Misery

Play trailer

Misery

R

Released Nov 30, 1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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

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

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

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

Read all reviews

Alex r

This movie proves you can make a movie with just two characters alone. This is an excellent movie to watch if your an actor and want to see a well seasoned duo can do with just acting off of each other. This movie has more than 2 characters but you only needed two actors to show you how to tell a good story. A story you will remember not just for the moment we all are thinking about but for the build up. The atmosphere that makes you feel that he is trapped like a mouse and the person who is holding him captive is off their rocker. There is an edge to the villian that makes you accept early on you don't want to mess with this being. That is something that a lot of scary looking monsters can't replicate because they think visual alone is enough to intimidate but demeanor, actions, energy, and aura are powerful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Michael W

This horror classic was great. James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. The plot of the movie was intense and insane. It's about a psychotic woman making her favorite writer to make a story of her liking and will do anything to get it. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Larry K

Kathy Bates was really scary in this, great movie!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

Anibal M

First of all Should change d title from Horror To Thriller

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/22/24

Full Review

Jay H

This movie took a very effective novel and drastically watered it down. This might have worked as an independent movie directed by a horror film maker. Instead, we got Hollywood rubbish that was financed by Castle Rock, and directed by Rob Reiner. It's very weak

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

Full Review

Dean

This movie is 35 years old, and it has aged like fine wine. I think mainly because it doesn't have zombies or ghosts. Annie Wilkes is a realistic psycho villain, which makes the atmosphere even more sinister.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Rob Reiner

Director

James Caan

Paul Sheldon

Kathy Bates

Annie Wilkes

Frances Sternhagen

Virginia McCain

Richard Farnsworth

J.T. McCain

Lauren Bacall

Marcia Sindell

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Psycho IV: The Beginning

20%

33%

Psycho IV: The Beginning

Watchlist

Raising Cain

63%

40%

Raising Cain

Watchlist

Candyman

79%

63%

Candyman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Candyman

Dead of Winter

77%

47%

Dead of Winter

Watchlist

Psycho III

59%

34%

Psycho III

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Hear Us Out: 30 Years Later, Misery Is Still the Most Terrifying Treatise on Toxic Fandom

The 25 Scariest Movie Scenes of All Time

Rank the 10 Best Stephen King Movie Adaptations

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now