Stephen King's Surprising Favorite Film: An Overlooked Action-Thriller

Stephen King, renowned for his horror novels like "It" and "Carrie," has a surprising favorite film that diverges from his typical genre. His top pick is an intense action-thriller that, despite its merits, flopped at the box office.

As one of the most prolific authors today, King has had many of his 65 novels and over 200 short stories adapted for both the big and small screens. His adaptations include classics like "Carrie," "The Shining," "Stand By Me," "Misery," and "The Shawshank Redemption." Interestingly, King himself directed a film adaptation of his work, albeit with limited success.

Before stepping back from social media, King frequently shared his thoughts on current films, particularly in the horror genre. However, fans might be surprised to learn that his all-time favorite film belongs to a completely different category.

In a list of eight favorite films shared with the British Film Institute, King included several horror classics such as "Night of the Demon," "Village of the Damned," and "The Haunting." Yet, at the top of this list is an action-thriller titled "Sorcerer", directed by William Friedkin, who is also known for creating the iconic horror film "The Exorcist." This film is a remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 classic, "The Wages of Fear." King expressed his preference for Friedkin's version, stating, "Some may argue that the Clouzot film is better, but I disagree."

Friedkin, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 87, emphasized that "Sorcerer" is not merely a remake of "The Wages of Fear" but a second adaptation of Georges Arnaud's novel of the same name. A third adaptation was released on Netflix in 2024. The Friedkin version is noted for being tighter and grittier than its predecessor while maintaining the same premise: four strangers, including Roy Scheider, find themselves in South America for various reasons. In desperate need of money, they accept a seemingly impossible and life-threatening job to transport two trucks filled with dynamite through the jungle, where one misstep could lead to disaster.

A standout moment in the film is a nail-biting scene where the men must navigate their vehicles over a rickety bridge, echoing similar tension from "The Wages of Fear." Friedkin himself regarded this film as his favorite among his directorial works, stating, "I love the film. Of all the films I've made, it's my favorite. It's the only film […] where I wouldn't change a single shot. And it's the film that came closest to my vision."

The Box Office Struggles of "Sorcerer"

Despite its critical acclaim, "Sorcerer" struggled at the box office, grossing around $9 million against an estimated budget of $22 million. Several factors may have contributed to this disappointing performance. One theory suggests that the film's original title, "Sorcerer," may have misled audiences regarding its content. Additionally, the release coincided with the debut of the first "Star Wars" blockbuster, which overshadowed nearly every other film at the time.

The box office results do not reflect the film's quality, yet "Sorcerer" remains unavailable for streaming or on DVD and Blu-ray in Germany. Fans are hopeful for a future release.

Interestingly, another film did not make it onto Stephen King’s favorite list, despite his enthusiasm leading him to purchase 800 tickets for its theatrical run. For those curious about this dystopian horror hit, further details can be found in another article.

This is an updated re-release of a previously published article on FILMSTARTS.