Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Misery

Play trailer Poster for Misery R 1990 1h 47m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 78 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Misery

Misery

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sep 23
Mr. Riner builds the claustrophobic tension -- and dark humor -- to wonderful heights. Go to Full Review
Joe Clay The Times (UK) 07/26/2022
The genius of Bates’s performance is the delicate balance that can tip without warning from sweetly cheerful to psychotic rage. Go to Full Review
Derek Malcolm Guardian 05/09/2017
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. Go to Full Review
Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Dec 1
5/5
Rob Reiner masterfully adapts one of Stephen King's best works in 'Misery', aided by a superb (and Oscar-winning) performance from Kathy Bates. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast Dec 1
4/5
Easily one of the best King adaptations, in no small part because of the two committed lead performances. Go to Full Review
Julianne Bell The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 10/22/2024
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. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Alli S @AlliBumaya 1d Expertly performed, Misery works because it hits the gas, let's go of the wheel, and sees what happens. See more Roy J Nov 29 Misery is such an interesting movie. I was totally hooked first time watching it, even though it was released in the 90's. Kathy Bates and James Caan did an amazing job potraying their characters. A must watch. See more ill 3 Nov 27 I don't think I have ever been that anxious watching a film. The films totally works in his psychological horror aspect. The film is also simple but well written, I didn't read the book but I believe they captured enough details and nuances to keep you thrilled all along See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 19 This is one of my favorite horror movies. I simply must see it again. The tension you feel is so real when you watch it. See more Josh C. @Jcomp18 Nov 19 This movie was great and the actor who played Annie did a wonderful job the only reason I have it four stars is because it is a little slow at times the ending was awesome and honestly a chefs kiss See more Luis Ivan M Nov 10 An effective psychological thriller. The film excels across the board, with every element working together to convey the unnerving emotions our protagonist experiences. The writing is strong, though some of its structural precision likely stems from its source material, Stephen King’s novel of the same name. If there’s a flaw, it comes early in the first act, where one scene relies too heavily on exposition to explain key details. It’s a minor nitpick that quickly fades once the inciting incident hits and the story gains momentum. From there, the direction and performances deliver in full, particularly from the two leads, whose dynamic anchors the tension throughout. Cinematography is beautiful and effective, even if not particularly striking, while the editing stands out as a masterclass in maintaining suspense and pacing. A few supporting characters play gratifying roles in the narrative, though a sudden time jump near the end leaves one of their storylines without full closure; again, a small but noticeable issue. Overall, it’s a very well-executed film that grips from start to finish. Thoughtful, tense, and emotionally grounded, I definitely recommend it. See more Read all reviews
Misery

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Psycho IV: The Beginning 29% 33% Psycho IV: The Beginning Watchlist Raising Cain 64% 41% Raising Cain Watchlist Candyman 79% 64% Candyman Watchlist TRAILER for Candyman Dead of Winter 77% 48% Dead of Winter Watchlist Psycho III 60% 34% Psycho III Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Most Popular at Home Now