Stephen King‘s works have been turned into movies of various quality, but his collaborations with director Frank Darabont have produced some of the best results. The duo’s professional relationship has endured through the years, as it began when Darabont was 20, and has continued well into his 60s. Their relationship began in 1983 when Darabont wrote King a letter asking if he could adapt the author’s 1978 novel The Woman in the Room. Impressed by his gumption, King agreed, thus making the film one of the first Dollar Baby Productions — an initiative King started in the late ’70s to help fledgling filmmakers.
Stephen King and Frank Darabont have directly impacted each other’s global success, as most of their work together has resulted in the creation of some of the most critically acclaimed movies ever made. Whereas other Stephen King film adaptations fall flat due to their lack of creativity and ingenuity, Darabont’s are largely successful because of the director’s ability to include and exclude the right amount of material necessary to keep things feeling fresh. From the duo’s first collaboration to their most recent, the success of King and Darabont’s collaborations has been exceedingly influential, some of them better and more important than others.
4 The Woman In The Room (1984)
Adapted From Stephen King’s Short Story “The Woman In The Room” Published In Night Shift (1978)
Not as popular as Stephen King and Frank Darabont’s subsequent collaborations, the short film The Woman in the Room marked the debut of the latter’s directorial career as well as the first of four collaborations with the author. Based on the tale of the same name from King’s first short story collection, The Woman in the Room is about a troubled man who is forced to choose between allowing his bedridden terminally ill mother to continue suffering or euthanizing her with painkillers. While the film isn’t the most recognizable or acclaimed of their collaborations, it showed Darabont’s potential as a storyteller and King’s acceptance of sincere adaptations of his work.
3 The Mist (2007)
Based On Stephen King’s Novella The Mist (1980)
The Mist is based on King’s 1980 novella of the same name and stars Thomas Jane as the film’s protagonist. Made on a budget of roughly $18 million, it grossed nearly $60 million. The Mist‘s controversial ending along with the adaptation’s acting and pacing have all solidified it as one of the best sci-fi horror movies ever made. King and Darabont’s reunion for The Mist is unique in that it was their first collaboration in nearly a decade and a completely different genre than their previous projects together. The Mist perfectly exemplified just how sharp the duo’s artistic relationship is no matter how much time passes in between their collaborations.
Interestingly, The Mist was released shortly before AMC’s critically acclaimed The Walking Dead, a TV series for which Darabont served as the showrunner, and many themes and actors from this movie made their way into that show’s first two seasons. In addition to The Mist and The Walking Dead sharing cast members, other similarities between the two can be drawn, leading some fans to entertain the idea of King’s work being a part of the show’s mythos.
2 The Green Mile (1999)
Based On Stephen King’s Novel The Green Mile (1996)
Frank Darabont’s fantasy drama The Green Mile is among one of the most heartbreaking movies ever made. Even though Darabont’s film changes a few things from King’s The Green Mile novel, it still remains largely faithful to the source material, thus making it a success for readers and viewers alike. In addition to The Green Mile‘s gripping story, the movie’s cinematography absorbs the audience and makes for a truly unforgettable experience. Darabont’s careful handling of the material and heavy themes helped make for an outstanding film, and Michael Clarke Duncan’s powerful breakthrough performance helped solidify The Green Mile as one of the best adaptations of King’s work.
1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Based On Stephen King’s Novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (1982)
The Shawshank Redemption marked the second Stephen King adaptation directed by Frank Darabont, and it is far and away their best collaboration. The film’s storytelling and depictions of law and justice have also earned it a reputation as one of the best philosophical movies of all time. Everything in The Shawshank Redemption works incredibly well, but the performances by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are highlights. With many changes made that improve on King’s novella, Darabont struck the perfect balance between adhering to the source material and finding ways to tell the story in an innovative way, thus creating one of the most culturally recognizable works in cinema.
