Stephen King Reveals His All-Time Top 10 Favorite Movies

Horror legend Stephen King has shared his personal top 10 favorite films of all time, and he made it clear that his own adaptations didn’t make the cut.

The prolific author, whose novels like The Long Walk, The Running Man, and It are set for new Hollywood adaptations, posted the list on Twitter earlier today, noting it was “in no particular order.”

True to form, King’s picks feature some of cinema’s most iconic directors, including William Friedkin, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Billy Wilder, and Steven Spielberg (twice), with appearances from legendary actors like Humphrey Bogart, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert De Niro.

The list is heavily weighted toward 1970s classics, reflecting the era when King was coming of age.

1. Sorcerer (1977)

Stephen King has highlighted Sorcerer as one of his all-time favorite films, despite its rocky history. Directed by William Friedkin and released in 1977, the movie was a critical and commercial failure at the time, largely overshadowed by the release of Star Wars.

The film follows four men tasked with transporting unstable nitroglycerin through dangerous terrain, and it was praised decades later for its suspenseful storytelling and intense production.

King’s admiration reflects the film’s growing reputation as an underrated masterpiece, with Friedkin himself considering it one of his most personal and challenging works. Its electronic score by Tangerine Dream and a recent digital restoration have further cemented Sorcerer’s place in film history, making it a standout in King’s cinematic favorites.

2. The Godfather Part II (1974)

Stephen King includes The Godfather Part II among his all-time favorite films, highlighting his appreciation for classic storytelling and cinematic mastery. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the 1974 film continues the Corleone family saga, showing both Michael Corleone’s rise as the new Don and Vito Corleone’s journey from Sicily to New York.

The movie earned widespread acclaim, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Coppola, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro. It is praised as one of the greatest films ever made and a rare sequel that rivals its predecessor.

King’s inclusion of this epic crime drama reflects his admiration for complex characters, intricate plots, and films that leave a lasting cultural impact.

3. The Getaway (1972)

Additionally, King’s list features 1972’s The Getaway, starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. The film follows a couple who plan a bank heist and must escape to Mexico while being pursued by both police and criminals.

Despite initial negative reviews, the movie became a box-office hit, earning over $36 million and becoming one of the most successful films in McQueen’s and Peckinpah’s careers.

4. Groundhog Day (1993)

Directed by Harold Ramis and starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, the film follows a cynical weatherman who becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over. Initially, Murray and Ramis clashed over the film’s tone, balancing comedy with deeper philosophical themes, but the result was a box-office hit, earning over $105 million. Critics praised its mix of humor, sentiment, and thought-provoking ideas.

Over time, the film has become a cultural touchstone, influencing time-loop stories, entering the English lexicon, and being preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry.

5. Casablanca (1942)

Stephen King counts Casablanca (1942) among his favorite films, reflecting his admiration for classic storytelling and timeless cinema. Directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the romantic drama follows an American expatriate torn between love and duty during World War II.

Though initially expected to be just another studio film, Casablanca exceeded expectations, winning three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Over time, it has become iconic for its characters, memorable lines, and theme song, and is regularly listed among the greatest films in history.

6. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, and Tim Holt, the film follows two struggling Americans who join an experienced prospector in search of gold in the mountains of Mexico.

Filmed largely on location in Mexico, it was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay for Huston and Best Supporting Actor for Walter Huston. The film also earned the BAFTA for Best Film and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama, solidifying its status as a classic.

7. Double Indemnity (1944)

Stephen King counts Double Indemnity (1944) among his favorite films, highlighting his appreciation for suspenseful, dark storytelling.

Directed by Billy Wilder and co-written with Raymond Chandler, the film follows an insurance salesman who conspires with a woman to murder her husband for a life insurance payout, drawing the attention of a suspicious claims manager. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Double Indemnity is widely regarded as a classic and a defining example of film noir, influencing countless thrillers and crime dramas that followed.

8. Jaws (1975)

The film follows police chief Martin Brody, a marine biologist, and a shark hunter as they track a man-eating great white shark terrorizing a New England beach town. Shot mostly on location at Martha’s Vineyard, the production faced challenges with mechanical sharks, leading Spielberg to suggest the shark’s presence rather than show it directly, paired with John Williams’ iconic suspenseful score.

Jaws became the first modern summer blockbuster, breaking box-office records, influencing Hollywood’s business model.

9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

One more Spielberg film, it follows Roy Neary, a blue-collar worker, and Jillian Guiler, a mother whose child is abducted, as they experience encounters with UFOs and extraterrestrial beings. The movie was a long-time passion project for Spielberg and involved contributions from several writers.

Known for its groundbreaking visual effects by Douglas Trumbull and alien designs by Carlo Rambaldi, the film was a critical and commercial success, earning over $300 million worldwide and multiple award nominations.

10. Mean Streets (1973)

Last but not least, is Mean Streets, a crime drama starring Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro, focusing on troubled young men in New York’s Little Italy. The film tackles themes Scorsese would revisit throughout his career, including the Mafia, Italian-American identity, and Catholic guilt. Released by Warner Bros., it received strong critical acclaim and helped establish Scorsese as a major figure in the New Hollywood era. De Niro won multiple awards for his supporting role.

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