Stephen King is recognized as the "King of Horror," which doesn't mean his stories don't have wholesome moments. Stephen King's best novels stand out for their ability to turn people's worst nightmares against them, exploring unsettling themes and offering unforgettable villains. Consequently, the long list of movies based on Stephen King's books is likely to be remembered for their eerie, upsetting quality.
However, beneath the element of terror, King's writing also has a heartwarming, touching streak. Whether crafting scary tales or delving into different genres, the writer has the unique ability to touch on profoundly delicate subjects in an extraordinarily sensitive manner. His stories emphasize the resilience of friendship, family love, sacrifice, redemption, and loyalty. If Stephen King's villains are terrifying, to say the least, his heroes are their perfect foil, often representing humanity at their best and leading to surprisingly wholesome moments.
10 Chris Comforting Gordie
Stand By Me
Stand by Me is probably Stephen King's most heartwarming story, and the movie lived up to it. The bond between Gordie (Will Wheaton), a sensitive and intelligent 12-year-old boy who has lost his brother and lives with parents who neglect him, and Chris (River Phoenix), his loyal and brave friend, is one of the movie's highlights. As Gordie breaks down over his father's treatment of him, Chris's comfort speech to Gordie is surprisingly wholesome.
Phoenix's character does not come from an easy background. He is another unfortunate child victim of rough circumstances. However, Chris does not hesitate to shut down his personal problems to focus on his friend, offering pearls of wisdom beyond his years. As the boy stresses, the problem is not that Gordie's father despises him; he simply does not know nor understand him. Chris does, however, and at that moment, he is telling him that, proving how important and special Gordie is to him.
9 Red's Parole Hearing
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemptionis not what one might expect from the "King of Horror". Despite its dramatic premise, this is a "feel-good drama". Morgan Freeman plays the role of Red, a fascinating and complex character who has spent most of his adult life in prison and becomes a friend and mentor to the protagonist, Andy. After spending years trying and failing to convince the judges at his parole hearing that he is "rehabilitated", Red, by the end of the movie, adopts a different and more sincere approach.
Stephen King’s You Like It Darker is probably his best book of the 2020s, and that puts even more pressure on Never Flinch to match its success.
Instead of telling them once again that he indeed feels rehabilitated, the character ponders the meaning of the word itself, questioning whether he is or not. All that Red knows is that not a day goes by when he does not regret his actions. The authenticity of his remorse and doubts conquer the commission, and the man finally earns his agonized freedom. Perhaps, he also learned something from his friendship with Andy.
8 John Coffey's Spirit
The Green Mile
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The Green Mile is a story filled with heartbreak and cruelty, but there is something about its protagonist that offers a profound sense of comfort. John Coffey is the victim of a terrible injustice, and yet he never lets his anger or hurt get the better of him. If his miraculous healing gifts bring relief to those around him, his quiet wisdom and empathy represent a beacon of hope in a world that let him down.
John’s altruism shines even in the face of his own tragic fate, as he chooses to ease the pain of others despite enduring so much himself. John’s actions reflect the boundless potential for goodness in humanity. Despite the tragic ending, his story reminds the audience that even in the darkest moments, compassion can prevail, leaving an indelible mark on those who witness it.
7 Andy And Red's Reunion
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption concludes with one of cinema’s most uplifting moments: the reunion of Andy and Red on the shores of Zihuatanejo. After years of hardship and seclusion, it was not only the characters who deserved a second chance but also their friendship, a bond that allowed them to survive and thrive in the darkest places. The sight of Andy waiting on the beach as the waves crash against the shore is the final triumph.
The moment does not simply celebrate freedom and redemption, but it also honors human connection and its importance in facing the bleakest of circumstances. Their reunion represents the strength of hope and resilience against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and it is also a testament to the beautiful and emotional bond that defines the story. For this reason, the wholesome ending does justice to King's drama.
6 The Losers Club Choosing To Fight
It
The most impressive thing about King is how often his heroes are nothing more than kids, forced into terrifying situations that even most adults would not know how to deal with. It, unsurprisingly, is not the type of movie that one could call wholesome. Nevertheless, exactly like in Stand By Me, its young protagonists, "The Losers Club", and the relationship forged between them, is a heartwarming reminder that even the scariest villains can be defeated with the power of bravery and friendship.
