10 Most Underrated Performances In Stephen King Movies, Ranked

Stephen King‘s movies have included some of the most incredible performances in horror history, but they have also featured a ton of underrated performances as well. King’s first movie adaptation, Carrie, established him as a powerhouse of page and screen, thanks in large part to Sissy Spacek’s towering turn in the title role.

The author excels at crafting rich and interesting characters in his books and short stories, and many of King’s movie adaptations borrow a bit of his essence. Because he packs his tales with so many characters, it’s easy for brilliant performances to go unnoticed. This is doubly true when a film is lackluster or overlooked.

Acting is a subtle art, and not every amazing Stephen King movie performance is as bombastic as the likes of Jack Nicholson or Bill Skarsgård. Many underrated performances carry films with emotional depth, or are merely supporting characters that exist in the background. Either way, a lot of unsung actors have left their mark on Stephen King’s illustrious film catalog.

10

Dee Wallace As Donna Trenton – Cujo (1983)

One of King’s earlier movie adaptations, Cujo ranks somewhere in the middle in terms of overall quality. The movie boils down King’s subtle and complex book to mainly focus on the thrust of the conflict, the titular rabid dog. Dee Wallace stars as Donna, a housewife whose marriage is on the rocks, and she completely carries the film.

Wallace spent most of the ’80s playing moms in classic films, but her turn as Donna found richness in the character that wasn’t really present in the script. Put in a dangerous situation, Donna is both a convincing hero and a fleshed-out person, mainly because Wallace is so likable. Her performance elevates the middling animal attack movie.

9

Joe Mantegna As Richie Ginelli – Thinner (1996)

An unusually misguided novel from Stephen King, Thinner was adapted into an equally misguided movie in the mid-’90s. A story of Romani curses and violent revenge felt dated even when the book was first published, and the movie did nothing to fix those problems. However, it did feature a strong performance from Joe Mantegna.

Mantegna plays mafioso Richie “The Hammer” Ginelli, who is enlisted by the movie’s protagonist to help him deal with the curse. Though Ginelli is comically cliche, Mantegna’s performance sells every moment. In a patently unsubtle movie, Mantegna injects a bit of subtlety into his character, which goes a long way in serving the movie’s attempt at a complex moral narrative.

8

Corey Haim As Marty Coslaw – Silver Bullet (1985)

Silver Bullet got largely negative reviews, but is certainly an underrated Stephen King movie worth watching. Shockingly heartwarming for a story from the King of Horror, Silver Bullet‘s werewolf narrative spins the quirky coming-of-age trend in the ’80s. Teen star Corey Haim leads the film, and gives one of the best performances of his career as Marty Coslaw.

Marty is precocious and perseverant, and his being a wheelchair user was a great example of representation for the time. Even in an over-the-top movie like Silver Bullet, Haim’s performance is grounded, and he holds his own alongside veteran character actors like Everett McGill. Like the movie, Haim’s acting job has largely been forgotten, but deserves a lot more credit.

7

David Dastmalchian As Lester Billings – The Boogeyman (2023)

David Dastmalchian is slowly becoming one of Hollywood’s go-to character actors, and he stole the show in the 2023 Stephen King adaptation, The Boogeyman. Borrowed from one of the wordsmith’s shortest short stories, the movie is essentially a reimagining of King’s creepy tale. Dastmalchian plays Lester Billings, the haunted man who was the main character in the short.

Despite being downgraded to a minor supporting role, Dastmalchian makes the most of his moment. He inhabits Lester’s trauma with frightening ease, and every twitch of his face indicates something much deeper below the surface. Though The Boogeyman was a far cry from King’s original story, Dastmalchian’s performance kept its original themes alive in vivid detail.

6

James Caan As Paul Sheldon – Misery (1990)

James Caan’s performance in Misery is only underrated because he is completely overshadowed by his co-star. The Rob Reiner-directed classic explores something uniquely terrifying to the author himself, but manages to make it harrowing for viewers who aren’t celebrities. Caan holds up the other half of the movie as trapped author, Paul Sheldon.

