Misery (film)
Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:47:36 PM Wikipedia source
Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by William Goldman. It is based on Stephen King's 1987 novel and stars James Caan as famed novelist Paul Sheldon who is held captive by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), an obsessive fan. The supporting cast includes Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, and Lauren Bacall. Development on an adaptation of King's novel began after producer Andrew Scheinman recommended it to Reiner, who recruited Goldman to write the film's screenplay. Casting for the film was extensive: several actors were offered the roles of Sheldon and Wilkes before Caan and Bates were hired; Bates was a stage actress mostly unknown to film audiences. Principal photography began in February 1990, with filming locations including Genoa, Nevada and Los Angeles. The film's score was composed by Marc Shaiman. Misery was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment and Nelson Entertainment and was theatrically released in the United States on November 30, 1990, by Columbia Pictures. It grossed $61.3 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the horror and performances of the leading duo. Bates's Academy Award for Best Actress win made Misery the only film based on a novel by King to win an Academy Award.
Infobox
Directed by
Rob Reiner
Screenplay by
William Goldman
Based on
Miseryby Stephen King
Produced by
mw- Rob Reiner Andrew Scheinman
Starring
James Caan Kathy Bates Frances Sternhagen Richard Farnsworth Lauren Bacall
Cinematography
Barry Sonnenfeld
Edited by
Robert Leighton
Music by
Marc Shaiman
Productioncompanies
Castle Rock Entertainment Nelson Entertainment
Distributed by
Columbia Pictures
Release date
November 30, 1990 (1990-11-30)
Running time
107 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$18–20 million
Box office
$61.3 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Kathy Bates
Result
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Won
Most Promising Actress
Most Promising Actress
Award
Most Promising Actress
Category
Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Actress
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Horror Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
James Caan
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Kathy Bates
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Frances Sternhagen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Writing
Best Writing
Award
Best Writing
Category
William Goldman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
USC Scripter Awards
USC Scripter Awards
Award
USC Scripter Awards
Category
William Goldman (screenwriter); Stephen King (author)
Nominee(s)
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Kathy Bates | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
| Most Promising Actress | Nominated | |||
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Saturn Awards | Best Horror Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | James Caan | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Kathy Bates | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Frances Sternhagen | Nominated | ||
| Best Writing | William Goldman | Nominated | ||
| USC Scripter Awards | William Goldman (screenwriter); Stephen King (author) | Nominated | ||
References
- Miseryhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/HVF062992
- Miseryhttps://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/67797
- Misery at Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=misery.htm
- "Misery (1990) - Rob Reiner | Synopsis, Movie Info, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie"https://www.allmovie.com/movie/misery-am7142
- MSN Movies Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20131203055217/http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=151714
- Film and Television In-Jokes: Nearly 2,000 Intentional References, Parodies, Allusions, Personal Touches, Cameos, Spoof and Homageshttps://books.google.com/books?id=T4eACgAAQBAJ&pg=PA90
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/alfred-hitchcock-peter-jackson-quentin-tarantino-m-night-shyamalan-martin-scorsese-a9209666.html
- Goldman 2001, p. 37.
- Goldman 2001, p. 40.
- Goldman 2001, pp. 42–44.
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-29-ca-538-story.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-29-ca-7423-story.html
- Miseryhttps://people.com/movies/anjelica-huston-kathy-bates-misery/
- "Bette Midler on Wanting to Star in 'The White Lotus,' Why She Turned Down 'Sister Act' and Being Honored at the CDGAs"https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/bette-midler-white-lotus-sister-act-1235530135/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/theater/bette-midler-back-on-broadway-in-ill-eat-you-last.html
- Yahoo! Entertainmenthttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mvps-horror-misery-director-rob-reiner-cast-unknown-kathy-bates-really-tortured-james-caan-144515681.html
- "Billy Bob Thornton Shocks Kathy Bates by Revealing He Almost Starred in 'Misery' and Their Surprise 'Matlock' Connection"https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/kathy-bates-billy-bob-thornton-landman-matlock-misery-1236414807/
- Grande Dame Guignol Cinema A History of Hag Horror from Baby Jane to Mother
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1990W48/
- Misery at Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/misery
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/misery
- "CinemaScore"https://www.cinemascore.com
- RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/misery-1990
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/misery-1200428326/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/may/09/stephen-king-misery-kathy-bates-review
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/30/movies/review-film-a-writer-who-really-suffers.html
- Stephen King Goes to the Movies
- On Writing
- American Film Institutehttps://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-heroes-villians/
- Bloody Disgustinghttps://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3614136/appreciation-bravos-100-scariest-movie-moments/
- Bloody Disgustinghttps://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/17769/a-look-at-the-top-10-claustrophobic-horror-movies/
- Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Listshttps://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/30-great-psychopath-movies-that-are-worth-your-time/
- gamesradarhttps://www.gamesradar.com/50-creepiest-movie-psychopaths/
- WhatCulture.comhttps://whatculture.com/film/10-most-convincing-movie-psychopath-performances?page=11
- "The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners"http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991
- "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives"https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives
- "Misery"https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/misery/
- "1990 New York Film Critics Circle Awards"https://mubi.com/awards-and-festivals/nyfccas?year=1990
- "Past Scripter Awards"https://libraries.usc.edu/scripter/past-scripter-awards
- StephenKing.comhttps://stephenking.com/library/movie/misery.html
- Bloody Disgustinghttps://bloody-disgusting.com/home-video/3674698/kino-lorber-bringing-rob-reiners-misery-4k-ultra-hd-halloween/