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Misery

R Released Nov 30, 1990 1h 47m Horror Mystery & Thriller List
91% Tomatometer 75 Reviews 90% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less
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Misery

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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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Critics Reviews

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Joe Clay 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 Full Review 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 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 Full Review Robin Holabird Robin Holabird Nerve wracking and intense, Misery loves the company it keeps, from Reiner to Bates to Nevada. Oct 31, 2022 Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street The director of this film is Mr. Reiner, who was once Archie Bunker’s son-in-law, but whom we must now take seriously. In this picture, he manages to juggle the elements of surprise and suspense with remarkable dexterity. Apr 6, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Emily B Misery is surprisingly very good. There is a shocking twist in it, but I will not spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but I will tell you it shocked me very good. Also the pig scene is hilarious. 🤣😭 I would definitely recommend it. Overall 9/10. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/09/24 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. The acting overall is excellent. Caan gives a great understated performance with first rate physical acting, and Farsworth is amazing, but Kathy Bates sends this over the top and dominates the picture in one of the greatest female performances I've ever seen. When she snaps out of nowhere, it is truly terrifying. Despite cutting between Farnsworth and Caan quite often it never feels out of place and gives us a repreive from the insanity in the household. It makes for a perfect pacing and editing overall. The setting is beautiful and so memorable as well as extremely disturbing. The music is really good mainly because it's so well used but I do wish it was a bit more catchy on it's own. Despite that, everything else is just masterful here. Rob Reiner's ability during this period to weave effortlessly between genres is on par with the likes of Robert Wise. It's a truly unique kind of horror/thriller film that draws heavy inspiration from the likes of The Collector and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane with it's own clever twist on the held captive plot line. Everyone should give this a try once. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/24 Full Review Justice F Nearly perfect film. Masterfully crafted by everyone involved. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/24 Full Review Anjum K It ended without much surprise and the in betweens felt like made up stuff to kill the run time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Jules N Les plans en contre plongée rendent Kathy Bates encore plus effrayante qu'elle ne l'est déjà dans ce rôle. La relation entre Paul et Annie est tellement bien exploité. Tout est fait pour avoir cette impression de danger constant. Tout simplement génial. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Cole N Kathy Bates's chilling character slowly reveals her obsessive and unsteady personality whose behavior becomes masterfully understood by Caan's character. Watching Caan eventually succeed in heroically manipulating her to save his own life is immensly satisfying. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Misery

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Cast & Crew

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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
Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson 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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