Stephen King Renewed Criticism of The Shining Film

The iconic author recently reignited his long-standing disapproval of the 1980 movie adaptation on social media.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Science Fiction

Stephen King Renewed Criticism of The Shining Film

Live Poll

Do you prefer film adaptations to remain strictly faithful to their source novels?

Stephen King has reignited his decades-long critique of the 1980 film adaptation of The Shining in a post on X. The author expressed his belief that the film failed to accurately capture the personal themes and character arcs defined in his 1977 novel.

Why it matters

King maintains that the cinematic version of his work overlooked the profound emotional development of its characters. This ongoing creative disagreement underscores the friction that can occur when source material is reinterpreted for the screen.

The 1980 film adaptation of The Shining grossed $57 million against a production budget of $19 million. The movie features a total runtime of 144 minutes.

The players

Stephen King

He is an American author known for his prolific work in horror, supernatural fiction, and suspense.

Stanley Kubrick

He was an influential American film director recognized for his meticulous approach to filmmaking.

Shelley Duvall

She was an American actress who starred in the 1980 film adaptation of The Shining.

The Flicktator

This is a social media account that prompts discussions regarding film adaptations.

The details

King shared his critical perspective on X while promoting a different series. His comments have gained traction online, drawing over 2 million views and 2.9k likes as of mid-October 2026.

Stephen King published the novel The Shining in 1977.
Stanley Kubrick released The Shining film adaptation in 1980.
Stephen King published the novel Doctor Sleep in 2013.
The Golden Raspberry Awards rescinded Shelley Duvall's nomination in 2022.
Stephen King reignited his feud with the film in October 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This public critique marks a modern continuation of the 46-year history of the King-Kubrick creative feud. It highlights how authors often maintain distinct visions for their properties that persist long after a director's interpretation reaches the screen.

Viewers interested in the source material can compare the novel to the 1980 film, which remains widely available on various streaming platforms. Fans of King's work can also access other adaptations like the limited series of Carrie on Prime Video.

The takeaway

Creative disagreements over adaptations are common in Hollywood and often reflect differing priorities between authors and directors. Readers should prioritize consuming both the original text and the film version to form their own independent opinions on character representation.