Misery

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Misery

R

Released Nov 30, 1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

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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Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

The genius of Bates’s performance is the delicate balance that can tip without warning from sweetly cheerful to psychotic rage.

Jul 26, 2022

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

The film hasn't any depth to speak of, but is consistently shrewd enough not to go totally obvious ways. And the audacity in casting Kathy Bates as the dotty fan pays considerable dividends.

May 9, 2017

Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Bates turns Wilkes into the nastiest nurse to reach the screen since Louise Fletcher tormented Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 12, 2013

Full Review

Julianne Bell

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

A pet pig, a cameo by Lauren Bacall as Paul's agent, a sickening ankle crunch, and one of the most harrowing manuscript-burning scenes this side of Little Women. But the unmistakable standout is Kathy Bates' breakthrough Oscar-winning performance.

Oct 22, 2024

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Zofia Wijaszka

Nerdspin

Misery is an excellent adaption of the similarly exceptional novel. Bates’ role cannot possibly be forgotten, so cannot be Caan’s. The film remains a classic must-watch and is an especially great position for a cold, long, winter evening.

Rated: A

Dec 27, 2023

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Robin Holabird

Robin Holabird

Nerve wracking and intense, Misery loves the company it keeps, from Reiner to Bates to Nevada.

Oct 31, 2022

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Michael H

Misery is an excellent adaption of the similarly exceptional novel. Bates’ role cannot possibly be forgotten, so cannot be Caan’s. The film remains a classic must-watch and is an especially great position for a cold, long, winter evening.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

Darsou C

One of those rare films capable of spending the entire running time focusing on the cat-and-mouse suspense between a superbly cinematic duo, without ever slowing down.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Ethan O.

Pop culture wouldn’t be the same without this movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Sabra P

Reiner's ambitions to make a Hitchcockian thriller prevail and, on those terms, the film performs splendidly, ratcheting the suspense in scene after scene.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Cecilia S

The genius of Bates’s performance is the delicate balance that can tip without warning from sweetly cheerful to psychotic rage.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

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Alana M

One of the most fabulous psychological thrillers of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

Full Review

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