I Watched All 6 Stephen King Adaptations In 2025, And It Was Super Tricky To Pick A Favorite

Stephen King is a major figure in Hollywood, and it’s fascinating how consistently his work is adapted for the screen. Since the film Carrie came out in 1976, there’s only been a handful of years without a new Stephen King movie, TV show, or season of an existing series. Last year was particularly notable, with an impressive six new King projects being released. These adaptations are some of the best Stephen King movies and TV shows ever made, and they showcase the incredible breadth of his storytelling abilities.

Looking back at everything that came out, 2025 was a fantastic year for Stephen King adaptations – right up there with 1983, which gave us Cujo, The Dead Zone, and Christine. But how do all the new movies and TV shows stack up against each other? Now that the first season of IT: Welcome To Derry is finished, I’m ready to share my rankings in this week’s edition of The King Beat. Be careful – there are spoilers ahead! – but let’s get started.

6. The Running Man

At the beginning of 2025, I would have been shocked if you’d told me I’d end up considering The Running Man the weakest Stephen King adaptation of the year. I love the original book, and I’m a big fan of writer/director Edgar Wright. However, it wasn’t that I disliked the movie – I actually enjoyed it, as my 3.5-star review from last month shows. The reason it ranked lowest among the 2025 King adaptations is simply because the ending was really disappointing.

Before the movie came out, I wasn’t sure if it should follow the extremely dark ending of the original story. I thought they’d probably tone it down a bit to make it acceptable. Instead, the final three scenes are shockingly bad, and they ruin an otherwise good and faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s book, leaving a really unpleasant impression.

5. The Institute

Debuting this summer on MGM+, The Institute was a long time coming – taking five years to develop. However, it didn’t generate much buzz compared to other Stephen King adaptations in 2025. While the original book isn’t considered one of King’s best, the series is faithful to it and wisely expands on the story. It’s not a phenomenal show, but it’s enjoyable enough to avoid being ranked as the worst of the adaptations.

As a Stephen King fan, I was immediately drawn to this show – I’ll watch anything based on his work! However, for viewers who aren’t already King devotees, it doesn’t quite grab your attention. The story – about kidnapped children with psychic abilities trying to escape a mysterious experimental facility – is interesting enough, but it lacks that special something that would make me strongly recommend it. It doesn’t have any shocking twists or standout performances. Compared to other Stephen King adaptations on TV, it’s similar to the Dead Zone series with Anthony Michael Hall, though hopefully the upcoming second season will offer some improvements.

4. The Monkey

Stephen King isn’t primarily known for comedy, though he’s certainly written funny scenes in his books. However, humor has never been the main goal of his novels, and that’s reflected in film adaptations – very few are comedies. So, Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey is unique as potentially the first comedic adaptation of his work, which automatically makes it stand out as the best.

As a big fan of Perkins’ work, I have to say The Monkey really stands out. It’s so different from the intensely dark atmosphere of films like Longlegs and Keeper, but it’s a brilliant departure. The movie taps into that unsettling feeling we all have – the awareness that death could come at any moment – and presents it with a darkly comedic edge. It’s about dealing with loss and mortality, and the bizarre catalyst is a wind-up monkey toy with a drum! Honestly, if the villain’s storyline hadn’t felt a little hurried – not Theo James’ fault at all, he’s fantastic in a double role – it would be right up there as one of Perkins’ best, easily.

3. IT: Welcome To Derry

I was initially worried about the new IT: Welcome to Derry series. The late addition of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise had me concerned about how much screen time he’d get, and the early trailers made me fear the show would repeat the mistakes of IT: Chapter Two by focusing too much on recreating the original story instead of building something fresh. However, after watching all eight episodes of the first season, I’m happy to say those worries were unfounded. The HBO series really feels unique and does a great job of expanding on the established lore.

It’s always tough to tell a prequel story because knowing what happens later can lessen the tension. However, IT: Welcome to Derry avoids this problem by expanding the story’s background and introducing a fantastic group of new characters who battle the infamous Pennywise. Importantly, the series stays true to Stephen King’s roots as a genuinely scary horror experience, delivering truly memorable and frightening moments in every episode.

2. The Life Of Chuck

Stephen King often talks about his first editor, Bill Thompson, who famously said King wrote as if he had a movie camera in his head. It’s easy to see that director Mike Flanagan seems to have that same inner vision. Flanagan has already proven his talent for adapting King’s stories with excellent films like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, and he continued that success in 2025 with The Life of Chuck.

What’s truly impressive about The Life of Chuck is how effectively it translates to the screen, despite the original novella not feeling particularly visual. It’s Mike Flanagan’s most accurate adaptation of Stephen King’s work so far, and it’s a remarkable achievement. The story reminds us that even when we feel small, there’s incredible beauty in the world, and each of us has a meaningful life. While the narrative is complex – unfolding in three interconnected parts that move backwards in time – Flanagan skillfully brings King’s hopeful and powerful vision to life, creating a truly uplifting experience.

1. The Long Walk

I honestly didn’t expect to ever see this movie made. That’s what I thought when I watched Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk. Considering how relentlessly grim the story is – it ends with 49 young men being executed after losing a game – and the incredibly difficult production requirements (the entire cast had to perform every scene while constantly moving), I doubted any studio would fund or release it. But it finally happened this year, and it’s not only one of the greatest Stephen King movies ever made, but also the best King adaptation of 2025.

Without strong direction or a great script, The Long Walk could have been terrible or just plain boring. But the film succeeds because it captures what makes Stephen King’s stories so compelling: well-developed, relatable characters placed in incredibly difficult situations. The friendship between Ray Garraty and Peter McVries, wonderfully portrayed by Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, feels genuinely human, and that’s what makes the film’s devastating ending – which is actually even bleaker than in the original novel – so impactful. It’s a truly remarkable movie.

2026 won’t likely be as big a year for Stephen King fans as 2025. Currently, the only confirmed upcoming project is Mike Flanagan’s Carrie limited series on Amazon Prime Video. However, there are always new developments in Stephen King’s world, and I’ll continue to share them with you every Thursday on TopMob in the new year with a new edition of The King Beat.

2025-12-18 20:12