Netflix is adding the best Stephen King adaptation, but it’s not a horror movie

It’s a fine time to be a horror fan, especially if you’re a Netflix subscriber – but the platform’s newest Stephen King adaptation is one of his least scary tales.

Stephen King‘s name has become synonymous with some of the best horror stories ever told. The Shining, Misery, and Carrie all hold a firm place in the hearts of many gorehounds and fright fanatics, and adaptations of The Monkey and The Long Walk are currently on the way.

Netflix is jumping on the King train in September, but if you’re waiting for one of his scarier stories to join the slate of new movies, you might just miss one of his best.

Stand By Me, released in 1986, is based on King’s novella The Body, which came out in 1982. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell, the coming-of-age film has since become regarded as one of the best ’80s movies ever made.

Its blend of childhood adventure and more mature themes has clearly influenced the subsequent movies of its kind, and similar ideas have even appeared in hit TV shows, like Stranger Things. (The story goes that during auditions for the Netflix show, actors were asked to read passages from the Stand By Me script.)

Stand By Me has since become such a staple of ’80s cinema, that major TV shows and movies have directly referenced the themes and scenes, including Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Rick and Morty.

The movie follows the memories of writer Gordon “Gordie” Lachance as he recalls one summer he spent with his best friends, in which they attempted to hunt down a dead body in the Oregon wilderness.

Stand By Me became beloved for its sense of nostalgia and resonance with almost everyone who watched it, and proved to be one of the best adaptations of King’s work.

While rather light fare compared to some of his darker tales of vampires, ghosts, and stalkers, it’s a quintessential watch for any King fan or otherwise.

Stand By Me will be available to stream on Netflix from September 1, 2024. Until then, check out our guides to the best action movies and best new movies of 2024 for more hits.