In the 2004 novella adaptation, Depp plays a writer whose quiet retreat takes a disturbing turn
Stephen King has spent decades turning our worst nightmares into some of Hollywood's most memorable horror movies. From supernatural terror to small-town nightmares, the author's work continues to inspire filmmakers, with a fresh wave of adaptations bringing his stories to new audiences.
The latest Carrie adaptation has already been renewed for a second season after earning rave reviews, while The Long Walk brought King's brutal dystopian story to theaters in 2025. Mike Flanagan is also still developing a television adaptation of The Dark Tower, and Netflix has plans to revisit Cujo, proving that Hollywood isn't running out of King stories to take to the screen.
But while the author's most recognizable works continue to attract attention, some of his lesser-known stories have slipped under the radar. One 2004 adaptation that explores paranoia, isolation, and the frightening possibility that you can't trust your own mind is suddenly finding a new audience on streaming.
That is Secret Window, the 2004 thriller starring Johnny Depp. Based on King's novella Secret Window, Secret Garden, the film follows a troubled writer whose quiet retreat becomes increasingly disturbing when a stranger accuses him of stealing a story. It's currently ranking No. 4 on HBO Max's movie chart, according to FlixPatrol, giving this overlooked King adaptation another moment in the spotlight.
Directed and written by David Koepp (Stir of Echoes, Panic Room), Secret Window stars Depp as Mort Rainey, a successful writer struggling through a bitter divorce.
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