It’s beyond obvious to say that movie adaptations are tricky, but they’re also an inevitability, and sometimes, they’re done well. If you don’t like reading for whatever reason, some texts do thankfully translate well to the big screen. Take The Shawshank Redemption and Misery, for example. Both very good books (one a novella with a slightly different title, and one a novel, technically), and both very good movies (released in 1994 and 1990, respectively).

And what do you know? The original stories in both cases were written by Stephen King. His work’s been translated to film and television incredibly often over the decades, but below, only the movie adaptations are going to be covered. And, specifically, the ones that were noticeably worse than the books they were based on. Some of these movies were still good, but if they were good alongside source material that was great, they have a shot at showing up here.

10

‘The Dark Half’ (1993)

Image via MGM

Considering how wild the premise of The Dark Half is, it’s probably just worth celebrating that a movie got it to work at all. The Dark Half is indeed a better movie than, say, Dreamcatcher, but the Dreamcatcher movie isn’t here because the Dreamcatcher book wasn’t all that good to begin with. The Dark Half, though, as a novel, was very good, and maybe also quite underrated overall, too.

In book and movie, there’s an author who effectively kills off a pseudonym he used to write under, but then that pseudonym comes alive, or comes back to life, but either way, he starts murdering people. It’s very distinctively about writing, so maybe that makes it feel a little more compelling when you actually read it, but The Dark Half (1993) works decently enough, all things considered. Being a little weaker than the source material isn’t the hugest of issues, in this particular instance.

9

‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019)

Image via Warner Bros.

Doctor Sleep isn’t right up there as one of Stephen King’s best books published post-2000, but maybe it’s accurate to call it one of the better ones of the 21st century. There have been worse releases, for sure. Anyway, it’s a sequel to The Shining, and The Shining had a movie that ended pretty differently from the novel, so King’s original Doctor Sleep (the book) follows the ending of the book version of The Shining.

The adaptation of Doctor Sleep, on the other hand, tries to follow the ending of The Shining’s original text and movie. It wants to be a bit more than just a straightforward sequel, bringing together a book and a movie, even after the author of the former didn’t really like the latter adaptation. Points for trying, and Doctor Sleep (2019) sure is ambitious, but also, it might’ve been a better and more consistent movie if it hadn’t tried reconciling and continuing two different versions of The Shining.

8

‘The Running Man’ (2025)

Image via Paramount

If you were a Stephen King fan in 2025, then not only did you get a new book (Never Flinch… it was a’ight), but you also got four film adaptations of King’s work that same year. Well, The Life of Chuck was first screened in 2024, but got a wider release in 2025. Also, that year saw the release of The Monkey, The Long Walk, and The Running Man.

The Long Walk was pretty strong, and pretty close to being as impactful and intense as its source material. The Running Man, though, didn’t quite get there. It captured the spirit of the book better than the 1980s adaptation, which was so loose it barely counts as an adaptation, but The Running Man (2025) did make some deviations in ways that didn’t always help. It’s a subdued example, as it’s a pretty solid popcorn flick that moves well and entertains a decent amount, but there’s a visceral quality and an extra sense of desperation in the original book that wasn’t fully captured.

7

‘The Dead Zone’ (1983)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Long before he wrote a story about going into the past to stop an assassination, Stephen King wrote a story about someone assassinating someone in the present to prevent the awful visions he sees of the future. The story about the past was 11/22/63, and the story about seeing the future was The Dead Zone, with the latter getting a movie adaptation not long after the book’s initial publication.

There are some parts of The Dead Zone movie that work the way the book does, but it frustratingly streamlines the plot while still feeling a bit too slow. The book takes much longer to get through, but it’s an unexpectedly effortless read, and it doesn’t feel like as much work as the comparatively brief movie. This is all a bit of a hot take, because some people seem to sort of like David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone, but it’s just missing something to take it from okay to genuinely really good.

6

‘Needful Things’ (1993)

Image via Columbia Pictures

There’s a lengthy and impressively escalating build-up into all-out madness in Needful Things that works better across hundreds of pages than it does over a couple of hours. It’s the kind of thing that a miniseries could do justice, because you need the time to really showcase the town of Castle Rock and dig into various people living there, all before having the town fall apart with everyone turning on each other in increasingly violent ways.

You still get a sense of chaos alongside a good many deaths in the movie, but it comes down to impact once more. There just isn’t the same impact found in the film, even if it’s a perfectly decent flick. There’s a lot of work that goes into getting through a novel that’s on the longer side of things, as far as Stephen King’s are concerned (not quite The Stand, of course, but then again, not much is length-wise), but the novel of Needful Things is ultimately rewarding if you’ve got the time to spare.

