Hear Stephen King Share His True Thoughts on ‘The Shining’ With David Letterman

Stephen King's Thoughts on 'The Shining'

Stephen King, possibly the most frequently-adapted author, has expressed dissatisfaction with some film adaptations of his works.

One notable example is Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining', a 1980 film based on King's 1977 novel of the same name.

In an interview with David Letterman in 1980, King shared his true thoughts on the film, which has left him unhappy for decades.

King explained to David Letterman why the film left him so cold.

King's works have been adapted over 100 times, but 'The Shining' remains a notable example of an adaptation that did not meet his expectations.

Author's summary: King unhappy with Kubrick's 'The Shining' adaptation.

Mental Floss — 2025-10-12