the best Stephen King adaptations aren't horror movies.
The Stephen King movies that will be released this year. The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, and The Running Man will all be very different from each other and show the range of the author.
The Life Of Chuck, The Long Walk, And The Running Man Are Next Up For King Adaptations
And They All Represent A Different Kind Of King Story
First up is The Life of Chuck, which will begin its wide theatrical run on June 13, 2025 and follow Chuck, a man who is diagnosed with a brain tumor and starts reflecting on his entire life. Instead of focusing on horror, this film will tell a very emotional and uplifting story. Then, later in the year, The Long Walk and The Running Man are two films that will be based on dystopian novels by King. Even though they will both be dystopian movies, The Long Walk and The Running Man will likely have very different tones.
2025 Stephen King Movies |
Director |
Release Date |
|---|---|---|
The Life of Chuck |
Mike Flanagan |
June 13, 2025 |
The Long Walk |
Francis Lawrence |
September 12, 2025 |
The Running Man |
Edgar Wright |
November 7, 2025 |
Based on the trailer for The Long Walk, it will be a bleak, disturbing movie that follows 100 young men who will walk along U.S. Route 1 until only one of them is still alive. Meanwhile, The Running Man will likely be more of an action thriller, in which Ben Richards will sign up for a game show and will have to evade hunters who want to kill him to earn money for his family. The author isn't always associated with the action genre, so The Running Man may end up being one of the most unique King adaptations.
2025 Already Produced A Typical King Horror Movie
And It Was A Hit
Based on the premises of the aforementioned movies, it is clear that The Life of Chuck may inspire audiences, The Long Walk will be a disturbing watch, and The Running Man may be a more entertaining action movie that features a bit less tragedy. While The Long Walk may include some elements of horror, it's also clear that none of these projects are traditional horror movies. This may disappoint some King fans, but a horror movie based on one of the author's short stories was already released this year.
If The Monkey Is 2025's Worst Stephen King Movie, It'll Be One Of The Best Years Ever For The Author
The Monkey started 2025 with a great Stephen King movie, but this could be one of the best years ever for the author if his other movies do better.
The Monkey was released in February 2025 and was based on a short story of the same name by the author. Reviews for The Monkey, which follows twin brothers who discover a wind-up monkey which causes the deaths of people around them, were generally positive. Additionally, it was briefly the highest-grossing horror movie of the year until the release of Ryan Coogler's Sinners. Therefore, King fans who prefer his horror stories already received a solid adaptation earlier this year.
This Is An Exciting Time To Be A Stephen King Fan
There's Something For Everyone, And Even More On The Way
Since The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, and The Running Man will all be released this year, now is a very exciting time to be a Stephen King fan. In addition to these projects, It: Welcome to Derry will be releasing on the small screen this summer. This series, which will air on HBO, will see the return of Pennywise the Clown, and adapt some of the chapter interludes that are included in It, which is one of King's most popular novels.
Projects based on Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, Cujo, and Christine are also in development.
Beyond this year, there are also several very exciting Stephen King projects to look forward to. Mike Flanagan, who directed The Life of Chuck, will continue adapting King's work after its release. He is developing a Carrie miniseries, as well as a Dark Tower show, which could be the most ambitious King adaption ever. Additionally, projects based on Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, Cujo, and Christine are also in development. Therefore, in addition to The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, and The Running Man, these projects prove that it is a great time to be a Stephen King fan.
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The Life of Chuck
8/10- Release Date
- May 30, 2025
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Director
- Mike Flanagan
- Writers
- Stephen King
- Producers
- D. Scott Lumpkin, Elan Gale, Trevor Macy, Molly C. Quinn, Melinda Nishioka
Cast
Charles 'Chuck' Krantz
Matthew LillardGus
The Life of Chuck is a narrative exploring the life of Chuck Krantz, presented in reverse chronological order. The film begins with Chuck's end, gradually revealing his earlier experiences and the events that shaped his journey, offering a unique perspective on his lifetime.
- Main Genre
- Drama
-
The Long Walk
- Release Date
- September 12, 2025
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Writers
- JT Mollner
- Producers
- Roy Lee, Steven Schneider
Cast
Peter McVries
Cooper HoffmanRaymond Garraty
Charlie PlummerGary Barkovitch-
Tut NyuotArthur Baker
The Long Walk is set in a dystopian future where 100 teenage boys undergo a brutal test requiring them to walk continuously. The competition’s grim rule demands maintaining a speed of over 4 miles per hour, with fatal consequences for non-compliance, while deep friendships form amidst the survival challenge.
- Main Genre
- Horror
-
The Running Man
- Release Date
- November 7, 2025
- Director
- Edgar Wright
- Writers
- Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall
- Producers
- George Linder, Nira Park, Simon Kinberg
Cast
Ben Richards
Dan Killian
Jayme LawsonSheila Richards
Lee PaceEvan McCone
The Running Man centers on a man participating in a perilous game show where contestants evade deadly "Hunters" in a global pursuit. Set in a dystopian future, the film explores themes of survival and societal manipulation within a high-stakes televised spectacle.
- Main Genre
- Action
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