Stephen King Reveals the Film He Thinks Is a Moron Movie

Stephen King is undeniably one of the most successful authors in history, but his massive influence has often pulled him toward Hollywood to write screenplays. While his name is attached to several adaptations, many of these scripts are considered relatively forgettable by his own standards.

These projects include his work on Creepshow, Sleepwalkers, and his own version of The Shining, which he created to address his well-documented dislike of Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation.

There is one specific project, however, that the author would likely prefer to keep buried in the past. His 1986 film Maximum Overdrive remains a complete disaster in the eyes of both critics and the author himself.

This production stands as the only movie he has ever written and directed, telling the strange story of various machines coming to life to hunt down humans. The film featured a notable cast that included Emilio Estevez, Christopher Murney, and Yeardley Smith, all working from a script based on the author’s short story, Trucks.

Despite the star power involved, the final result was so poor that it earned a nomination for Worst Director at the Golden Raspberry Awards. Looking back at his time behind the camera, the author has been remarkably honest about why the project failed.

In the book Hollywood’s Stephen King, he admitted that his personal struggles during that time severely impacted the production. “The problem with that film is that I was coked out of my mind all through its production,” he revealed.

“I really didn’t know what I was doing [as the director of the film]. I learned a lot from the experience, however, and I would like to try directing again some time.” He offered further criticism during an interview with the Gainesville Sun, describing the film as a mindless experience for audiences.

“The company wanted to release the film in March… I said that was wrong,” he explained. “This is a moron movie, like Splash!. You check your brains at the box office, and you come out 96 minutes later and pick them up again. People say, ‘How’d you like the movie?’ and you can’t say much.”

Since the release of that film, the author has never taken on a directing credit again, despite his claims in the eighties that he would be open to trying it once more. This long absence from the director’s chair speaks volumes about his ultimate feelings regarding his experience with the movie.

He has since focused entirely on writing novels, allowing other filmmakers to handle the stress of bringing his terrifying visions to the big screen. In recent years, the author has stayed busy with a constant stream of new book releases.

Several film and television adaptations of his older works are currently in development, including a new series based on his epic Dark Tower series, which is currently filming in New Zealand. This new adaptation is expected to star younger actors in lead roles, aiming for a more faithful representation of the source material.

While the author continues to release bestsellers, he remains a vocal presence on social media, frequently engaging with fans about film, politics, and the current state of horror literature.

His legacy as a master of suspense remains stronger than ever, proving that he is best served when he leaves the directing to others and focuses on the power of the written word.

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