21 Terrifying Stephen King Screenplays You Need to Read

Stephen King is the undisputed master of literary horror, but his reign extends far beyond books: screenplays.

While we know the finished products well—the jump scares, the chilling scores, and the haunting performances—there's a unique terror to be found in the film's screenplays. And a lot of lessons for budding writers.

As always, these are for educational and research purposes only.

Let's dive in.

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Stephen King Screenplays

CARRIE (1976)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

CREEPSHOW (1982)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

THE DEAD ZONE (1983)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

CUJO (1983)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

CAT’S EYE (1984)

Screenplay Stephen King – Read the script!

SILVER BULLET (1985)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

STAND BY ME (1986)

Written by Stephen King, Raynold Gideon, and Bruce A. Evans – Read the script!

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

PET SEMATARY (1989)

Written by Stephen King and Jeff Buhler – Read the script!

MISERY (1990)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

GOLDEN YEARS (1991)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

SLEEPWALKERS (1992)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

THE STAND (1994)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

THE SHINING (1997)

Written by Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson and Stephen King – Read the script!

THE X-FILES: “CHINGA” (1998)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

STORM OF THE CENTURY (1999)

Written by Stephen King – Read the script!

KINGDOM HOSPITAL (2004)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

SECRET WINDOW (2004)

Screenplay by David Koepp – Read the script!

DESPERATION (2006)

Screenplay by Stephen King – Read the script!

IT (2017)

Screenplay by Chase Palmer, CJ Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman, and Stephen King – Read the script!

THE OUTSIDER: “FISH IN A BARREL” (2020)

Screenplay by Richard Price and Stephen King – Read the script!

Let me know what you think in the comments.