Author Stephen King thinks Misery film adaptation tops his novel

Stephen King recently revealed that he believes the 1990 film adaptation of Misery is better than the book he wrote. Directed by Rob Reiner, the psychological thriller stars Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes, a former nurse who rescues and imprisons injured novelist Paul Sheldon, played by James Caan. Bates' chilling performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

In an interview with The New York Times discussing the latest adaptation of his work, The Long Walk, King praised Reiner’s take on Misery, noting that the film outshines his novel. He was especially impressed by the casting of Bates and Caan, as well as the film’s subtle use of humor—something he felt was lacking in the original book.

While King generally prefers faithful adaptations of his work, he acknowledged that he doesn’t always understand why filmmakers make significant changes from the source material. His long-standing criticism of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is well-known; King has repeatedly expressed his disapproval of the film’s major deviations, particularly how it stripped away the original story’s themes of family and addiction.

However, his praise for Misery is not the first time he’s spoken highly of a Rob Reiner adaptation. King previously shared that Stand By Me—based on his novella The Body—moved him to tears because of how well it captured the emotional core of the story. He’s also commended other faithful adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile for staying true to his vision.

The most recent King adaptation is The Long Walk, directed by Hunger Games filmmaker Francis Lawrence. King approved the film’s creative direction and appreciated that it honored his request for an R rating to reflect the brutality of the book.