5

‘Cujo’ (1983)

Image via Warner Bros.

If you’re talking about Cujo, as in the book, it’s pretty mortifying stuff. There’s a horror of a very natural (rather than supernatural) kind here, and while plenty of Stephen King books are horrifying in fantastical and realistic ways simultaneously, Cujo is pretty much all about the realistic. There’s a dog who gets rabies and turns violent as a result, and a group of characters who are all put in immense danger because of this bad luck.

It’s not a long book, and the number of characters is also on the more manageable side of things, so Cujo technically should work well as a movie. And yeah, this 1983 adaptation is mostly solid, but then it does alter the ending in a way that’s definitely nicer, but also not as impactful; nowhere close, really. It’s like the inverse of the situation with The Mist, where the ending of the film adaptation went into considerably darker territory than the final few pages of the original novella.

4

‘It Chapter Two’ (2019)

Things are a bit complicated when it comes to the late 2010s adaptation of It, since the mammoth book was split into two movies. The reason for this was that one half of It has the main characters as kids, and then the other half of the novel has them as adults, with the same central foe taken on both times. But it’s not a neat tale of two age groups, since the novel of It cuts back and forth between the characters when they’re young and older.

You lose a lot with It Chapter Two because of this. It feels repetitive in a way that the original story doesn’t really, with its interesting structure. It (2017) does well at capturing most of the stuff with the characters as kids, so it’s a bit harder to criticize, though the choice with that first film to divide the narrative in such a way did ultimately doom the second film.

3

‘Pet Sematary’ (2019)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Working in a brutally effective way on two fronts, Pet Sematary stands as one of King’s scariest and also one of his saddest books simultaneously. There’s an exploration of death and a look at the desire to defy it, which is all horrific in very human and raw ways, but then there’s an ability to actually maybe reverse death, and then in come the supernatural elements and eventual scares on that front.

Neither movie adaptation of Pet Sematary quite delivers in the same way that the book does. The one from 1989 probably fares a little better than the version released in 2019, but not by a great deal, in all honesty. Things are followed decently well, so it’s more just a case that the really powerful parts of Pet Sematary have, so far, been far more impactful if you’re either reading the text or listening to an audiobook, compared to watching the whole story retold as a movie.

2

‘The Dark Tower’ (2017)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

There are seven main books in The Dark Tower series, plus an interquel, a novella, and a bunch of other stories (some short, some novels) that tie into the series in some way, but one thing’s fairly clear: none were really adapted in – or represented by – 2017’s The Dark Tower. There are some elements taken from books #1 and #3, and a suggestion that things could be happening in a way that’s different from the events of the book (keeping it vague at the risk of spoiling something), but still. You want a bit more of The Dark Tower when you watch The Dark Tower.

Whatever it was trying to adapt or reflect, this movie failed. If it was trying to do its own thing, or build upon the main series, it didn’t really do that well, either. And The Dark Tower series is very long and complicated, so any sort of movie adaptation was never going to be easy, but this still felt like the wrong approach. The only reason it’s not #1 in this ranking is because of that ambiguity surrounding the extent to which it can be counted as an adaptation. Call it partially getting off on a technicality or whatever.

1

‘Salem’s Lot’ (2024)

Image via Max

Since ‘Salem’s Lot is such an incredible book, and quite close to one of Stephen King’s very best efforts overall, the movie adaptation being just average at best is extremely disappointing. That makes it stand out as an example of a movie that really isn’t much compared to what it could’ve or should’ve been. And further, maybe saying it’s kind of average is a stretch.

This movie follows the same basic plot, with vampires slowly taking over a small town and the few humans left having to fight for their lives (not lives of the undead variety), but the slow burn of the novel is sacrificed for… nothing? There isn’t really anything gained by pacing this like a horror movie, or trying to pace it like a horror movie, since Salem’s Lot (2024) still feels slow, just not slow in a good or purposeful way. Even if you really hate reading, by no means should you watch this before getting around to the book (can’t be overstated just how much better it is).

