There’s something about a favorite author or figure sharing their simple lists of favorite things. On a random Monday in September, legendary scribe Stephen King decided to hop on his keyboard and grace fans with his list of personal favorite movies. And yes, King, truly, we’ll take these crumbs.
In a post on X, the author provided insight into the kind of films he enjoys. Fans will no doubt find gems in the genre-spanning set of curated works, which include Hollywood classics, noir standards, comedies, and early blockbusters. He excludes adaptations of his own work, though he does name some favorites as a result of that.
The post reads:
My 10 favorite movies (excluding MISERY, SHAWSHANK, GREEN MILE, STAND BY ME). In no particular order:
SORCERER
GODFATHER 2
THE GETAWAY
GROUNDHOG DAY
CASABLANCA
TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE
JAWS
MEAN STREETS
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE 3rd KIND
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
It’s really film curriculum to study in order to get insight on what makes a popcorn flick for King. Two Roy Scheider performances stand out: the heart of darkness explored in William Friedkin’s bleak Sorcerer and, of course, Spielberg’s shark-induced mass hysteria he fights in Jaws. And it’s awesome to see the other Steven in this list multiple times, as the cinematic contemporary to King’s own genre-spanning works inspires the inclusion of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Makes us wonder if King’s books might feature in Spielberg’s favorite written works at all. And it’s worth noting how great it is to see that the horror maestro’s sense of humor skewers in the vein of Groundhog Day, which in its own way is a nightmare scenario to live in.