In the last 50 years, there have been countless excellent adaptations based on Stephen King’s stories. In many cases, the movies and TV shows paid tribute to the ingenuity of the King of Horror, proving themselves as brilliant, emotionally charged, and twisted as their sources. A feature that contributed to the success of these adaptations, in several instances, has been the performances of the actors.
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Stephen King provides an exceptional foundation with his well-crafted and fascinating characters, but once a story unfolds on the big or small screen, the actors are the ones who bring those same characters to life. Their performances determine whether the tension, fear, and humanity in the author’s books resonate with the audience. Some of these portrayals have captured the core of his work so profoundly that they cemented their place in cinematic and television history.
You are watching: 10 Best Performances In Stephen King Movies & TV Shows
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Keith Gordon As Arnie
Christine (1983)
The ingenuity of Keith Gordon’s performance as Arnie, the main character of the horror Christine, lies in his ability to capture the gradual and downward transformation he goes through. At the beginning of the movie, Arnie is an outsider, a teenage victim of his peers who relentlessly bully him. Nevertheless, as he falls deeply under the control of the 1958 Plymouth Fury, his demeanor shifts dramatically.
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What is impressive about Gordon’s performance is how easily, over the course of the movie, it changes the perspective and feelings the audience has for the character. If, at the beginning of the story, the public is sympathetic and root for him, by the end of it, his presence sends chills down our spines. However, even as the monster he becomes, Arnie still also evokes feelings of pity, not simply fear, proving the actor was able to fully embrace the nuances of this tragic villain.
9
Sissy Spacek As Carrie White & Piper Laurie As Margaret White
Carrie (1976)
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Brian De Palma’s Carrie delivered to the fans of the horror genre two disturbingly brilliant performances, with Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek in the respective roles of Margaret and Carrie White. Spacek embodies Carrie’s pain and awkwardness with heartbreaking authenticity, capturing a sympathetic and shy, abused girl whose life is marked by ridicule and repression. At the same time, Laurie’s Margaret exudes a chilling zealotry, her oppressive dominance shaping every facet of Carrie’s tragic existence.
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Together, they craft a compelling and unsettling depiction of abuse, control, and revenge. Unsurprisingly, the actresses earned an Academy Award nomination for their work, cementing their roles as some of the most iconic horror performances in cinema history. Sissy Spacek was particularly adept at both attracting and terrifying the viewer, embodying her role of victim and, later, vengeful monster. Her method acting made this Stephen King movie a cult.
8
Carla Gugino As Jessie Burlingame
Gerald’s Game (2017)
In one of the best performances of her career, Carla Gugino mastered the role of Jessie Burlingame in the psychological thriller Gerald’s Game, embodying the emotional and physical turmoil of the character as the story progresses. The actress plays the part of a woman who remains handcuffed to the bed after her husband suddenly dies of a heart attack in the middle of a romantic fugue at an isolated house for the holidays.
Gugino channels Jessie’s desperation as well as her newfound resilience, holding the audience’s attention as she transitions from a place of profound vulnerability to commitment and strength. Gugino captures the subtlety of the various emotions, fears, and memories that haunt her. Unsurprisingly, Stephen King himself complimented her acting, praising her thorough understanding of the character (via Vulture). The author’s statement confirmed that Gugino deserves a place on this list.
7
Tim Curry As Pennywise
Stephen King’s IT (1990)
Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of It is one of the most haunting performances in the history of horror cinema. As much as Pennywise appears like a thrilling and amusing role to delve into as an actor, it is not easy to capture his treacherous, cruel nature while maintaining a playful facade. Yet, Curry delivered with petrifying perfection.
With his sly smiles, unsettling laughter, and sudden bursts of malevolence, Curry turned “It” into a figure of pure dread, leaving a mark not only in the cinema but also on pop culture. In the end, he contributed to solidifying the figure of the clown as a terrifying shadow that lurks in the nightmares of children and adults alike. His portrayal had a huge role in shaping the perceptions of clowns, elevating Pennywise to the pantheon of horror’s most iconic villains.
6
Christopher Walken As Johnny Smith
The Dead Zone (1983)
Christopher Walken is, without doubt, one of the greatest actors of his generation, and his performance as Johnny Smith in David Cronenberg’s sci-fi thriller The Dead Zone is a testament to that. In the movie, he plays a schoolteacher who awakens from a five-year coma to discover he has psychic abilities. These unexplainable powers give him a new purpose in life, leading him to embrace a different role than he previously had.
Walken captures his character’s extraordinary yet profoundly human journey with remarkable subtlety. His portrayal encapsulates the character’s inner turmoil, plaguing moral dilemmas, and quiet strength. Walken’s haunting stares and facial expressions convey Johnny’s desire to go back to his normal life and his growing sense of responsibility. One of Walken’s best movie performances, Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone, pays tribute to Stephen King’s work.
