Ever Wondered Which Of His Film Adaptations Stephen King Liked The Most?

 

CREDIT: Shane Leonard/Simon & Schuster

Stephen King's novels have created some of the most iconic films of all time, but have you ever wondered which of his film adaptations Stephen likes the most?

Stephen first became noticeable as "King of Horror" in the 1970s after his novels Carrie and The Shining became best-sellers.

Between then and now, Stephen has created 63 novels, over 200 short stories and has sold over 350 million copies.

Many of his novels have also become film and television adaptations, but which one is his favourite? 

CREDIT: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

Stephen King is mostly known for his horror work creating classics such as The Shining, IT, Misery, and Carrie, but he is also notable for supernatural, adventure, and dramatic stories that become hits just like his horror works.

Because they aren't as terrifying as his horror works, The Stand, Under the Dome, The Green Mile, and Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption can often be forgotten as his work.

And although his film adaptations become instant classics, he is known for disliking directors' takes on his work. He especially didn't like Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining.

He has often changed which of his film adaptations he likes the most, but there is one that has stuck around in first place, and no, it isn't The Shawshank Redemption which has been noted as one of the most inspirational films of all time, has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, and holds the top rating of all films on IMDb. 

CREDIT: Philip Montgomery/New York Times

Stephen's favourite film adaptation of his work is Stand By Me, the 1986 film by Rob Reiner. The story follows four boys who go on an adventure to find the dead body of a missing kid, and is based on Stephen's novel The Body (1982).

He believes Stand By Me is true to the book and maintains its emotional crux. This is one of the elements Stephen finds to be an issue with other film adaptations of his work.

He has also reminisced on the private screening Rob Reiner gave him of Stand By Me. He believed he had intimidated Rob, but after the ending of the film, he recollected himself and proceeded to hug Rob. He was moved to tears saying the film was beautiful and autobiographical.

Stephen also says that The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile were close contenders to Stand By Me. He also states that Misery is the stand-out with his horror adaptations.

CREDIT: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

After the private screening of Stand By Me, Stephen told Rob that it was the best adaptation of his work he had ever seen. 

The film reflects on Stephen's upbringing in the 1950s. In the DVD extras, Stephen even explains how the leeches part of the film actually happened to him as a child. 

Rob Reiner believes Stand By Me is a tribute to Stephen as a writer. He even envisioned the character, Gordie, as a younger version of King. Many of Stephen's writer characters are representations of himself as a child.