If you loved
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
What hooked you in Misery was the suffocating power dynamic of being trapped under the whims of someone unpredictable and intensely obsessive.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Misery
Rob Reiner · Film · 1990
Films on the same thread
10 Cloverfield Lane
Dan Trachtenberg · Film · 2016
Much like the isolation Paul Sheldon faced in Misery, this film captures the claustrophobic tension of captivity where your captor maintains control through gaslighting and a manufactured reality.
Woman in the Dunes
Film · 1964
This story mirrors the existential dread of Misery by forcing a captive protagonist into a grueling, daily labor routine imposed by a captor who refuses to let them leave.
Crash
David Cronenberg · Film · 1996
If the car crash that started Misery left you unsettled, this exploration of how trauma and obsession can warp human desires into dangerous, fixated behaviors will feel disturbingly familiar.
In the Mouth of Madness
John Carpenter · Film · 1995
This film expands on the author-centric themes of Misery, illustrating how a writer's narrative can consume reality and trap those who dare to investigate the source of their madness.
Series on the same thread
Baby Reindeer
Richard Gadd · Series · 2024
The terrifying, one-sided obsession at the heart of Misery is mirrored here, as a simple moment of kindness triggers a relentless stalking campaign that threatens the victim's entire existence.
I Dream of Jeannie
Sidney Sheldon · Series · 1965
If Misery hit, I Dream of Jeannie shares the thread.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon · Series · 2016
If Misery hit, Descendants of the Sun shares the thread.
You
Greg Berlanti · Series · 2018
This series masterfully captures the same predatory obsession seen in Misery, focusing on a character who will stop at nothing to manipulate and control the object of his fixation.
Podcasts on the same thread
To Live and Die in LA
Tenderfoot TV & Audacy · Podcast · 2023
If Misery hit, To Live and Die in LA shares the thread.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
If Misery hit, Dan Carlin's Hardcore History shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the Misery movie based on the book by Stephen King?
Yes, the 1990 movie Misery is a direct film adaptation of the 1987 novel written by Stephen King. The story follows the same plot regarding the novelist Paul Sheldon and his captivity following a car crash.
Should I read the book Misery before watching the movie adaptation?
You can consume either version first as both the 1987 book and the 1990 movie cover the same narrative about a novelist held captive by a fan. The story remains consistent across both the original source material and the film adaptation.
What is the plot of the book Misery?
In the 1987 book Misery, novelist Paul Sheldon is involved in a near-fatal car crash. He is rescued by a fan who keeps him captive while nursing him back to health, forcing him to deal with his captor's deranged behavior.
Is the Misery movie faithful to the original Stephen King book?
The 1990 movie Misery is based on the 1987 novel by Stephen King. It depicts the core plot of the book, which centers on a novelist who survives a car crash only to be held captive by a fan who nurses him.