Stephen King is a horror expert, so when he was asked to list the 10 best movies of the 21st century, he mentioned an underrated gem from 2024. Breaking onto the scene all the way back in the mid-’70s with the publication of Carrie, Stephen King quickly became Hollywood’s favorite horror author.
Many of King’s novels have made their way to the big and small screens, and King himself has been directly involved with several projects. Though Stephen King’s movies are not always perfect, it’s his unique storytelling and talent for genuine chills that have kept audiences coming back for over 50 years.
Because he’s the “King of Horror”, and an aficionado of fright, Stephen King’s opinion still carries a lot of weight. Therefore, when it was time to poll industry professionals about the best movies of the 21st century thus far, The New York Times asked King for his top 10. As expected, King’s list featured a few surprises.
Stephen King Included The Rule Of Jenny Pen In His Top 10 Movies Of The 21st Century List
The King Of Horror Really Loved The Hidden Gem From 2024
Stephen King’s New York Times 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century ballot is filled with classics from the last 25 years. However, he did sneak in a totally unexpected movie, that being 2024’s The Rule of Jenny Pen. The film from New Zealand stars John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, and isn’t what it appears to be on the surface.
The surprising chiller is set in a nursing home, where Rush plays a judge recovering from a stroke. Unfortunately, his recovery is anything but smooth as he and all the other patients are terrorized by a man (Lithgow) who channels his dark impulses through a puppet. With its simple premise, The Rule of Jenny Pen gradually builds in suspense.
There is an existential undertone to the story, and the movie offers commentary on the way older citizens are treated in society.
Eschewing horror clichés, the movie is nightmarish without having to result to cheap tricks. There is an existential undertone to the story, and the movie offers commentary on the way older citizens are treated in society. The film got decent reviews, but flew under the radar upon release. However, its gripping storytelling clearly inspired King to rate it so highly.
Stephen King’s Top 10 Only Includes 2 Horror Movies
The Horror Author Is A Man Of Diverse Tastes
Despite being the preeminent name in literary horror, Stephen King’s New York Times ballot was surprisingly devoid of horror movies. Besides The Rule of Jenny Pen, the wordsmith only voted for one other horror movie, but it’s a certified classic. One of the few horror movies that deserved to make the NYT list, Train to Busan also got King’s vote.
Train to Busan currently holds a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The 2016 South Korean zombie movie breathed new life into the sagging horror subgenre. It tells a terrifying zombie story, but is also a gripping drama about one man’s quest to reconnect with his young daughter. Since Stephen King knows a thing or two about thoughtful horror stories, it’s no surprise that those two movies made his list.
