The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Based on a novella by King, this is a movie about maintaining hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. Everything about this movie works. The performances of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are wonderful and the direction by Frank Darabont, who also wrote the script, gets it just right. The story from which it's adapted is even better.

Misery (1990)

Romance novelist James Caan pays the price of fame in this creepy, claustrophobic thriller. Kathy Bates won an Oscar playing his number one fan. Every time I'm driving down a snowy road, I think of the car crash scene and slow WAY down.

Stand By Me (1986)

Four boys on a journey of self-discovery. Or a hike to see a dead body. Or both. Well directed by Rob Reiner, who also did Misery, this has great performances by River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton.

The Dead Zone (1983)

Christopher Walken is really creepy. This time, he's also the good guy. He wakes up after years in a coma to find he has a strange and disturbing power. Also features Martin Sheen as a politician with a screw loose.

Carrie (1976)

You think the kids on Dawson's Creek have angst? At least none of them are painfully shy recluses with telekinetic powers, being raised by a psycho religious fanatic. (At least I don't think so; I haven't really kept up.) Just seeing the poster gave me nightmares as a kid; when I finally saw the movie years later, it did too.