‘That’s Wrong’: Stephen King Shares His Pet Peeve In Superhero Movies (And I Lowkey Agree)

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In recent times, the limelight in entertainment has been seized by superhero productions. Numerous interconnected universes vie for the box office, with the MCU (accessible through a Disney+ subscription) and the growing DCU (available on HBO Max) among them. Lately, renowned author Stephen King expressed an opinion about what goes amiss in this genre, and I must say he raises some valid points. Here’s a closer look at his insights.

Stephen King, renowned for creating captivating films, clearly understands the elements that make a movie excellent. When discussing his upcoming horror film “The Long Walk“, he expressed one valid criticism about comic book adaptations in these terms:

(Note: I’ve tried to rephrase the original text while maintaining its essence and style.)

In these action-packed superhero films, you’ll notice a villain wreaking havoc on entire city districts without any visible bloodshed, which feels inappropriate and somewhat akin to explicit content.

It’s quite understandable that he might have this view. Given that most superhero movies carry a PG-13 rating, they often need to scale back on the graphic violence to cater to a broader audience. However, it can feel somewhat disjointed, considering how common action and fight scenes are in these films, and yet we rarely see any blood during the aftermath of battles, especially given the significant destruction they cause. It’s almost as if something is missing.

For devoted Marvel fans who’ve been following the series chronologically for quite some time, this observation might resonate. As for myself, the conflicting feelings became more pronounced when I watched violent comic book adaptations such as “The Suicide Squad” and “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” In the latter film, Steppenwolf was decapitated during the climactic fight scene. In essence, excessive violence was a key element that stood out in the Snyder Cut, and I can’t help but wish other comic book films would adopt a similar approach.

During the same conversation, the horror legend connected this criticism to an upcoming Stephen King movie titled “The Long Walk“. Surprisingly, even though it focuses on young men in a dystopian society, the film did not hold back on intense violence, as he put it.

I said, if you’re not going to show it, don’t bother. And so they made a pretty brutal movie.

Absolutely, TopMob’s review for The Long Walk commended the film’s intense horror elements, consistently escalating the suspense and tension throughout its duration. Previews of the movie suggest a raw, gripping portrayal, promising an exhilarating and nerve-wracking theatre experience.

King explicitly pointed out destructive scenes from comic book adaptations, such as the finale in “Man of Steel” or the impacts on New York City (from the first two Avengers films) and Sokovia, respectively.

The movie adaptation of ‘The Long Walk,’ titled for a release on September 12, 2025, is included in this year’s lineup. It remains to be seen if future comic book ventures will provide Stephen King with the violence he seems to be missing out on.

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2025-09-02 17:54