Misery

Play trailer

Misery

R

Released Nov 30, 1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Elevated by standout performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates, this taut and frightening film is one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date.

Read Critics Reviews

Joe Clay

Times (UK)

The genius of Bates’s performance is the delicate balance that can tip without warning from sweetly cheerful to psychotic rage.

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

Guardian

The film hasn't any depth to speak of, but is consistently shrewd enough not to go totally obvious ways. And the audacity in casting Kathy Bates as the dotty fan pays considerable dividends.

May 9, 2017

Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Bates turns Wilkes into the nastiest nurse to reach the screen since Louise Fletcher tormented Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 12, 2013

Full Review

Julianne Bell

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

A pet pig, a cameo by Lauren Bacall as Paul's agent, a sickening ankle crunch, and one of the most harrowing manuscript-burning scenes this side of Little Women. But the unmistakable standout is Kathy Bates' breakthrough Oscar-winning performance.

Oct 22, 2024

Full Review

Zofia Wijaszka

Nerdspin

Misery is an excellent adaption of the similarly exceptional novel. Bates’ role cannot possibly be forgotten, so cannot be Caan’s. The film remains a classic must-watch and is an especially great position for a cold, long, winter evening.

Rated: A

Dec 27, 2023

Full Review

Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

Nerve wracking and intense, Misery loves the company it keeps, from Reiner to Bates to Nevada.

Oct 31, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Filmgal G

Misery, in my opinion, is the greatest film adaptation to come out of Stephen King's horror oeuvre. It may not be as indelible as Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, but it is more loyal to the source material/author's vision, and that, for me, affords it an extra bit of prestige. As for the film itself? It's exceptional from every angle -- the acting, writing, cinematography, settings, set dressing, tone, soundtrack. Rob Reiner and his cast and crew outdid themselves. Kathy Bates is remarkable -- both scary and somewhat sympathetic as the unhinged Annie; James Caan rises to the challenge of playing a physically and emotionally vulnerable everyman; and Richard Farnsworth and Frances Sternhagen make for the oldest, cutest, astutest police couple in film history. The suspense is palpable, the humor nice and grim. Every shot is important -- every scene, damn near every line -- and it's a harrowing viewing experience every single time. I can only think of two minor criticisms, which have to do with Buster's lack of backup and the slightly rushed ending, but that's about it. Like the book on which it's based, Misery is masterful, and I recommend it to all mature audiences, particularly thriller and psychological horror fans and writers who enjoy movies about writers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

Full Review

Jason B

Maybe the greatest adaptation of a Stephen King story. Excellent acting, tense psychological thrills, and a tight script.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

Full Review

Hollis Q

It doesn’t get better than this. Wonderfully shot and expertly acted

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

Full Review

Yossam I

THE best psychological thriller out there IMO

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

Full Review

Grady M

I can rewatch this a million times and still get terrified

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

Full Review

James O

They don't make them like this anymore

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Rob Reiner

Director

James Caan

Paul Sheldon

Kathy Bates

Annie Wilkes

Frances Sternhagen

Virginia McCain

Richard Farnsworth

J.T. McCain

Lauren Bacall

Marcia Sindell

Psycho IV: The Beginning

20%

33%

Psycho IV: The Beginning

Watchlist

Raising Cain

63%

41%

Raising Cain

Watchlist

Candyman

79%

63%

Candyman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Candyman

Dead of Winter

77%

48%

Dead of Winter

Watchlist

Psycho III

59%

34%

Psycho III

Watchlist

Discover more movies and 온라인카지노추천 shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Image Entertainment Inc., Columbia Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 30, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.7M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

Most Popular at Home Now