5 Stephen King Movies That Made the Worst Changes From Book to Screen

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Stephen King‘s books have been adapted into movies for decades, and while many stay faithful to the original stories, some changes have really disappointed fans. King has written a huge number of captivating and frightening books and short stories since the 1970s – even some that aren’t horror – and while many have been successfully adapted for film, a few haven’t lived up to expectations.

It’s common for Stephen King movie adaptations to differ from his novels, and fans often find these changes disappointing. Alterations to characters or key plot points can be particularly frustrating. While changes are expected when adapting a book to film, Stephen King’s readers frequently feel that the movies make poor choices when they deviate from the source material.

5
The Entire Film

‘The Lawnmower Man’ (1992)


New Line Cinema

It’s difficult to say what’s the biggest change in the movie The Lawnmower Man because the film is so different from the original short story. The story, found in Stephen King’s Night Shift, centers around a man killed by a strange neighbor and his haunted lawnmower. The 1992 movie, though, is about a scientist who uses virtual reality and drugs in human experiments, and the lawnmower itself appears only briefly.

Aside from the title, the movie shares very little with Stephen King’s story. While both feature a character named Harold Parkette, that’s where the similarities end. The film’s protagonist, Jobe, is a gardener, but lacks the key elements of the original story – he’s not a satyr, nor does he work for the god Pan. It’s understandable why Stephen King took legal action against this film. In truth, The Lawnmower Man isn’t much of an adaptation at all, as it doesn’t capture even the fundamental parts of King’s original work.

4
A Messy Timeline

‘The Dark Tower’ (2017)


Sony Pictures

The 2017 film adaptation of The Dark Tower doesn’t quite capture the spirit of Stephen King’s original novels, but it differs from failures like The Lawnmower Man. While based on King’s multi-book series, beginning with The Gunslinger, the movie also tries to act as a sequel to the books, adding to the confusion. It strangely borrows elements from both the first and third books, ultimately offering a reimagined version of the story.

The movie adaptation of The Dark Tower leaves out some important events from the early books. For instance, Eddie and Susannah, key characters who appear starting with the second book, The Drawing of the Three, aren’t included. The film also alters a significant moment: instead of Eddie accompanying Jake on his first visit to New York, it’s Roland, which drastically changes the scene’s feel. Fortunately, a new adaptation by Mike Flanagan is reportedly being developed, though there’s no release date yet.

3
How Jack Torrance Dies

‘The Shining’ (1980)


Warner Bros.

Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of The Shining differs from the novel in several ways, but the biggest change involves how Jack Torrance dies. In the book, Jack fights the hotel’s evil influence and ultimately sacrifices himself to save his wife and son, giving him a moment of redemption. He helps Danny and Wendy escape before the hotel’s boiler explodes. While Jack’s death in the movie is visually striking, it doesn’t feel as impactful or satisfying as his death in the book.

In the film version, Jack chases Danny through the hedge maze but doesn’t find him and ultimately freezes to death on the hotel grounds. The ending of King’s novel feels more logical because the story repeatedly emphasizes Jack’s responsibility to check the boiler as part of his caretaker duties. However, in the movie, Jack is completely consumed by the Overlook Hotel, losing all sense of himself, which is why Stephen King initially disliked Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining.

2
The “It Was All a Dream” Ending

‘Cell’ (2016)


Saban Films

While not one of Stephen King’s most famous works, Cell has gained recent attention due to its 2016 film adaptation, which is widely considered to be one of his worst. The movie also makes some changes to the book, most notably to the ending. In the novel, Clay confronts Johnny, who’s been affected by the Pulse, and attempts to use another blast of energy to restore him. It’s a shocking conclusion, but it’s effective and creates a uniquely atmospheric experience that’s characteristic of Stephen King’s writing.

However, the movie concludes with a frustratingly common plot device. In the final scene of Cell, we see Clay among other infected people, and it’s revealed that the communications tower exploding earlier was just a trick. The ending of Cell is memorable, but unfortunately not in a good way, and fans of Stephen King are justified in their disappointment with this “it was all a dream” conclusion.

1
The Reason for Stan’s Suicide

‘It Chapter Two’ (2019)


Warner Bros.

It’s positive that the film It kept Stan’s suicide in the story, but the sequel, It Chapter Two, altered the reasons behind his decision. In the original novel, Stan’s death is a deeply sad and impactful moment. It powerfully shows how much Pennywise tormented him, leading Stan to believe that ending his life was the only way to avoid the creature’s return to Derry.

In the movie It Chapter Two, Stan’s suicide feels more like a tool to move the story forward. The film suggests he intentionally took his life as a brave act, and his note is used to inspire the other members of the Losers Club to confront and defeat Pennywise. While this doesn’t drastically change the overall story of It or It Chapter Two, many readers dislike this change because it downplays the seriousness of Stan’s trauma and suggests his death was needed for the Losers Club to win.

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2025-12-20 20:04