5 Lesser-Known Stephen King Adaptations You've Probably Never Seen, Ranked by IMDb
The most obscure, strange and underrated adaptations.
We know every scene from The Shining by heart, can recite lines from The Shawshank Redemption, and debate new versions of It.
However, there are movies based on Stephen King books that even many of his fans don't know exist.
5. 'Dolan's Cadillac', 2009
IMDb Score: 5.6/10
Tom Robinson's wife was about to testify in court against a mob boss when she was blown up in her car. The man decides to take revenge on the gangsters who escaped punishment and spends seven years plotting it.
The movie didn't win any prestigious awards, and even among Stephen King adaptations, it's definitely not in the top ten. However, if you've seen everything else, Dolan's Cadillac is a decent thriller for an evening.
4. 'Sometimes They Come Back', 1991
IMDb Score: 5.7/10
When Jim Norman was a child, three bullies killed his brother, and then they died. 27 years later, Jim returns to his hometown to work as a teacher, accompanied by his family.
Suddenly, students began dying in class, and the same killers took their places, looking no older. It seems the ghosts have returned for revenge.
The filmmakers made an interesting reference to another one of the author's works, It. The movie takes place 27 years later, meaning the villains appear with the same frequency as the creepy clown, Pennywise.
3. 'The Dark Half', 1993
IMDb Score: 6.0/10
Thad Beaumont is a highly intellectual author, but his thrillers, published under the pseudonym George Stark, are far more popular. A journalist blackmails Beaumont, threatening to reveal damaging information about him.
Beaumont then reveals his alternate identity and symbolically "buries" Stark. Afterwards, Stark seemingly takes on a life of his own and begins killing people.
Stephen King often writes stories about writers and their dark sides, perhaps expressing his own experiences. This adaptation is primarily prominent for Timothy Hutton's excellent performance in the main role.
2. 'Needful Things', 1993
IMDb Score: 6.3/10
An elderly stranger named Leland Gaunt arrives in Castle Rock and opens a store called Needful Things. The store sells everything the townspeople need, however, Gaunt doesn't accept money – he trades goods for small favors.
Gradually, these errands lead to real conflicts between people, and the town descends into chaos and hatred. The only person who can remedy the situation is the sheriff – he has never visited the ill-fated store.
1. 'Silver Bullet', 1985
IMDb Score: 6.4/10
Marty is a young man confined to a wheelchair who lives in a small town where people are starting to die. The victims were attacked by a werewolf, but no one believes it.
Marty and his sister, and later his Uncle Red, try to figure out which townsperson is turning into the terrifying wolf.
Stephen King originally conceived the work as a series of short stories, but ultimately turned Silver Bullet into a short novel. King personally rewrote the story as a screenplay, giving the adaptation a less dark and gothic tone.
