Misery

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Misery

R

1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

90%

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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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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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Joe Kane

New York Daily News

Jan 22, 2026

Rob Reiner's clever but unobtrusive direction keeps the story in tight focus.

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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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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 6, 2026

Definitely Recommend It

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Norman B.

@KunNeki Aug 21, 2026

You don't see too many good adaptations now a days but this one is a classic

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Juris O

@Juris100 Aug 12, 2026

A good adaptation, but a lot different from the famous novel.

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Blackheart 1

@Blackheart9699 Aug 11, 2026

Great movie and acting. If you like the movie, read the book. If you thought Annie was brutal in the movie, she’s more brutal in the book.

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Don V

@bondo150 Aug 4, 2026

Every moment tightens the pressure until even silence feels dangerous. The walls are not just walls, they are boundaries, traps, and reminders that control can belong to whoever is willing to take it. The writing is exceptional. The screenplay understands that true suspense comes from character, not just circumstances. Every conversation carries weight. Every exchange becomes a negotiation filled with hidden threats and shifting power. The dialogue is sharp because it reveals exactly how people justify obsession, cruelty, and the desperate need to be understood. James Caan brings a quiet strength and vulnerability, portraying a man forced to survive through patience, intelligence, and sheer determination. Kathy Bates delivers a legendary performance, creating a character who can appear charming one moment and terrifying the next. Her unpredictability becomes the film’s greatest source of tension.

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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: Image Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Columbia Pictures
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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