible crime occurs, local baseball coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) quickly becomes the main suspect. Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn), still grieving the loss of his son, leads the investigation. He’s assisted by Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), a private investigator known for her remarkable memory and unique approach to solving cases.

The Outsider is a captivating show that blends crime, mystery, drama, psychological thrills, and a touch of the supernatural, all brought to life by excellent acting and a polished presentation. Although it was unfortunately canceled after just one season, that also means you can easily watch the entire series from beginning to end.

Welcome To Derry

In Its First Season

Welcome to Derry is a new TV series based on the world of Stephen King, but it tells an original story. It’s a prequel to the It movies directed by Andy Muschietti, meaning it takes place before those films. Set in 1962, the show follows a new group of children who encounter the terrifying, shape-shifting creature known as It.

Alongside the children’s experiences, the story also follows some of the adults in Derry. The military wants to capture ‘It’ and use its powers as a weapon, while others battle against prejudice, unfairness, and dishonesty. “Welcome to Derry” brings back Bill Skarsgård as the terrifying Pennywise, and it also reveals new forms that this creature can take.

So far, Welcome to Derry is successfully building on the world established in Andy Muschietti’s It films while staying true to the spirit of Stephen King’s novel. It remains to be seen what the rest of the episode will bring, but it’s sure to please Stephen King fans.

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2025-11-29 22:49