Misery

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Misery

R

1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

157 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.

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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.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Oct 9, 2026

5/5

Annie’s Sunday school primness and her quaint phraseology were creepy cover for the kind of terrifying and deeply self-righteous rag required to drive the demented mind of a murderer.

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Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

Jun 9, 2026

Reiner supplies enough comic relief to keep it from being unbearable.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Feb 5, 2026

The director, Rob Reiner, keeps the story as funny as possible, but after a while the conventional side of the horror plot takes over.

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Christopher Johnston

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Jun 9, 2026

Everything about this movie is right.

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

May 19, 2026

10/10

Misery is a horror movie that proves you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the genre to be truly terrifying. Sometimes all you need is one truly unhinged person and no escape.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Mar 7, 2026

And though it’s odd to say about such a sinister thriller, Misery is Reiner at his most effortless.

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Damion

Jan 21, 2026

Another one of Stephen Kings novels adapted flawlessly!

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Maya J

@RT80081720 5 days ago

This movie remains excellent!

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James E

@JamesE167 Oct 22, 2026

This is a terrifying classic and both Cathy Bates and James Caan deserve all the praise they’ve been getting for years.

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Ryan T

@RT91888008 Oct 7, 2026

What a great spooky stalker tale!

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Oct 5, 2026

'Baby! Now that I've found you I won't let you go. I build my world around you, I need you so. Baby even though, you don't need me, you don't need mwaaah!' [ screaming ] 'Oh pipe down! It's for your own good. Now where was I? But now you tell me that you want to leave me, but honey I just can't let yooooouuu!' [ screaming ]

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Julian C

@juliancooper_12 Oct 3, 2026

A flawless performance from Kathy Bates makes this one of the best Stephen King adaptations

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Rob Reiner

Director

James Caan

Paul Sheldon

Kathy Bates

Annie Wilkes

Frances Sternhagen

Virginia McCain

Richard Farnsworth

J.T. McCain

Lauren Bacall

Marcia Sindell

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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: Nelson Entertainment, Castle Rock 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

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