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Salem’s Lot

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Release Date

October 3, 2024

Runtime

113 minutes

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Writers

Gary Dauberman

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Producers

Mark Wolper, Michael Bederman, Roy Lee, James Wan, Michael Clear, Judson Scott

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  Makenzie Leigh

  Susan Norton

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  Jordan Preston Carter

  Mark Petrie

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After redefining what a video game adaptation can look like on TV, Craig Mazin is officially taking on his next challenge — and it’s a big one. The Baldur’s Gate series is in development at HBO, according to reports, with Mazin attached to create, write, executive produce, and showrun the project. This may also mean that The Last of Us will indeed end with Season 3, despite speculation it could go further.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has been a genuine pop culture juggernaut since launching in 2023, pulling in more than 15 million players and quickly earning a reputation as one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the game is known for its morally messy choices, deeply written characters, sharp humor, and willingness to let players completely break (or save) the world in wildly personal ways. Mazin is clearly not approaching the adaptation as a casual hire.

“After putting nearly 1000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of The Coast created. I am a devoted fan of D&D and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it. I can’t wait to help bring Baldur’s Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can, and I’m deeply grateful to Gabe Marano and his team at Hasbro for entrusting me with this incredibly important property.”

Why Is Craig Mazin Making Baldur’s Gate?

The series will extend beyond the original Baldur’s Gate games, expanding the larger universe created by Hasbro Entertainment. Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, and Hasbro Entertainment’s Gabriel Marano will executive produce alongside Mazin. Marano emphasized just how long fans have been waiting for this moment:

“The fans have been eagerly awaiting an adaptation of Baldur’s Gate, and we could not ask for better partners than HBO and the incomparable Craig Mazin to build this world with.”

For HBO, this fits squarely into its prestige genre lane. Francesca Orsi, head of HBO drama programming, highlighted why Mazin is such a natural fit:

“His deep and long-standing passion for the source material paired with his remarkable talent for building immersive worlds filled with rich, compelling characters promises groundbreaking results.”

This project also continues Mazin’s deep relationship with HBO. His overall deal with the network and HBO Max was extended for four more years in 2024.

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Released

August 3, 2023

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ESRB

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Developer(s)

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Larian Studios

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Larian Studios

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Baldur’s Gate

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Aww, Roomies! Brittany Renner has the internet gushing after she shared some rare, sweet moments with her son, Paul Jermaine Washington Jr. III, whom she shares with PJ Washington.

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Brittney Renner Shares Precious Family Time Moments With Her

On Thursday, February 5, Brittany Renner came through with a “life lately” photo dump — and this one was extra special. It featured her son, Paul Jermaine Washington Jr. III, and the cuteness overload was next level! Renner shared a pic of PJW Jr. after what looked like a school event, giving him extra love with a big hug while he made a funny face and held her head. Other pics showed them enjoying a day at the zoo while PJW Jr. rocked face paint and even petted a few animals. One standout photo even showed PJW Jr. being carried by Brittany’s mystery bae, who first made an appearance on her Instagram back in December 2025.

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Brittany Renner and PJ Washington announced they were expecting their first child together in May 2021. The former couple shared a series of pics from Renner’s maternity shoot on their Instagram accounts. That same year, they ended up parting ways. A year later, in December 2022, PJ welcomed his first child, a baby boy named Preston, with influencer Alisah Chanel. Then, in 2023, they tied the knot and had their second child, Paxton, in February 2025. Alisah also has a son named Aiden from a previous relationship.

Social Media Can’t Stop Gushing Over Brittany’s Son

The Shade Room’s comment section went off with reactions from the Roomies. Plenty of folks loved the sweet flicks of Brittany’s baby boy, while others couldn’t get enough of her mommy mode energy.

Instagram user @sincerelymilli wrote, “Awww!! Her son is such a cutie!! ❤️” 

Instagram user @dominiquechinn wrote, “Awwww he’s grown up so fast.” 

While Instagram user @iquaviaheavenweaver wrote, “He’s literally gonna help her grow and heal ❤️🔥🙌” 

Then Instagram user @queendee6969 wrote, “I think being a mom bring out the best part of every woman! It’s such a badge of honor😍😍😍😍” 

Another Instagram user @theroyal_sauce.official wrote, “He’s adorable 🥰🥰” 

Instagram user @hello.keyaaa wrote, “He looks exactly like his dad 😍” 

While another Instagram user @_____breana_____ wrote, “All the things yall heard about her being a bad mom was never one I love that for her❤️” 

Finally, Instagram user @thesinglemomroom wrote, “Love to see a happy Mom❤️❤️” 

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Former NFL tight end Greg Olsen announced the death of his older brother, Chris, in a poignant social media post.

