Picking out the best Stephen King movies and shows streaming right now without having to rent or buy isn’t easy. The problem is, some of the best adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption aren’t available. With that in mind, we’ve taken a mix of movies and shows available now that we know are worth streaming.

CHECK OUT: Stephen King’s son Joe Hill’s graphic novel adaptation Locke & Key tops this month’s “Best of” ranking.

#10. Pet Sematary (Amazon Prime Video)

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Pet Sematary has a few iterations. The one we rate #10 was released in 1989 and written by Stephen King himself. Pet Sematary is a zombie movie that presents an interesting take on the walking dead and how someone may try to take advantage of it. It’s gory, unsettling, and for its age, still creepy. Forget the 59 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and check it out for yourselves.

CHECK OUT: Find out what’s new to stream on Amazon Prime Video this month

#9. 1408 (Currently Unavailable)

Made in 2007 and starring John Cusack, who plays a paranormal debunker taunted into staying in the haunted hotel room, 1408. What follows is a psychological horror that isn’t the best Stephen King adaptation, but one much better than the 61 percent given on Rotten Tomatoes.

#8. The Dead Zone (Amazon Prime Video)

The Dead Zone pilot is based on the book by Stephen King. Despite further episodes veering off on their own, the show remains true to its origin about a man who wakes from a coma with psychic powers. The show ran for six seasons and despite being a mixed bag, it remains one of the better Stephen King shows made.

Credit: CBS

#7. Carrie (Hoopla and Fubo)

Directed by Brian De Palma, this King adaptation is memorable and deserves much more than the 77 percent given on Rotten Tomatoes. The mother-daughter face-off in Carrie is gripping, and the movie is full of iconic scenes, including Sissy Spacek covered in pig’s blood. If you’ve never seen it, stream it now.

#6. Castle Rock (Hulu)

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Castle Rock is not an adaptation of a book but a homage to his worlds. It’s a reimagining that explores King’s canon with new stories that are both big-budget and fantastically made. What makes this a must-watch show is that everything comes together in a way that unifies Stephen King’s work, and it’s unmissable television because of it.

#5. IT Chapter One (TNT)

The original IT movie was good but the kids in the 2017 remake (Chapter One) are better. They have an on-screen friendship and togetherness which the original couldn’t match. Plus, modern effects allow Pennywise the Dancing Clown to be bigger and scarier. If you want jump scares and some great one-liners, IT Chapter One is a must watch adaptation.

CHECK OUT: See our top 10 movies streaming on Hoopla right now

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The premise is so simple, and yet the execution of this single-season series is fantastic. It stars James Franco, a teacher who travels through a time portal to October 21st, 1960 with a mission set by his friend, to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. If you’re a time-traveling fan, or love conspiracies, 11.22.63 is a show you must watch.

#3. The Outsider (HBO Now)

The Outsider is already one of the best shows of 2020. The only negative is that it forces you to watch multiple episodes back-to-back — it’s that good. This single-season show is gripping, with fantastic performances and a supernatural tale that’s not to be missed. If you have HBO, make sure you add it to your watchlist now.

CHECK OUT: The Outsider on HBO Now is a show worth binging on

#2. Misery (Hulu)

Misery is the best Stephen King thriller streaming right now. Its brilliance can be summed up in two words: Kathy Bates. The actress’s performance is the reason to watch this Stephen King adaptation. It’s so good she won the Best Actress Oscar for it. To this day, Misery is the only Stephen King adaptation to ever win an Oscar.

#1. Stand by Me (IMDb TV)

Without a doubt, Stand by Me is the best Stephen King movie or show available to stream today. It has chemistry, a simple premise, and is the best growing-up kids movie ever made. If you only watch one King adaptation this month, Stand by Me should be it — unless you want something scary, of course.

Credit: Columbia Pictures

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