The 10 worst changes in films made from Stephen King's books

Stephen KingThe books are typically fantastic and compelling, but Unfortunately, some of the changes in film adaptations ruin the story. Stephen King's books, which also include collections of short stories, often make brilliant films. The King of Horror's ability to create a compelling narrative is like no otherwhich is why it's such a shame when movies can't replicate it.

There are several incredible Stephen King films, and their respective directors do a good job of bringing the story to life. Some titles drop certain parts of the narrative or characterizations to mix things up, but this doesn't always work, and the production teams for the next Stephen King film and TV adaptations need to keep this in mind. Readers are often confused about these changesespecially when it affects the overall tone of Stephen King's story.

10

Jack Torrance freezing to death

The Shining (1980)

A big change The ShiningThe ending in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation is how Jack Torrance dies. After Jack tries to track Danny walking through the huge garden maze but fails, he ends up freezing to death. But in the novel, Jack's end is very different. As Jack succumbs to his snowy fate in the film, he fights the hotel in The Shining book.

The novel's climax is a much better ending for Jack, and while he's still one of Stephen King's best human villains even after this, his ending in the book offers some redemption. Jack fights possession of the hotel long enough to tell Danny to flee. Once Danny and Wendy escape, Jack dies when the Overlook's boiler explodes.

Checking the boiler is one of Jack's responsibilities at the hotel, mentioned throughout the book, so it makes sense that this is how his death occurs. Considering the influence the hotel has on Jack, this is a more fitting climax for him, and his last moments in the novel paint him as having some remaining humanity.

9

Changing Tony

The Shining (1980)

In The Shining film, audiences are introduced to Tony as Danny's imaginary friend. The boy frequently moves his finger so that Tony communicates through him, which is undoubtedly scary. However, the execution of the character Tony is one of the biggest differences between The Shining book and film, and readers are often confused by this change.

In the novel, Tony is an entirely separate entity and is not part of Danny's physical form.. In fact, the iconic “REDRUM”The scene is completely different in the film because of this. In King's written version of The ShiningTony shows Danny the word in the bathroom mirror instead of Jack putting it in his mind.

While the way Stanley Kubrick introduces Danny's imaginary friend doesn't seem like a big deal initially, it alters the narrative more than viewers realize. Tony is an extension of Danny, a future manifestation of himwhich highlights how powerful her hidden abilities are. Many find this quite frustrating, especially as Tony proves to be a great support for Danny later in the novel, but this is missing from the film.

8

Changing the protagonist's mission

The Running Man (1987)

There are several things in King's book that The running man the remake must get it right, including the mistakes made by the 1987 adaptation. The most notable difference between King's The running man and the 80s film is Ben Richards' main motivation. In the novel, Ben is an impoverished former police officer who only accepts his new position to care for his family, especially his seriously ill daughter.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's portrayal of the film character is overly macho in both appearance and attitude, and Ben's film story barely resembles that of his book. The events that led him to work on the titular program are very different. In the book, Ben volunteers after his wife prostitutes herself so they can pay for their son's medicine..

But in the film, he is forced to be cast after escaping from a prison camp after serving 18 months for a crime he didn't commit. Cathy's illness fuels Ben, and while his determination to fight a totalitarian society is a great motivator, he has less to lose in the film. Hopefully, Edgar Wright The running man will be different from Schwarzenegger's version.

7

The explosion is all a dream

Cell (2016)

Cell is an essential Stephen King story that is better than the film in many ways. While the film makes strange changes to King's book, like ignoring the Tattered Man, one crucial change that stands out is the ending. At the end of King's CellClay finally catches up with his son. Johnny becomes infected by Pulse, and in a rather abrupt ending to the novel, Clay tries to fix it with another explosion.

However, the end of the film strangely features a “it was all a dream” twist, which completely changes the ending of the story. In the final moments of the 2016 adaptation, it is revealed that the communications tower explosion scene is simply an illusion, and Clay is actually infected, which leaves him in a sea of ​​mindless figures stumbling around.

The ending of the film is a disappointment compared to the book, and even though King doesn't make Clay and Johnny's fate clear, it works much better than the film's anticlimactic payoff. Clay's journey feels lost in the film, especially since there is little foreshadowing, and this detracts from the power of his father-son relationship with Johnny.

6

Characterization of Alan Pangborn

Necessary Things (1993)

Ed Harris is one of four actors who play Alan Pangborn, but his version of the character in the 1993 adaptation of Necessary things is very different from the character in the book. In the novel, Sheriff Pangborn is down on his luck and trying to start his life over after the death of his wife and son in a tragic car accident. The film's portrayal of him, however, paints Pangborn as an enraged and suspicious man.