“It is with great sadness that I share this update. Despite fighting with every ounce of his being, my older brother Chris has lost his battle with Glioblastoma,” Greg, 40, shared via Instagram on Thursday, February 5. “This terrible disease took many things, but it could never take Chris’s spirit for life.”

Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. 

“These past few weeks, people came from all over the country to Little Rock to share Chris stories,” Greg wrote. “We laughed. We cried. We remembered a larger than life personality who made everyone feel his love. More importantly, he was able to feel the love and impact he made on countless people over his 42 years.”

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He added, “Our family is devastated. Everyone could take a lesson on how to live life from Chris.”

Greg and Chris, who played quarterback at the University of Virginia, also share a younger brother, Kevin, 31, who played quarterback at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

Chris is survived by his wife, Lindsay. 

“I ask that everyone says a prayer for his amazing wife Lindsay. She was his life,” Greg concluded his social media post. He was her ‘Lovie.’ On behalf of our entire family, we thank everyone for their continued prayers and love. We have felt it. Love you brother ❤️.”

Greg — who played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks and now works as an analyst for Fox Sports — received condolences from the football community after announcing Chris’ death. 

“Praying for you brother 🙏🏼❤️,” commented San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who played with Greg during their overlapping time with the Panthers. 

Greg’s Fox Sports colleague Kevin Burkhardt wrote, “Prayers for the Olsens- love you all so much. Chris was always smiling, pure joy. He certainly will be remembered that way. ❤️”

Erin Andrews, who also works with Greg at Fox Sports, commented on the post, “Love the Olsen family and Chris so much. Here for you always.”

Chris committed to Notre Dame before transferring to Virginia in 2003. After backing up Matt Schaub and Marques Hagans for three seasons, Chris was named the starting quarterback during his senior season in 2006.

“If you are willing to wait for four years to get your chance, I think that shows people how much you really love the game and how much you really want it,” Chris told VirginiaSports.com at the time. “I knew it would all work out in the end.”

Greg recalled how his father, Chris Olsen Sr., ingrained work ethic into him as his head coach at Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey. 

“My dad drew that distinction for us,” Chris said. “He was always harder on Greg and myself than he was on anybody else on the team. He did not want to make it look like he was trying to favor either one of us. We always had to be that much better than the guy in front of us. If we were even, he was going to play the other guy, so we had to be considerably better. We knew why he was harder on us, but sometimes it was tough. In the long run, it made us better as a team.”

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A middle school counselor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been found dead after he was accused of allegedly inappropriately messaging a former 14-year-old student.

Police confirmed that Quinton Dixon was found dead at the age of 44 of an apparent suicide in an unused building at Glen Oaks Middle School on January 28, according to People.

Dixon’s death came two weeks after he had been placed on administrative leave from his job at Westdale Middle Magnet School. While he was on leave, an investigation was launched into the allegations made against him.

In January, he was accused of messaging the teenage girl via Instagram between November 2025 and January 2026.

A warrant was filed in late January for his arrest on four counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, according to court records viewed by People.

The girl recounted to police that she came into contact with an adult male counselor from her former middle school. She said that he stopped his car next to hers and told her she looked familiar. She then told police that they briefly spoke before he asked her for her phone number or Instagram profile.

After she shared her Instagram information, she said she started to receive likes and messages from the man on Instagram.

The girl also told police that the man’s name was Dixon, adding that he said he coached the football team at the high school she is currently a student at. The victim also told police that Dixon allegedly called her “fire” and that he never forgot about her after she graduated from middle school.

Police investigated the messages exchanged between Dixon and the student, which they characterized as being “consistent with grooming behavior in pursuit of an intimate relationship with the minor victim,” according to the warrant.

The warrant added that Dixon likely started talking to the girl on November 10, 2025, when he allegedly asked her about her sexual orientation in response to a photo of her with a female friend. The warrant also alleged that he asked the girl where she lives and offered to give her a ride home several times.

Following Dixon’s death, a spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System told WBRZ that they were aware of the employee’s passing.

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“We extend our condolences to the school community, family and loved ones as they process this information during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said in the statement.

Redell Norman, who attended Glen Oaks and coached football with Dixon, also opened up about his passing.

“It’s unfortunate the circumstances of his untimely demise, but yes, I did know him and the situation is just so unfortunate, we just got to pray for everybody,” he told the outlet.

Meanwhile, a resident of the area said that the situation as a whole was upsetting. “It’s tragic all the way around, something that you really can’t explain about,” the person said.

The Baton Rouge Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding Dixon’s arrest.