10 Stephen King Movie Adaptations That Stephen King Hated

6. Needful Things

Trev Murphy Shining
Columbia Pictures

Needful Things was a darkly comic horror novel from King, and tells the story of the demonic owner of an antique shop, where customers usually end up paying with their souls. It’s a parody of pointless consumerism, and while it wasn’t acclaimed it might be one of his most underrated books.

The movie version featured a perfectly cast Max Von Sydow as the show’s owner, and a gruff Ed Harris as the town sheriff trying to stop him. The movie has a minor cult around it, but it was neither a critical nor commercial hit, though an extended three-hour television cut received better reviews.

King isn’t a fan, stating in an interview for Lilja’s Library that it was a real "disappointment" to him. While it’s hardly the worst movie based on his books, it’s not an underrated classic either.

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