Stephen King has written a variety of stories, mostly from the horror genre, of which many have become classics, but only one novel has his favorite opening sentence. Stephen King has been terrorizing generations of readers since the publishing of Carrie in 1974, allowing them to explore different fears and meet various monsters (human and supernatural). The success of King’s novels and short stories has led to their adaptation to other media, and many of them, along with their characters, have now become part of pop culture.
Of course, King’s works haven’t been safe from criticism and backlash, as he has written some controversial scenes (such as the one in the sewers starring the Losers Club in IT) and addressed some sensitive topics, and he has also become well-known for his not-so-good endings. However, one of King’s strengths is his opening lines, which lead the audience right into the conflict or fear that will lead the story, and he actually has one favorite opening line, which comes from a book that is often overlooked by the audience.
Why The First Line In Needful Things Is Stephen King’s Favorite
Speaking to Needful Things.
Rick and Morty episode) and it inspired the name of the Netflix hit TV series Stranger Things.
Has Stephen King’s Needful Things Been Adapted To Other Media?
As mentioned above, many of Stephen King’s works have been adapted to film and TV, and Needful Things isn’t the exception – but it, unfortunately, falls into the category of failed Stephen King adaptations. The Needful Things film adaptation was directed by Fraser C. Heston and released in 1993, with Max von Sydow playing Leland Gaunt. Needful Things was a critical failure, with critics calling it neither funny nor scary, unpleasant, and having only “one note”. Even though Needful Things has impacted other media and it has Stephen King’s favorite opening line, it’s a book that is often overlooked by the audience and the film industry, as it surely deserves a second chance on the big screen or even as a TV series, as it's also one of Stephen King's darkest stories.