He screams constantly and loses control quickly, which is a shame considering The character in Pangborn's book is much more complex and nuanced. Although there is a reference to Pangborn's loss of his family, it is only brief. Pangborn's pain is a big part of his character arc, and although the change in his personality goes against the words of Stephen King Necessary thingscould be justified if the film bothered to adequately explain why he gets angry so quickly.

5

How machines gain sentience

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

The 1986 film Maximum Overdrive is an adaptation of Trucksfrom the collection of short stories by Stephen King, Night Shift. Trucks It purposefully leaves certain things vague, although it adds to the overall tone of the story. One thing it doesn't specifically explain is how machines gain sentience.

Trucks focuses primarily on survivors and their attempts to stay safe of the various mechanical monstrosities that now roam the streets, and the ambiguity of what causes them makes the narrative all the more disturbing. The film version takes a completely different approach and explains that the machines come to life because of a mysterious comet.

Maximum Overdrive is one of the most criticized Stephen King adaptations, and the author himself even believes it is one of his worst films. That's why this change in the story is so strange, since King himself is the one who makes the change to the script. The bizarre and exaggerated science fiction explanation is not unusual for King, but the idea is also partially formed, and the lack of more context makes everything even more confusing.

4

Burke is transformed by Barlow

Salem's Lot (2024)

The 2024 remake of Salem Lot makes a change in Burke's fate that makes sense, but isn't necessarily good. In the film, Burke is transformed by Barlow, rather than succumbing to a heart attack as in the book.. While Burke's passing in a hospital bed isn't the most dramatic thing, it is a very human way to die.

Considering how determined he is to try to help others fight vampires, it's a little strange that he would die knowing that someone could arrive at any moment to kill him. This subplot is one of the most notable differences between 2024 Salem Lot film and book. Burke spends most of the story in the hospital, but that doesn't stop him from being an impactful part of Ben's team.

Not only was Burke's heart attack completely stopped, but he was killed by Barlow. In the book, he never makes it to the Marsten House, so Burke's death is a completely fictional addition to the film. Unfortunately, this pushes Burke to the side, and his character doesn't seem as important as it is in the book.

3

Stan's suicide

Chapter Two (2019)

Although Stan's suicide is part of King's story Thisthe film Chapter Two it changes the context and reasoning behind your decision to end your life. In the book, Stan's death is harrowing and profoundly profound. His fear of Pennywise is so distressing that, upon learning that the Thing has returned to Derry, he decides that he would rather die than face the terrible villain again.

This moment is not glorified in any way. Instead, King describes Stan's suicide as a painful response to trauma and the return of his memories. In the film, however, Stan's suicide is strangely presented as a noble sacrifice.. In his letter, he encourages other members of the Thisto fight Pennywise, and he states that he knows they need to be involved in defeating the demon.

While it's not a huge change, the emotion behind it makes a huge difference. Stan's death is used as a way to anger others and pressure them to face their fears., while in the book, his death represents a release from the pain of his childhood.

2

Ellie dies instead of Gage

Pet Sematary (2019)

The debate over whether 2019 Pet Cemetery kills the wrong child is widely debated by many, and while there are pros and cons on both sides of the argument, Ellie's death because of Gage definitely changes the narrative in a negative way. In King's original book, two-year-old Gage is run over by a truck and Louis buries him in the titular location to bring him back.

A very similar series of events happens in the 2019 film, except Ellie is brutally killed and reanimated. She is around eight years old in the film. However, it's the ages of the Creed brothers that create a problem. In the book, Ellie is younger, but old enough to understand the situation.

She also ends up being the only survivor of her family. But in the film, Gage is too young to understand what happens to his sister. Gage becoming a killer in the book is shocking and leaves Ellie alone in the world, but when she is undead in the film, her unknown younger brother is the only one to make it out alive, which changes Ellie's emotional response. their destinations. .

1

The entire movie

The Lawnmower Man (1992)

The entirety of The lawnmower man is changed in the 1992 film adaptation to the point that it does not resemble King's tale of Night Shift in any shape or form. In fact, the film with the same title is insulting, and it's no surprise that King sued him. The tale follows a strange man who tends gardens using a possessed lawnmower, but the film's story is completely different.

Instead of, The lawnmower man adaptation is about a scientist who conducts experiments on people using all kinds of strange drugs and virtual reality. The only real connection between the story and the film is the character Jobe, who is a gardener, but that's it.

The lawnmower man It ranges from a story about an enigmatic figure who works for an ancient god to a story about a secret project and test subjects who develop unusual powers. Although several of the Night Shift story adaptations don't translate well to the silver screen, The lawnmower man It's by far the worst. Frankly, it doesn't deserve to be labeled an adaptation, as it doesn't include even the most basic references to the Stephen Kingthe story.