Stephen King’s Misery Is Now Streaming For Free On Tubi

Stephen King is the mastermind behind some of horror’s best contemporary stories. He follows a long lineage of authors who’ve changed the genre forever, from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to H.P. Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson. King’s works have been adapted countless times over five decades, including with Mike Flanagan’s blockbuster Carrie TV show for Prime. Misery, based on his 1987 book of the same name, remains his most nail-biting and tense tale about fan obsession and now finds its way onto streaming for free.

Alongside several other heart-pounding ’90s classics like The Sixth Sense and The Silence of the Lambs, Misery remains a cut above the rest. The film also examines celebrity culture when paparazzi contributed to the voyeuristic nature of living in the public eye. The story follows an acclaimed author who finds himself the prisoner of an overly protective fan. Misery doesn’t just explore the dynamic between artist and consumer, but the novel and film slither under the skin with its conversation about impulsive humanity.

Stephen King’s Misery Is Now Available To Stream For Free On Tubi

Prolific director Rob Reiner directs the film version of Misery, now streaming for free on Tubi. Known for countless other career-defining films, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, and another King story, Stand by Me, Reiner crafts a compelling and unnerving adaptation that brings the viewer directly into the action. With a script penned by William Goldman (The Stepford Wives, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), the film adheres fairly closely to the source material.

Misery comes at the height of the Stephen King film adaptation craze. The very first, Carrie, based on his 1976 novel, ignited Hollywood’s obsession with his works. A tidal wave of reworkings followed throughout the 1980s and ’90s. The decade between these films featured such classics as The Shining, Christine, Children of the Corn, and The Running Man. There never seemed to be a King story that couldn’t be made for the silver screen. The ’90s also brought The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.

Kathy Bates’ Oscar-Winning Performance Makes Misery A King Classic

Nearly 40 years later, why Rob Reiner’s Misery works as well as it does lies solely with Academy Award winner Kathy Bates. She dissects both the delusion and humanity of its central villain, Annie Wilkes, Paul Sheldon’s (James Caan) number one fan. After Annie rescues Paul when his car crashes during a snowstorm, she nurses his injuries, but her obsession grows from loving his acclaimed Misery book series to loving every part of him. Bates discovers a way to pick the character apart into discrete pieces before putting them back together again, resulting in a vibrant, mind-blowing performance.

Some of her best scenes include the infamous sledgehammer scene, Annie expressing her undying adoration, the “cock-a-doodie” car moment, and the final confrontation. Her performance, wrought with painstaking care and emotional nuance, remains the perfect showcase for an empathetic villain. The fear and pain twist Paul’s face into knots, naturally owing to Caan’s commitment and presence at the given moment. You want a villain? Kathy Bates will give you a villain.

It’s no surprise that Bates took home Best Actress at the 63rd Academy Awards. That year, she faced off against four incredible powerhouse performers: Anjelica Houston (The Grifters), Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman), Meryl Streep (Postcards from the Edge) and Joann Woodward (Mr. & Mrs. Bridge).

During her acceptance speech, Bates admitted she had “waited a long time to say that,” referencing thanking the Academy voters. In 1991, she’d already been working for two decades in TV and film. Her dedication to the craft led to the biggest moment of her career. “I would like to thank Jimmy Caan and apologize for the ankles,” she later quipped. “And I would like to say that I really am your #1 fan, Jimmy.

Release Date

November 30, 1990

Runtime

107 minutes

Director

Rob Reiner