In the final moments of It, Pennywise manages to get hold of Bill and gives the rest of the children a chance to escape and save themselves. Like everyone else in Derry, however, Pennywise underestimates the quiet strength of this group of losers, disregarding the significance of their bond. Instead of running away, the kids rally together, overcoming their worst fears to save their friend.
5 Dennis Defending Arnie
Christine
Christine might be a horror story, but similarly to It, it does not lack some moving scenes. In any other high-school movie of the time, Dennis and Arnie would likely not have been the best of friends. On the contrary, Arnie, the typical teenage outcast, would have been represented as a target of football star Dennis. However, Christine subverts this trope by presenting a genuine and caring friendship between the two.
At the beginning of the movie, while Arnie is being bullied by his peers, Dennis intervenes to help his friend, taking the audience by surprise. Even as the main character gradually begins to lose his mind and become subjugated by the evil influence of Christine, his friend never stops trying to protect him, showing his relentless loyalty. Despite the dramatic ending of this Stephen King movie, Dennis's love for his companion is a wholesome part of the story.
4 Wendy And Danny Playing In The Maze
The Shining
Although Stephen King's opinions on The Shining are controversial, the 1980 adaptation is still one of the most beloved horrors of all time. Amidst the profoundly chilling atmosphere and Jack Torrace's deteriorating sanity throughout The Shining, there is a rare moment of warmth and joy when Wendy and Danny explore the hedge maze together. The scene is a break from the unsettling progression of the movie.
The old adage “write what you know” has become a trademark for horror author Stephen King, whose main characters are often writers just like him.
This fleeting moment of peace and lightness highlights the bond between Wendy and Danny, making their later struggles even more heartbreaking. The scene depicts how things should be: a mother and her son enjoying a simple, joyful moment of playfulness, untouched by the oppressive isolation of the Overlook Hotel and unaware of what awaits them. In a story of fear and madness, their interaction offers a glimpse of normalcy and love.
3 Sue Trying To Save Carrie
Carrie
Unfortunately, Stephen King is adept at showing not simply humans at their worst, but even children and teenagers. Carrie is a prime example of that, as it tells the story of a high-school girl who is mercilessly bullied by her peers because she is "different". Nevertheless, the author's talent lies in building complex characters capable of evolution and progress. Sue Snell's journey exemplifies this beautifully. The character's wholesome attempts at making amends make her surprisingly sympathetic.
Although Sue begins as part of the crowd that torments Carrie, she recognizes her behavior is wrong and attempts to redeem herself. After all, adolescents constantly make mistakes. At the final ball, after Carrie is elected prom queen, Sue suspects something is wrong and desperately tries to save the girl from the latest prank of her cruel classmates. Her actions symbolize humans' ability to change and improve themselves.
2 Travis's Sacrifice
In The Tall Grass
Redemption is a crucial element in Stephen King's stories, and the movie In the Tall Grass illustrates this with Travis' journey from the beginning to the heartbreaking conclusion. Ever since Travis' name is mentioned, the boy is presented as an immature and selfish kid who has left his pregnant girlfriend, Becky, behind because he does not want to accept his new responsibilities. Nevertheless, the young man proves everyone else wrong once he decides to go after her.
Becky, her brother, and Travis find themselves trapped with some mysterious characters in an apparently never-ending tall field of grass with no way out or a chance to escape, facing an unexplainable time loop and unspeakable dangers. Although Travis had already redeemed himself the moment he overcame his initial doubts and went after Becky to apologize, by the end of the movie, he took an extra step in In The Tall Grass' ending with a surprisingly wholesome moment where he sacrifices himself to save his companions.
1 Chris Saving Teddy
Stand By Me
Stand By Me is a film that captures the beauty and innocence of childhood friendship. The movie is one of Stephen King's most poignant adaptations. Throughout the story, the bond between the boys is constantly tested and always ends up triumphing but one of the most emotional moments is when Chris saves Teddy from a potentially fatal situation. Teddy, eager to prove his fearlessness, puts himself at risk when he attempts to cross a train track, and Chris, the group's natural leader, steps in to protect him.
The wholesome part of the scene is not simply the bravery proved by River Phoenix's character but also the way he handles the situation with sensitivity and intelligence. Chris apologizes to Teddy for saving his life and doubting his ability to dodge the train. This moment reveals the boy's wisdom, humility, and endless kindness, qualities that transcend his age and make him a heroic figure.
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