AlthoughSalem’s Lotlooks exciting, the upcomingStephen Kingremake has already fallen victim to a curse that plagues the writer’s recent adaptations.Salem’s Lotis one of Stephen King’s most acclaimed novels. Originally released in 1975, the book follows a writer who discovers a dark secret upon returning to his titular hometown.Salem’s Lotwas adapted as a successful miniseries in 1978. Directed byThe Texas Chain Saw Massacrehelmer Tobe Hooper, the miniseries went on to influence decades of vampire stories on both the big and small screen.2024’s upcomingSalem’s Lotis the book’s latest adaptation.
10 Moments From Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot That Must Be In The 2024 Remake
2024 is getting a Salem’s Lot adaptation, and there are some moments from Stephen King’s classic vampire novel that must make an appearance.
Salem’s Lotis directed byAnnabelle Comes Homedirector Gary Dauberman, who also penned 2017 and 2019’s two-part King adaptationItandIt Chapter Two. While that series made over a billion dollars at the box office,Salem’s Lotarrived a little too late to ride on the franchise’s wave of success. Although Dauberman also worked on the successfulAnnabellesequels andThe Nunmovies, therelease date of 2024’sSalem’s Lotremakewas pushed back repeatedly. Scheduled for cinematic release on August 05, 2025,Salem’s Lotwas pushed off until April 2023 before further delays.
Salem’s Lot Is The Latest Stephen King Movie To Skip Theaters
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone And Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Went Straight to Streaming
Now, the adaptation is finally set to be released on August 21, 2025, butSalem’s Lotwill go straight to streaming instead of earning a theatrical release. The remake is the third recent Stephen King movie to go straight to streaming after Netflix releasedMr. Harrigan’s Phonein 2022 and thePet SemataryprequelBloodlinesarrived in late 2023. 2023’s similarly delayedChildren of the Cornprequel had a brief, unspectacular cinematic run, but that long-awaited release was also dumped to VOD shortly after. Studios have shown little faith in King’s adaptations in recent years, as evidenced bySalem’s Lot.
2023’sThe Boogeymanfared a little better with its modest payday, earning $82 million at the box office on a budget of $35 million. However, althoughPet Sematary: Bloodlines’ success should be a relieffor the creators ofSalem’s Lot, the remake’s straight-to-streaming release doesn’t bode well for its critical prospects. While 2017’sItwas a hit with viewers and critics alike, its 2019 sequelIt Chapter Twoearned more mixed reviews. The same year’s divisive, big-budgetThe Shiningsequel,Dr. Sleep, wasn’t a financial success, while 2022’sFirestarterremake was an outright disaster critically and commercially.
Why Salem’s Lot’s Straight to Streaming Release Was A Mistake
The Remake Looks Stronger Than Stephen King’s Recent Movie Adaptations
Firestarter’s failure might explain why the studio wasn’t eager to release another Stephen King remake in theaters later in 2022, but the decision to dropSalem’s Loton VOD in October 2024 is more surprising. Judging by its trailer,Salem’s Lotseems like an ambitious, scary, immersive effort, closer in scope to theItmovies thanFirestarter,Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, or evenThe Boogeyman. Horror movies have continued their box office hot streak throughout 2024 with hits likeLonglegs,Alien: Romulus, andA Quiet Place: Day One, so the decision to releaseSalem’s Loton VOD could haunt theStephen Kingremake.
