Forget the Shining: The Stephen King Novel That Crushed the Box Office — Twice
Stephen King’s nightmares have ruled the screen, from IT and The Shining to the creeping dread of Doctor Sleep and Pet Sematary. But one chilling tale has slipped through the cracks — and it might be his most unsettling on screen.
Stephen King adaptations never really leave the party, they just change outfits. Case in point: after two big-screen takes on 'Carrie', the telekinetic prom-night classic is coming back yet again — this time as a series at Amazon. Let’s catch up on what made the story stick, where those movies landed, and why Mike Flanagan steering the new version makes a lot of sense.
The book that launched a thousand nosebleeds
King’s debut novel 'Carrie' hit shelves in 1974 and turned into a legit phenomenon — over 4 million copies sold, per Trending Pop Culture. It’s a mean little heartbreaker about a shy, relentlessly bullied teen who discovers she can move things with her mind. That discovery collides with a home life ruled by her abusive, fanatically religious mother, and, well... prom night becomes an all-timer for the worst reasons. One reason the novel still lands: King frames the aftermath through faux newspaper clippings and interviews, so you’re piecing together a tragedy as if it really happened.
Two movies, two vibes — both made noise
Brian De Palma’s 1976 film is the one etched in horror history. Sissy Spacek’s Carrie is unforgettable, and the cast is stacked with Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, and a young John Travolta. De Palma (who later did 'Scarface', 'The Untouchables', and the first 'Mission: Impossible') shoots it like a fever dream that suddenly snaps into a nightmare. It also holds up statistically: IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 94%. And yes, the original was a box-office hit.
The 2013 redo, directed by Kimberly Peirce, puts Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore front and center. It fared more modestly with critics and fans — IMDb 5.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 51% — but it still found an audience and ended up a box-office success in its own right.
So why more 'Carrie' now?
Because Amazon wants in. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Prime Video is turning 'Carrie' into an eight-episode series. Mike Flanagan is running the show as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, and he’ll direct select episodes. If you’ve seen 'Doctor Sleep' — which King himself publicly praised — you know Flanagan can thread the needle between character drama and supernatural dread. This is absolutely his lane.
How the book sales stack up (per Trending Pop Culture)
- 'Carrie' (1974): over 4 million copies
- 'The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger' (1982): over 5 million copies
- 'The Shining' (1977): over 1 million copies
- 'The Stand' (1978): over 1.5 million copies
- 'Pet Sematary' (1983): over 2 million copies
- 'It' (1986): over 2.5 million copies
One odd footnote: the outlet says 'Carrie' tops their list, but by their own numbers 'The Gunslinger' sold more. Make of that what you will.
More King worth your time
If 'Carrie' whets the appetite, a few lesser-talked-about gems still kick hard:
'Revival' drops a grieving minister and a haunted protagonist into a decades-spanning obsession with what waits beyond the veil. It starts like a drama and ends with a cosmic scream.
'Insomnia' follows a man who starts seeing strange auras and otherworldly figures, then gets pulled into a conflict way bigger than his insomnia. It’s weirder and more mythic than it sounds.
'Salem’s Lot' is King going full gothic: a small town, old secrets, and a vampire problem that spreads like rumor and rot. Still nasty after all these years.
Where to watch the movies now
'Carrie' (1976) and 'Carrie' (2013) are streaming on FuboTV and MGM+.
Which King novel still haunts you? I’m always curious where people land once they get past the usual suspects.