Misery

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Misery

R

1990

1h 47m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

158 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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Tony Squires

Sydney Morning Herald

Nov 5, 2026

Lock-jawed tension maintained throughout.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Oct 9, 2026

5/5

Annie’s Sunday school primness and her quaint phraseology were creepy cover for the kind of terrifying and deeply self-righteous rag required to drive the demented mind of a murderer.

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Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

Jun 9, 2026

Reiner supplies enough comic relief to keep it from being unbearable.

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Christopher Johnston

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Jun 9, 2026

Everything about this movie is right.

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

May 19, 2026

10/10

Misery is a horror movie that proves you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the genre to be truly terrifying. Sometimes all you need is one truly unhinged person and no escape.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

Mar 7, 2026

And though it’s odd to say about such a sinister thriller, Misery is Reiner at his most effortless.

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Damion

Jan 21, 2026

Another one of Stephen Kings novels adapted flawlessly!

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Lisa F

@RT18866760 1 day ago

I have watched this movie at least 100 times LMAO (since the 90s) Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes is one of the best performances in a horror movie ever!!! Her and James Caan hold the movie together in a captivating manner. Kathy’s excellent execution of Annie as a complete psycho is one of the best acting in a horror movie ever!!! Imo…its hard to keep your eyes off her. I 💯 recommend this movie to EVERYONE!!! Rip James Caan and Rob Reiner. Two excellent contributors to the film industry. And of coarse Ms. Bates-(who is alive and well) a true artist of her craft! Glad she got the Oscar. Well deserved!!!

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Ren L

@Lizowskiontop 5 days ago

10/10 It’s been a while I’ve sat through a 1hr 48 mins movie *SPOILER ALERT* OMG a WOMAN SERIAL KILLER ?! Especially from the 90s ??? HECK YEAH. Oliver twists may I HAVE SOME MORE SIR. EVRYONE bodied their role. Omgosh rent wasn’t just due it was 6months BACKED and everything was riding on this movie taking off so they don’t get kicked out. The cosmetics were sublime especially considering the time this was created. (Back then they didn’t have this tech so this movie probably have been marinating I since the mid 80s) top 5 movie I’ve watched all year. Damn the performances, WHEW! That woman that played Annie Wilkes did her thing on that role, whew I truly felt the insanity through the screen and the actor who played Paul Shelton he did incredible too. He really had me out here rooting for him, ooohhh I hate him so good for that 😂. UPDATE: ITS KATHY BATES! She was Killer literally & figuratively. lol get it, cus she played a killer 😂. I’m a cornball, lol

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Robert P

@Superbad Nov 4, 2026

Misery is a 4.5 star Movie!

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John K

@iMustang Nov 1, 2026

Incredible acting

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Maya J

@RT80081720 Oct 26, 2026

This movie remains excellent!

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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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