What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Shining
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1980
If you loved The Shining, start with The Shining (Stephen King, 1977) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Shining across media.
What hooked you in The Shining is the way isolation breeds psychological decay and forces characters to confront their deepest, darkest demons.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson · Book · 1987
Shares 3 threads with The Shining: isolation, Gothic Horror, Psychological Horror.
Like The Shining, this story uses an imposing, sentient building to dismantle the sanity of its inhabitants, exploring the thin line between psychological breakdown and true supernatural terror.
Doctor Sleep: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with The Shining: Supernatural Horror.
This direct sequel continues the legacy of The Shining, following Danny Torrance as he faces his traumatic past while battling a new, predatory threat to his psychic abilities.
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with The Shining: Isolation.
Fans of the claustrophobic tension in The Shining will appreciate this story of forced isolation, where a vulnerable protagonist is trapped under the control of an increasingly dangerous captor.
Psycho
Robert Bloch · Book · 1959
Shares 3 threads with The Shining: Isolation, Psychological Horror, Gothic Horror.
This classic mirrors the descent into madness found in The Shining, focusing on the obsessive behavior and distorted reality of a man living in a lonely, isolated motel.
Series on the same thread
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Shares 2 threads with The Shining: Paranoia, Psychological Horror.
If the paranoia and existential dread of The Shining kept you watching, these anthology tales provide a similar unsettling atmosphere that frequently subverts the viewer's sense of reality.
The Haunting of Hill House
Mike Flanagan · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with The Shining: Psychological Horror, Gothic Horror.
This series captures the core family dysfunction seen in The Shining, showing how the ghosts of a traumatic past and a haunted house can destroy the bonds of kinship.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Doppelgangers, Good vs Evil.
Much like the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, this town serves as a surreal, malevolent character that traps outsiders within a web of dark secrets and impending doom.
Storm of the Century
Stephen King · Series · 1999
Shares 2 threads with The Shining: Isolation, Supernatural Horror.
This story echoes the intense isolation of The Shining, trapping a small community in a blizzard while a mysterious, malevolent force systematically terrorizes the townspeople from within.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dr. Insanity
Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Shining: Supernatural Horror.
These stories tap into the same visceral fear found in The Shining, focusing on unexplained mysteries and the psychological toll of encountering terrifying, potentially supernatural events in the dark.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio dramas mirror the tension of The Shining by placing characters in experimental, high-stakes scenarios that force them to confront moral ambiguity and deep-seated personal fear.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Shining movie based on a book?
Yes, The Shining movie released in 1980 is based on the 1977 novel of the same name. Both versions follow the story of Jack Torrance as he accepts a caretaker position at the Overlook Hotel to live in isolation with his wife Wendy and their son Danny throughout the winter.
Should I read The Shining book before watching the movie?
You can choose either order to experience The Shining. The 1977 book provides the original source material for the 1980 film. Both versions detail the experiences of the Torrance family while they live at the isolated Overlook Hotel during the winter season, though the presentations differ between mediums.
What is the plot of The Shining?
The Shining follows Jack Torrance, who accepts a job as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. He moves into the building with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Danny. The family must live in complete isolation from the rest of the world for the duration of the winter season.
Is The Shining set in a hotel?
Yes, the setting for The Shining is the Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker position at this location, where he and his family, Wendy and Danny, reside in total isolation throughout the winter months. The hotel serves as the primary environment for the events of the story.