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Bill Skarsgård As Pennywise
IT: Chapter One & Two (2017 & 2019)
It might appear unusual to place two actors who played the same characters on this list, but like Tim Curry before him, Bill Skarsgård brilliantly brought Stephen King’s Pennywise to life in It: Chapter One and Two. Skarsgård’s performance didn’t just honor Curry’s iconic portrayal but carved out its place in the history of horror cinema, delivering a villain who is likely to haunt the public’s worst nightmares for long after the movie wraps up.
Skarsgård blended the eerie, almost grotesque appearance and manners of the clown with an unsettling innocence, creating a Pennywise that was not simply monstrous but also disturbingly childlike and appealing. The actor’s playful demeanor, emerging through theatrical dance moves and a shrill voice, further accentuated the creepy qualities of the character. Skarsgård’s performance in the first movie is the best in his horror career, proving how easily he can shock and torment the audience.
4
Tim Robbins As Andy Dufresne & Morgan Freeman As “Red”
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
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The performances by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as “Red” and Andy Dufresne are likely to have broken the hearts of many viewers when the movie The Shawshank Redemption premiered. Their portrayals effortlessly captured the enduring spirit of hope and friendship against the backdrop of despair within the harsh environment they found themselves in. If Robbins expresses Andy’s unwavering resilience and commitment, Freeman, on the other hand, brings to his character a kindness and wisdom, as a mentor, seasoned inmate, and the narrator of the story.
Although only Morgan Freeman received a nomination for his role in the acclaimed movie, the two performances both deserve recognition for their quiet depth and authenticity. Robbins and Freeman have portrayed the developing emotional bond between the protagonists so purely and genuinely that it becomes complicated to separate their work. The actors fully take advantage of their unquestionable chemistry to show a beautiful story of friendship and commitment.
3
Jack Nicholson As Jack Torrance
The Shining (1980)
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Placing Jack Nicholson’s performance as Jack Torrance in The Shining in third place and not first is not an easy choice. After all, Kubrick’s movie delivered one of Nicholson’s best works ever. Besides, as one of the most talented interpreters in the history of cinema, Nicholson fully delved into the slowly degenerating madness of his character, painting his moral, emotional, and psychological descent hypnotically.
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Jack Torrance is a complex role to explore, and the downward spiral of a seemingly sound family man into a monster chasing his wife with a hammer is captured with the subtlety and charm that only Nicholson can provide. However, Stephen King’s criticism of the movie and lack of enthusiasm for Nicholson’s portrayal prevents The Shining’s most beloved performance from securing first place. King does not feel like the actor fully captured the core of his protagonist and, as a consequence, it is fair to take his opinion into consideration (via Collider). In the end, Jack Torrance is his creation.
2
River Phoenix As Chris Chambers & Wil Wheaton As Gordie Lachance
Stand By Me (1986)
Perhaps it is the fact that they were only children, but it is hard not to be astounded by River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton’s outrageously good performances as Chris Chambers and Gordie Lachance in Stand by Me. Phoenix received praise and compliments from the king of horror himself for his work in this heart-shattering movie, but, like with Robbins and Freeman, it would feel unjust to separate the two performances when discussing the best works in Stephen King’s adaptations. Especially, considering the portrayal of the two protagonists’ bond greatly contributed to the emotional impact the movie had on the public.
The young actors captured the unspoiled and innocent beauty of teenage friendship in such an authentic, moving manner that they both deserve recognition. Wheaton’s sensitive take on Gordie complemented Phoenix’s emotional intensity as Chris, creating a dynamic that felt almost painfully raw and real. Stand by Me is one of King’s best movies, and the amazing performances of the actors helped make it the masterpiece it is today.
1
Kathy Bates As Annie Wilkes
Misery (1990)
Very few performances send chills down the spine of the viewer, like Kathy Bates’ in Misery. The actress plays a seemingly sweet and nurturing woman, Annie Wilkes, a hardcore fan of author Paul Sheldon (masterfully played by James Caan), who, after an accident, ends up in her care. Bates brings an unnerving blend of charm and terror to the character. Annie’s oscillation between moments of gentle attention and intense violence created one of the most unforgettable and scary villains in cinematic history.
Bates was able to comprehend and express the layers of her character’s psychosis, leading the audience (and her co-protagonist) to alternate between sympathy, trust, and utter fear. Her ability to embody Annie’s obsessive devotion and unhinged psyche left the viewer fascinated, confused, and horrified, keeping us on edge throughout the film. Unsurprisingly, Kathy Bates’ performance earned a well-deserved Academy Award, and is still, nowadays, remembered as one of the most chilling and well-executed horror performances in history. For this reason, she deserves first place as the best performance in Stephen King’s movies and TV shows.
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8.8/10
Misery
R
HorrorThrillerDrama
Based on the Stephen King novel, Misery is a 1990 horror movie centered around fictional writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who gets trapped by his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who tortures him until he rewrites the finale of his famous novels.
Release Date
November 30, 1990
Runtime
107 minutes
Cast
Richard Farnsworth
, James Caan
, Lauren Bacall
, Frances Sternhagen
, Kathy Bates
Director
Rob Reiner
Writers
William Goldman
Studio(s)
Columbia Pictures
Distributor(s)
Columbia Pictures
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Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment