Stephen King's 10 Scariest Movies, Ranked

Stephen King's status as a master of horror is well deserved. The acclaimed author has over 80 books to his credit, but his unique ability to tap into the human psyche and uncover what scares us most is truly unmatched.

Of course, Hollywood noticed King's skills a long time ago and began churning out dozens of film projects, all adaptations based on his works, many of which are considered classics. Not counting sequels, there are over 40 films based on King's stories that have been made since 1976's "Carrie." II" and "Doctor Sleep" (aka the cinematic sequel to "The Shining").

The horror genre wouldn't be what it is without King's masterful portrayal, and he continues to use his impact to challenge filmmakers today. In March 2022, King offered a startling review of Ti West's slasher film "X" (which just got a "Pearl" prequel) via Twitter, calling the film an "extremely good horror movie" that is "creepy , intelligent, knowledgeable" and "entertaining." With comments like this, it's clear King still has his finger on the pulse of horror.

King's works are in a class of their own. So ahead, check out 10 of Stephen King's best movies — ranked from simply scary to sleepy scary — that show exactly why he'll always be the true master of horror in literature and film.