Needful Things (1993): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Needful Things is a 1993 drama thriller directed by Fraser C. Heston, starring Max von Sydow and Ed Harris. It is based on Needful Things by Stephen King. It runs 2 hours and earned $15.2 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards 1994. Critics gave it 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic. Stream it on YouTube Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h (120 min)
- Director
- Fraser C. Heston
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Based on
- Needful Things by Stephen King
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Needful Things About?
The premise of Needful Things without spoilers, adapted from Needful Things by Stephen King. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A mysterious antique dealer, Leland Gaunt, opens a shop in the small Maine town of Castle Rock, offering residents exactly what they desire. However, these wishes come with a dark price, unleashing chaos and violence as the townspeople’s hidden desires spiral out of control. Sheriff Alan Pangborn must confront Gaunt and fight to contain the escalating situation before Castle Rock is destroyed by its own darkest impulses.
Needful Things Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- manipulation
- occult
- antique shop
- based on book
- based on novel
- watching tv
- figurine
- breaking a figurine
- two word title
- rottweiler
- turkey farm
- first edition book
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to treasure island
- car
- u.s. car
- cadillac convertible
- chevrolet caprice
- german car
- town
- cadillac the car
- convertible car
- turkey the bird
- chevrolet the car
- mercedes benz the car
- apple
- castle rock
- deaths
- riot
- violence
- mild nudity
- violent scenes
- swearing
- strong language
- religious expletives
- alcohol
- religious profanity
- alcohol consumption
- sheriff
- devil
- desire
- prank
- death
- greed
- pain
- murder
- small town
- siren the alarm
- supernatural power
- good versus evil
- evidence
Where to Watch Needful Things
Stream it on YouTube Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Needful Things Cast
Max von Sydow leads the cast, with Ed Harris. Directed by Fraser C. Heston.
- Director Fraser C. Heston
Needful Things Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Needful Things 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 33% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 44%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 43 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB
Needful Things Plot Summary
What happens in Needful Things from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The mysterious proprietor, Leland Gaunt, claims to hail from Akron, Ohio, yet descends upon the unsuspecting town of Castle Rock, Maine, like a dark storm cloud on wheels. He opens the doors to his mysterious antique shop, Needful Things, which quickly reveals itself to be far from ordinary. Within its walls, a strange assortment of trinkets and curiosities await eager customers, each item promising its own set of mystical benefits—be it a pendant that wards off pain or a toy with the uncanny ability to predict the outcomes of horse races. However, a sinister catch looms beneath the surface: payment is not merely monetary, but involves playful yet devious pranks played upon unsuspecting neighbors.
Full summary
The whole story of Needful Things, scene by scene
Needful Things Box Office
Needful Things grossed $15.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$15.2M
- US & Canada
- $15.2M
Needful Things Awards & Nominations
Needful Things won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards 1994.
1 win2 nominations1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 1994 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Best Supporting Actress
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Kay Walsh
Needful Things Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser "Needful Things" Teaser TV Spot (1993)
How Well Do You Know Needful Things?
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
What is Leland Gaunt's claimed origin?
Cars in Needful Things
15 cars on screen, including the 1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible and the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice.
-
1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible Important role -
1986 Chevrolet Caprice Important role -
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 d W189.010 Important role -
1941 Plymouth PT-125 Important role
Needful Things Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Needful Things - Stephen King” and “La tienda”.
- Also known as
-
- Needful Things - Stephen King
- La tienda
- Trocas Macabras
- Нужни неща
- Needful Things - In einer kleinen Stadt
- In einer kleinen Stadt
- Cose preziose
- Le Bazaar de l'épouvante
- Нужные вещи
- Köplust
- 必需品
- Hasznos holmik
+12 more Show fewer
- Begærets butik
- מתנות מסוכנות
- Sprzedawca Śmierci
- Необходими неща
- Obchodník s hrůzou
- 욕망을 파는 집
- Tarpeellista tavaraa
- Lanetli Hediyeler
- Χρήσιμα αντικείμενα
- L'inconnu de Castle Rock
- Необхідні речі
- ซาตานไม่กลับใจ
Seen Needful Things?
Movies Like Needful Things
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Antlers, Desperation and Misery.
Needful Things FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Needful Things, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Needful Things?
Needful Things runs 2 hours (120 minutes).
When was Needful Things released?
Needful Things was released on August 27, 1993.
Who directed Needful Things?
Needful Things was directed by Fraser C. Heston.
Who is in the cast of Needful Things?
Needful Things stars Max von Sydow and Ed Harris.
Where can I watch Needful Things?
In the US, Needful Things is streaming on YouTube Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Needful Things make at the box office?
Needful Things grossed $15.2 million worldwide.
How is Needful Things rated?
Needful Things has 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Is Needful Things based on a book?
Yes. Needful Things is adapted from Needful Things by Stephen King.
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