Interestingly, it appears that an iconic horror film from 1980 has managed to reach trending status on the HBO Max streaming service. This particular film, aka Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, has entered the top ten most-watched movies on the platform. Fans will recognize the film as an adaptation of the novel of the same name from Stephen King. And although he has his criticisms along with many of his fans, The Shining is clearly still remembered as an iconic and beloved piece of horror cinema.
In fact, The Shining was even referenced in Mike Flanagan’s 2019 sequel Doctor Sleep. Although the film is an adaptation of Stephen King’s sequel to his own version of The Shining, Flanagan went to great lengths to include Kubrick’s version of the story as well. This meant that the Overlook Hotel was still standing for the film’s third act – whereas it was destroyed in King’s original novel and as such did not traditionally appear in the Doctor Sleep book. There are also several scenes from Kubrick’s version which were recreated for Doctor Sleep and a few shots that were outright reused for the sequel.
And, similarly, The Shining was also referenced in Steven Spielberg’s hit film Ready Player One. A massive sequence from the film reused footage from The Shining and placed its characters directly into events from the film. It goes to show that even the moviegoers of today are well-aware of the film and its many iconic elements. From the eerie Grady sisters to the elevator full of blood, there are plenty of aspects that are just too easy to recognize.
Now, however, with The Shining itself trending on the HBO Max streaming service – it’s clear that audiences still love the original iconic horror movie. The slow-burn horror film has maintained its place in many conversations over the decades, with many fans attempting to analyze the film and its complex production history. It’s a legendary status that only other massive horror films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre or Halloween have ever achieved. Of course, there are still quite a few Stephen King adaptations that have also reached such accolades. In fact, the IT films in recent years have become global box office successes that rebranded Pennywise as a modern-day horror icon himself.
Though it’s clear that Jack Nicholson’s take on Jack Torrance will always have a place in the genre. And, as audiences continue to revisit the film or discover it for the first time via streaming, it’s clear that The Shining will remain a classic for many years to come. Hopefully its lesser-appreciated sequel Doctor Sleep will one day find a similar level of success.