The brilliance of Caan’s performance comes from the fact that he never allows Paul to become wholly sympathetic. There’s a cockiness to the writer that never fades, even when he’s fully in the clutches of Annie. Kathy Bates (deservedly) gets all the glory for playing the wonderfully unhinged antagonist, but Misery would only have been half effective without James Caan.

5

Miguel Ferrer As Richard Dees – The Night Flier (1997)

No pun intended, but The Night Flier completely flew under the radar when it was released in the late-’90s, but it’s a decent King adaptation. The author had already done vampires before, but the aviation-themed mystery story put a clever spin on the monster. It also features a common Stephen King trope: the unlikable protagonist.

Miguel Ferrer leads the film as tabloid journalist Richard Dees, and the gruff veteran is perfectly cast. Though not particularly far out of his usual range, Ferrer’s sarcastic sleaze makes the somewhat forgettable movie a must-watch. Ferrer effectively convinces the audience that Dees is a bad guy, so his supernatural comeuppance doesn’t feel mean-spirited or unnecessary.

4

Michael Jeter As Eduard Delacroix – The Green Mile (1999)

Books like The Green Mile showcase Stephen King’s depth as a writer, and the movie combines his penchant for the supernatural with his strong character work. His second prison-based movie adaptation, The Green Mile explores themes like justice and forgiveness. The movie has a stuffed cast, with actors like Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan taking center stage.

However, the unsung hero of the movie is Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix, a prisoner who forms an unusual bond with a mouse. Jeter’s quirky demeanor makes Delacroix feel alive, and he elevates what is an already well-written character. Despite his backstory, Jeter ingratiates Delacroix to the audience, which helps to make his shocking demise all the more effective.

3

Fred Gwynne As Jud Crandall – Pet Sematary (1989)

The original adaptation of Pet Sematary is a fundamentally flawed film, but it still has plenty of highlights. It’s unclear if any movie could possibly capture the deeper themes behind the book, and the 1989 version takes a half-hearted stab at them. Even the movie’s characters are simplified versions of their counterparts from the novel.

Fred Gwynne co-stars as elderly neighbor, Jud Crandall, and he’s really the heart and soul of the entire film. Despite the fact that Jud’s character is stripped down, Gwynne’s lovable persona transforms him into something new. Instead of the brooding and mysterious figure from the book, Gwynne’s grandfatherly approach actually helps make Pet Sematary more gripping.

2

Martin Sheen As Greg Stillson – The Dead Zone (1983)

Because Martin Sheen’s Greg Stillson isn’t some sort of supernatural monster, he is often overlooked in the rogue’s gallery of Stephen King villains. The Dead Zone is one of the most well-rounded King adaptations because it best captures the novel’s ideas without having to cut too much or add anything unnecessary.

Christopher Walken’s performance as Johnny Smith is often lauded, but Sheen’s villainous turn deserves just as much attention. He plays the vile populist politician with an air of reality, instead of giving into the temptation to be overwrought. Sheen is overwhelmingly frightening because he’s so believable, something that even the most memorable performances in King movies often fail to achieve.

1

Kathy Bates As Dolores Claiborne – Dolores Claiborne (1995)

Ironically, Kathy Bates gave the best performance in a Stephen King movie, and the most underrated. Dolores Claiborne is perhaps King’s greatest film that rarely ever gets discussed, and it’s also one of his richest narratives in terms of character and plotting. Bates plays the title character, a far cry from her career-making turn in Misery.

Dolores is not some two-dimensional caricature, and her struggle for personal freedom is downright harrowing. Bates is equal parts sympathetic and cold, and she makes Dolores even more complex than Stephen King‘s original bestseller could. Dolores Claiborne deserves more praise, as does Bates’ performance.