Stephen King has spent decades terrifying readers with his novels, whether that’s with The Shining’s psychological dread, the supernatural horror of It, or the unpredictable villain in Misery. It’s clear the legendary author is a passionate fan of the horror genre, and King has often shared his recommendations for the best unsettling viewing experiences. Some of his favorite horror movies rely on shocking imagery, while others prove that a creeping sense of dread can be just as effective as a monster jumping out of the darkness.
Plenty of great horror movies have earned Stephen King’s attention, and any endorsement from the author can be taken as a rock-solid recommendation. From found footage nightmares to subtle paranormal activity, these are six of the best horror movies that Stephen King has recommended.
6
The Exorcist
When The Exorcist was released in 1973, audience members suffered severe reactions to the on-screen horror, and it has been terrifying viewers ever since. William Friedkin’s movie follows Chris MacNeil, who is desperate for help when her young daughter Regan begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. Chris and two priests are then brought into a terrifying confrontation with a seemingly supernatural force, while The Exorcist builds horror through the contrast of an ordinary family and an extraordinary crisis.
The Exorcist is scary from the start, when — in the prologue — the clock suddenly stops. It’s very claustrophobic for a studio movie, and every time we go back to that bedroom with Regan, we dread even more what we’re going to see. But for me it’s the grisly grace notes that make the film. Who can forget, “Couldja help an old altar boy, fadder?”
The Exorcist is one of the most influential horror movies ever made, having been the first in the genre to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and becoming a huge point of discussion in pop culture discourse. In a feature for the Academy’s A.frame, King described The Exorcist as “scary from the start,” pointing to the film’s claustrophobia, the stopped clock in the prologue, and the building dread that comes whenever the story returns to Regan’s bedroom. Between King’s recommendation and The Exorcist’s enduring legacy, it’s an absolute must-watch for horror fans.
5
The Blair Witch Project
Like many, Stephen King was particularly affected by The Blair Witch Project’s realism. The found-footage horror movie follows three student filmmakers who travel into the Appalachian Mountains in Burkittsville, Maryland, to investigate the titular local legend. When they get lost, they witness strange occurrences and hear terrifying noises that convince them something is following them. Between Blair Witch’s handheld footage, improvised performances, and unseen threat, it’s far too easy for viewers to get the disturbing feeling they’re watching something that was never meant to be found.
Blair Witch scared the living daylights out of me, I think, because it was so unpolished. And nothing tops the final shot.
King has praised The Blair Witch Project several times over the years. In the Dense Macabre foreword, King described it as “genius” and wrote, “One thing about Blair Witch: the damn thing looks real. Another thing about Blair Witch: the damn thing feels real.” He also expressed how much the movie’s unpolished look scared him in his feature for the Academy’s A.frame. Most interestingly, though, when he was recovering in the hospital after a car accident in 1999, King had to stop the movie because he was so scared, marking the only time he ever had to quit watching a horror out of sheer terror. It’s a testament to The Blair Witch Project, which is a groundbreaking classic.
4
The Witch
Robert Eggers’ The Witch centers on a Puritan family who live on the edge of a remote forest in 17th-century New England. After their infant son disappears, suspicion and fear begin to fracture the family, with eldest daughter Thomasin seemingly always caught in the middle of their anxieties. The Witch builds a ton of fear through isolation and religious dread that’ll no doubt get under any horror fan’s skin, with meticulous attention to detail, an oppressive atmosphere, and striking visuals.
Praising The Witch’s ability to frighten and actually disturb, King’s reaction to the film was direct and memorable, perfectly summing up the movie’s appeal. The Rising, Ghoul, and Dark Hollow author Brian Keene also gave it praise, stating, “The Witch is a gorgeous, thoughtful, scary horror movie that 90% of the people in the theater with you will be too stupid to understand.”The Witch is so deeply unsettling that viewers are left with questions about belief, fear, and the family’s collapse, while being equally impressed that the 2015 movie came during Eggers’ directorial debut.
3
The Changeling
Peter Medak’s The Changeling is one of the most influential Canadian films of all time and widely regarded as a masterclass in atmospheric ghost stories. The 1980 horror follows George C. Scott’s John Russell, a composer who moves into a large Seattle mansion after the deaths of his wife and daughter. He soon experiences unexplainable disturbances in the house, leading him to investigate its history and uncover a disturbing secret connected to a child who once lived there. Rather than relying on constant shocks, The Changeling allows the house itself to become a source of mounting unease.
For supernatural horror, I like Peter Medak’s film The Changeling, starring George C. Scott in perhaps his last great screen role. There are no monsters bursting from chests; just a child’s ball bouncing down a flight of stairs was enough to scare the daylights out of me.
In a list of his favorite films, Stephen King praised The Changeling, claiming it “[scared] the daylights out of [him].” The Changeling also famously earned a place on Martin Scorsese’s personal list of the scariest horror movies of all time, likely thanks to its aggressive sound design, terrifyingly simple imagery, and wide-angle lenses that make the house feel alive. It’s rightfully discussed among the best haunted house films ever made, and for good reason.
2
Obsession
2026’s breakout hit Obsession earned praise far and wide, ultimately setting multiple box office records as the fifth highest-grossing horror film of all time (not adjusted for inflation). Curry Barker’s movie follows Bear, a young man who is secretly in love with his friend and co-worker Nikki. When Bear gets his hands on a wish-granting object, he wishes that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world; his wish does come true, but the consequences are far more disturbing than anyone could have imagined. Turning the “nice guy” trope on its head, most of Obsession’s terror comes from Nikki’s diminished free will as a warped, obsessive consciousness takes over her body.
I gave OBSESSION a B+ in my movie book, but I keep thinking about it. That weird mixture of humor and horror.
King may have only given Obsession a B+ rating, but it’s clear the movie stayed with him long after the credits rolled. The combination of humor and horror is central to Obsession’s appeal; its unsettling premise is punctuated by darkly comedic moments, making the horror feel unpredictable and uncomfortable. It also sparked massive online discourse with its themes of male entitlement, consent, and the loss of autonomy. In a year of word-of-mouth hits, like Backrooms, Obsession cemented itself as a must-watch.
1
The Descent
The Descent follows a group of women who head into a cave system for an adventure, only to become trapped underground, and that already-dangerous situation turns into a frantic fight for survival when they discover they’re not alone in the darkness. The movie makes terrifying use of its claustrophobic cave setting, with narrow passages, pitch-black tunnels, and hidden threats creating a constant sense of danger. But it’s not just the monsters that make The Descent so effective: the characters’ complicated relationships and budding tensions add another layer of horror to their struggle.
The best horror movie of the year, beyond doubt. Possibly because the main characters are all adults, for a change? The sense of doom-laden claustrophobia this movie generates is intense and remarkable.
Stephen King praised The Descent as the best horror movie of 2005, highlighting the well-fleshed-out characters and intense claustrophobia. Describing the “remarkable” story, King said, “If we invest in the people, we invest in the movie… and in our own essential decency.” And that’s exactly The Descent’s greatest strength – it combines creature-feature terror with profound psychological drama to make one cohesive nightmare.
- Birthdate
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September 21, 1947
- Birthplace
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Portland, Maine
- Notable Projects
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The Shining, Cujo, The Shawshank Redemption, It, Carrie
Stephen King is one of the most prolific living authors. A master of horror, King’s classic works include The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, It, and the Dark Tower series. Many of his books and short stories have been adapted to film and television, including The Shawshank Redemption, Lisey’s Story, 1408, Secret Window, and The Stand.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
