The only Stephen King Oscar-winning adaptation, the 1990 film Misery, will depart from HBO Max on February 1, leaving fans with just one day to stream the thriller. This acclaimed movie, starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, has been a staple of the streaming service but will soon no longer be available to subscribers.
Directed by the late Rob Reiner with a screenplay by William Goldman, Misery is based on King’s 1987 novel of the same name. The story follows Paul Sheldon, played by James Caan, a successful author famous for his Victorian romance novels featuring Misery Chastain. Despite his success, Sheldon plans to end the series, which leads to dangerous consequences.
After surviving a car accident caused by a blizzard, Sheldon is rescued by Annie Wilkes, portrayed by Kathy Bates, who is revealed to be an obsessive fan. When she learns of his plan to kill off her favorite character, Annie resorts to brutal violence to keep the series alive, trapping and torturing Sheldon in her remote home.
The cast also includes Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, Jerry Potter, Graham Jarvis, and Lauren Bacall. Notably, the film contains uncredited cameos from J. T. Walsh and Rob Reiner, who appear as a Colorado State Trooper and a helicopter pilot, respectively.
Misery was a critical and commercial success upon release, earning $61.3 million at the box office worldwide on an approximately $20 million budget. Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her chilling role as Annie Wilkes. The film garnered several other industry nominations and wins, highlighting its impact.
To this day, Misery maintains strong critical reputation, holding an 87% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 150 verified reviews. Audience reception remains high as well, with a 90% rating on Popcornmeter derived from over 100,000 user reviews.
Current State and Future of Stephen King Adaptations on HBO
While Misery is exiting HBO Max, the network recently introduced IT: Welcome to Derry, a prequel to the 2017 horror film It. Premiering in October 2025 on HBO, this series received generally favorable responses, securing an 81% Certified Fresh rating from critics and an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Casey Bloys, CEO and Content Chairman of HBO and HBO Max, addressed the show’s uncertain future on January 30, commenting on the status of a potential second season.
Andy and Barbara [Muschietti] are hard at work trying to come up with an idea for a story they’d want to tell for another season,
Bloys said.
He emphasized the creative challenges involved, noting,
I would happily do it. One of the challenges is, there’s not a book that you’re basing it on, so it’s invention,
and added,
They want to make sure that they have a story they’re excited to tell. So it’s not limbo other than they need to land on something they’re excited by creatively. We’ll be there.
The resolution of IT: Welcome to Derry’s continuation remains open, underscoring the unpredictable nature of Stephen King adaptations beyond Misery.
The Cast Behind Misery’s Success
Kathy Bates delivers a haunting performance as Annie Wilkes, whose sinister devotion drives the film’s intense psychological conflict. James Caan portrays Paul Sheldon, the author caught in a nightmare he cannot escape. Supporting roles include Richard Farnsworth as Buster and Lauren Bacall as Marcia Sindell, contributing to the film’s layered narrative tension.
The combination of these actors’ talents under Rob Reiner’s direction helped make Misery an enduring critical and audience favorite, cementing its place as a landmark adaptation of Stephen King’s work.
With its removal from HBO Max, viewers must act quickly to experience or revisit this prized piece of horror cinema history before it disappears from the platform on February 1.
