Published Oct 24, 2026, 12:01 PM EDT

From Pennywise to many of King's creepy creations

Image: Brooke Palmer/Warner Bros./Everett Collection

Stephen King has many novels, novellas, and short stories in his vault, from deeply vivid and memorable epics to narratives that inspired Academy Award-winning movies . One of the hallmarks of his writing is his ability to create truly memorable villains, whether they’re human or creatures from another world.

King makes great villains because he makes most of them sympathetic, no matter how vile their motives or their actions. “Even bad guys (most of them anyway) see themselves as good — they are the heroes of their own lives. Giving them a fair chance as characters can create some interesting shades of gray — and shades of gray are also a part of life,” he told Writer’s Digest in 2009.

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