5 Stephen King adaptations to watch in 2025 that prove the master of horror still rules

Stephen King is one of the world's most adapted authors, and in 2025, Stephen King demonstrates that his tales persist on small and big screens yet again! The list features five adaptations, including two dystopian ride-thru films, a chilling short story, a wholesome drama, and even a prequel series based on one of his best-selling books.

What is significant about 2025 is not only the number of adaptations but also the diversity of tones and themes portrayed. From cursed objects and emotional narratives, on the one hand, to gruesome competitions and supernatural mythology, on the other, Stephen King's writings keep adapting into various forms without losing their essence.

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Below are 5 Stephen King adaptations to watch in 2025 that prove the master of horror still rules

1. The Monkey – February 21, 2025

Stephen King adaptations this year started off strong with The Monkey, which came out on February 21, 2025. It was directed by Osgood Perkins, an adaptation of the short story by Stephen King from his Skeleton Crew anthology in 1985. It is a movie about twin brothers whose destiny is tainted by a killer toy monkey whose omens of death are triggered each time its cymbals collide.

The talented cast of actors, including Adam Scott, Elijah Wood, Tatiana Maslany, and Theo James, deepens the story of terrorized siblings beset by supernatural horror. Perkins, who is most famous for his gruesome direction, mixes horrific imagery and dark humor to excellent effect, a combination of which stays true to King's original vision.

With this adaptation, it is also established that even King's short stories can be extended to a full feature, demonstrating once again the adaptability of his work.

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2. The Life of Chuck – June 6, 2025

Mike Flanagan's film adaptation of The Life of Chuck came out on June 6, 2025. Based on King's 2020 novella in the If It Bleeds collection, the film is told in three parts in reverse chronological order, beginning with the death of Charles Krantz and running backward through time to childhood.

Tom Hiddleston plays Chuck, and Mark Hamill makes a memorable cameo, roles less about horror shows than emotional reality. Flanagan, also directing Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, gets even more reflective here, staying true to the novella's fixation on death and human purpose.

The movie is evidence that Stephen King is not just a master of horror; he can also make a deeply philosophical film.

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3. The Long Walk – September 12, 2025

The third movie adaptation of Stephen King's work in 2025 is The Long Walk, which comes out on September 12, 2025. Released in 1979 under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman, the book describes a dystopian world with 100 adolescent boys walking nonstop without stopping. Stopping is a death sentence, and only one of the participants survives.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, the mastermind of the Hunger Games franchise, the film version includes Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson in leading roles. The ominous imagery of the tyranny and psychological strength of the book is not lost in the film version, so this is one of the most highly anticipated King adaptations in years.

Supernatural horror employs the supernatural as a means of accessing fear, but The Long Walk does more effective psychological suspense, which is a testament once again to how far-reaching Stephen King's influence stretches in an entire genre.

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4. It: Welcome to Derry – October 2025

TV is not behind in 2025 either with It: Welcome to Derry, an HBO television series set to debut in October 2025. Like a prequel to the new It movie series, the show returns audiences to the 1960s of Derry, Maine, and into the formative years of Pennywise and the dark cycle of the town.

Bill Skarsgård once more portrays Pennywise, expanding on the role that made the 2017 and 2019 films. Andy Muschietti, the film director, returns, guaranteeing stylistic and visual consistency.

Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige are included in the franchise, with fresh elements being added to the mythology. With an extension of the mythos of one of King's bestsellers, the series shows the versatility of his writing in one medium.

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5. The Running Man – November 14, 2025

Later this year sees the release of The Running Man, scheduled for November 14, 2025. Another of King's books, written under his pen name Richard Bachman, the movie will be directed by Edgar Wright and star Glen Powell as Ben Richards.

In contrast to the 1987 loose film adaptation of the novel, Wright's film is said to stay truer to Stephen King's book, depicting a dark world where desperate competitors are hunted for sport on live television. Dystopian commentary about survival, savagery, and the media underlies the story, and Powell's casting promises to emphasize character-driven narrative over pure action spectacle.

This movie, together with The Long Walk, testifies that King's dystopian novels are as relevant to readers as ever despite the decades passing since they first appeared.

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In 2025, Stephen King is still at the forefront of cultural conversation in genre and medium adaptations. From February's The Monkey to November's The Running Man, and with The Life of Chuck and The Long Walk sandwiched in between, and a massive HBO series in October, the year is a condensed showcase of his versatility.

The evidence is clear: Stephen King's stories remain attractive to screenwriters and moviegoers across the globe, years after they first appeared in print. Hyperbole aside, 2025 proves again why the master of horror, and a great deal more, remains the king of the castle.

Also read: The Institute: Stephen King’s darker and meaner answer to Stranger Things