14 Stephen King TV Series and Miniseries, Ranked by Tomatometer
(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection. IT.)
TV has been a favorite home to adaptations of Stephen King books and short stories into series and mini-series since 1979 TV series Salem’s Lot. Whether developed for television or straight-to-video — remember video tapes? — TV and movie translations of, or based on, the horror master’s work have long been fan favorites, even if they didn’t receive much critical acclaim.
You may also note that while films that are Certified Fresh are clearly labeled here, TV shows are Certified Fresh by season, and season badges won’t show up in a mixed list of film and series-level scores — click through to the shows’ overview pages to find out how many seasons are Certified Fresh.
#1
91%
82%
Synopsis: Based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel of the same name, “The Outsider” begins by following an investigation which at first
[More]
#2
(1979)
89%
Critics Consensus: Director Tobe Hooper and a devilishly charismatic James Mason elevate this television adaptation of the Stephen King novel, injecting the vampiric tradition with fresh blood and lingering scares.
Synopsis: Based on the Stephen King novel, Ben Mears (David Soul) has returned to his hometown of Salem’s Lot to write
[More]
#3
88%
79%
Synopsis: The psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of his works,
[More]
#4
85%
– –
Synopsis: Adaptations of short stories written by author Stephen King.
[More]
#5
83%
88%
Synopsis: James Franco plays the role of Jake Epping, an ordinary high school teacher, who is presented with a chance to
[More]
#6
83%
83%
Synopsis: Mike Anderson, the constable of the isolated Maine island hamlet Little Tall Island, is facing the toughest challenge of his
[More]
#7
70%
73%
Synopsis: A four-part miniseries tells the horror story of King’s “The Stand.” A supervirus that leaked from a lab kills most
[More]
#8
68%
44%
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel of the same name, “Under the Dome” follows the residents of Chester’s Mill,
[More]
#9
(2004)
69%
Critics Consensus: Salem’s Lot is a bit anemic due to a dearth of proper scares, but its effectively creepy atmosphere and solid performances make for a respectable adaptation of Stephen King’s revered novel.
Synopsis: A writer (Rob Lowe) encounters a pair of sinister new residents when he returns to his Maine hometown to research
[More]
#10
(1990)
67%
Critics Consensus: Though hampered by an uneven second half, It supplies a wealth of funhouse thrills and an idelible turn from Tim Curry as Pennywise.
Synopsis: In 1960, seven preteen outcasts fight an evil demon that poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they reunite
[More]
#11
63%
86%
Synopsis: FBI Agent Audrey Parker arrives in Haven, Maine, on what she believes is a routine assignment. But the longer she
[More]
#12
(1995)
48%
Critics Consensus: While not without its fair share of thrills, The Langoliers suffers from a meandering pace and dubious characterizations.
Synopsis: Ten passengers on a red-eye flight from L.A. to Boston discover that they are not the only people on the
[More]
#13
42%
59%
Synopsis: A college professor and a team of psychics investigate an old abandoned house at the request of the man who
[More]
#14
(1993)
35%
Critics Consensus: Unlikeable characters, a bloated narrative, and drab scripting make The Tommyknockers a hard watch for even the most die-hard of Stephen King fans.
Synopsis: An unearthly force hits all but the lover of a writer who has dug up something strange in Maine.
[More]
