Misery (1990): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Misery is a 1990 drama thriller starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. It is based on Misery by Stephen King. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and earned $61.3 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic. Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Based on
- Misery by Stephen King
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Misery About?
The premise of Misery without spoilers, adapted from Misery by Stephen King. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a car accident leaves novelist Paul Sheldon stranded, he's taken in by Annie Wilkes, a seemingly kind but intensely obsessive fan. As Paul recovers in her remote home, Annie's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and controlling, revealing a dangerous fixation on his work. He soon realizes he must find a way to escape her clutches and the terrifying consequences of her twisted demands, while also grappling with the fallout from his career.
Misery Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- female psychopath
- obsessed fan
- broken leg
- brutality
- sledgehammer
- typewriter
- based on the works of stephen king
- novel
- author
- obsession
- writing
- blizzard
+38 more Show fewer
- torture
- small town
- psychopath
- snow
- serial child murder
- injured man
- pet pig
- nurse
- rage
- psychotic
- psycho killer
- shooting a police officer
- murder of a police officer
- murderess
- mutilation
- newspaper clipping
- abduction
- physical abuse
- bludgeoned to death
- deeply disturbed person
- psychological torture
- male victim
- villain not really dead cliche
- reference to liberace
- car accident
- recluse
- attempted escape
- pig
- suspense
- match
- medication
- wheelchair
- homecare nurse
- idol
- based on novel
- drugging
- isolation
- murder of a baby
Where to Watch Misery
Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
HBO Max 
HBO Max Amazon Channel 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Misery Cast
James Caan leads the cast, with Kathy Bates.
Misery Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Misery 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 8.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 78% User score
See on TMDB
Misery Plot Summary
What happens in Misery from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In this darkly comedic thriller, James Caan takes on the role of Paul Sheldon, a renowned romantic novelist celebrated for his beloved character, the film’s titular “Misery” Chastaine. After completing his latest manuscript, Paul embarks on a journey back to New York from Silver Creek Lodge. During this treacherous trip, his car careens off the icy road amidst an unforgiving blizzard. In a moment of introspection, he recalls a conversation with his agent (portrayed by the legendary Lauren Bacall) regarding his last Misery novel.
Full summary
The whole story of Misery, scene by scene
Misery Box Office
Misery grossed $61.3 million worldwide. $61.3 million came from the US and Canada and $725 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$61.3M
- US & Canada
- $61.3M
- International
- $725
Misery Awards & Nominations
Misery won 1 Oscar, including Actress in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all.
2 wins4 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Saturn Awards 1992 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actress
- Nominated Best Supporting Actress – Frances Sternhagen
-
Golden Globes 1991 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Kathy Bates
-
Oscars 1991 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Actress in a Leading Role – Kathy Bates
Misery Trailers & Videos
15 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 6 clips and 6 featurettes.
- Trailer Official Trailer #2
- Teaser Teaser Trailer
- Clip Clip 1: Annie Confronts Paul
- Clip Clip 2: Annie Buys The Wrong Paper
How Well Do You Know Misery?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the character Paul Sheldon in 'Misery'?
Cars in Misery
6 cars on screen, including the 1972 Chevrolet Blazer and the 1966 Ford Mustang.
-
1972 Chevrolet Blazer Important role -
1966 Ford Mustang Important role -
1974 Jeep Cherokee Important role -
1983 Ford Ranger Minor role
Misery Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Misery - Stephen King” and “Miseria”.
- Also known as
-
- Misery - Stephen King
- Miseria
- Lida
- Misery - O Capítulo Final
- Misery non deve morire
- مصیبت
- Misery nechce zemřít
- Misery: O Capítulo Final
- Ölüm Kitabı
- Мизери
- 危情十日
- Tortúra
+12 more Show fewer
- ミザリー
- 미저리
- מיזרי
- Мізері
- Louca Obsessão
- Мизъри
- 戰慄遊戲
- Piina
- Tortura
- Mizerė, მიზერი
- อ่านแล้วคลั่ง
- Nữ Anh Hùng Misery
Seen Misery?
Movies Like Misery
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Torment, Misery Mountain and No Exit.
Misery FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Misery, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Misery?
Misery runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Misery released?
Misery was released on November 30, 1990.
Who is in the cast of Misery?
Misery stars James Caan and Kathy Bates.
Where can I watch Misery?
In the US, Misery is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Misery make at the box office?
Misery grossed $61.3 million worldwide ($61.3 million domestic, $725 international).
How is Misery rated?
Misery has 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.
Is Misery based on a book?
Yes. Misery is adapted from Misery by Stephen King.
What awards did Misery win?
Misery won 2 awards from 4 nominations, including Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) at the Golden Globes 1991.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
