Stephen King's best books have strong beginnings that immediately hook the reader and capture the imagination. He is just as effective at keeping the reader engaged throughout the entirety of his stories.
Despite these strengths, Stephen King's stories sometimes have an ending problem and feature conclusions that do not prove to be fully satisfying after the often lengthy stories that preceded them. While this is true for some of King's books, many of them do have fulfilling endings. The best endings are those that provide a sense of meaningful and memorable closure for the characters and the various plotlines, along with making the story feel truly complete.
10 Under the Dome
Published In 2009
Under the Dome is among the endings that are frequently criticized, but it does bring the book to a mostly satisfying conclusion. The ending sees Julia Shumway making with an alien who placed the dome around Chester's Mill and convincing them to remove it. The dome is finally lifted off of what remains of Chester's Mill, releasing the toxic air trapped underneath it, and allowing Julie and Dale "Barbie" Barbara to continue with their lives.
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While this may seem overly simplistic after a story that spanned more than 1,000 pages, it works because the story was never really about the aliens or even the dome. It was always about the characters and the small town of Chester's Mill, with the dome simply being a plot device that pushed the town's residents to their breaking point. The ending is ranked toward the bottom of this list because it is somewhat anticlimactic, but it is still hopeful and proves that empathy will win out over the selfishness and manipulations of individuals like Big Jim Rennie.
9 Carrie
Published In 1974
After retaliating against years of torment and abuse with her destructive powers, the only way for Carrie to end is for the titular character to also die as a victim of the cruel world around her. Carrie's fate is inevitable and the tragedy of what happened feels consequential. This is followed by the fallout from Carrie White's actions as faculty resign, a committee is formed to investigate what happened, and a woman sends a letter describing her young daughter's telekinetic abilities that she claims her grandmother also had.
The question will be if those powers can be nurtured and used for good, or if they will fester and manifest in horrific ways as they did with Carrie after all the suffering she endured.
The letter about a young girl with telekinetic abilities further elevates the ending as it becomes clear that there are others with powers in this Stephen King book like what Carrie had. The question will be if those powers can be nurtured and used for good, or if they will fester and manifest in horrific ways as they did with Carrie after all the suffering she endured. The ending mostly works, although concluding with letters, excerpts from Sue Snell's memoir, and in news articles does feel somewhat impersonal, which is why it falls lower in these rankings.
8 Misery
Published In 1987
Author Paul Sheldon finally escapes the terrifying Annie Wilkes after months of holding him captive and torturing and mutilating him. After Paul's escape and Annie's death, he returns to New York and struggles to recover from his traumatic experiences, while Misery's Return becomes a bestselling book. Eventually, Paul finds the inspiration to write again, and sobs because of what he endured and due to rediscovering the joy of writing.
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Misery is a bleak story and creates a palpable sense of hopelessness as more time es and Paul continues to suffer at the hands of Annie. This makes the ending bittersweet as Paul both mourns what he lost but also finds his creative spark again that his self-professed number one fan nearly snuffed out. The ending does not leave as much of an impact as many other King stories, which is why it is ranked lower, but it works well in the context of the novel.
7 The Stand
Published In 1978
The Stand is another one of King's endings that is often criticized, in this case, because of its use of "the Hand of God" setting off the nuclear bomb that defeats the villainous Randall Flagg and all his followers. Larry Underwood and Ralph Brentner, two of the book's prominent and likable characters, are killed during the detonation as well. The Stand ends with Stu Redman surviving as he is reunited with Frannie Goldsmith, and they settle down with their child in Ogunquit, Maine. The expanded edition also has an epilogue of Flagg emerging elsewhere after the nuclear explosion.
The expanded edition of The Stand was published in 1990.
As an epic tale of good versus evil and the power of faith, "the Hand of God" fits the tone and themes of the story. While Larry, Ralph, and many other beloved characters are lost, there is still a sense of goodness and faith being rewarded with Stu and Frannie's happily ever after. The expanded edition brings a darker edge with its epilogue that is consistent with the ending of another King book, The Dark Tower. The Stand has an overall emotionally and thematically satisfying ending, although its overreliance on a deus ex machina causes it to rank slightly lower.
6 The Shining
Published In 1977
The ending of The Shining features Jack Torrance dying and the Overlook Hotel being destroyed as Wendy Torrance, Danny Torrance, and Dick Halloran escape. The destruction of the Overlook Hotel is vital, as it was the real evil of the story that weaponized Jack's trauma and alcoholism and turned him against Wendy and Danny. An epilogue showing Wendy and Danny still recovering from what they endured illustrates the long-term effects of experiencing trauma.
One of the keys to The Shining's ending is seeing the payoff of a recurring detail throughout the story. This detail is the hotel's unstable boiler that was never fixed, which literally causes the Overlook Hotel to explode, but also works as a metaphor for the darkness with Jack that festers and eventually boils over. The Shining has a solid ending that wraps up the story well, but it is not as memorable as the more chilling parts of the novel, which is why it lands in the middle of the rankings.
5 Salem’s Lot
Published In 1975
Salem's Lot ends with Ben Mears and Mark Petrie defeating the ancient vampire Kurt Barlow. They then flee Jerusalem's Lot with their lives, making them the only survivors, other than Father Donald Callahan, who left in shame after Barlow forced him to drink his blood, thereby corrupting the priest. An epilogue reveals that Ben and Mark returned to Jerusalem's Lot a year later and set fire to the entire town to kill the remaining vampires.
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Having only three characters survive the events in Jerusalem's Lot makes the vampire threat feel consequential, as Susan Norton, Matt Burke, Jimmy Cody, and many other characters lose their lives. The ending would not feel complete without the epilogue, as Jerusalem's Lot's problems went beyond vampires, with the town itself needing to be destroyed. The ambiguous fate of Father Callahan does make the Salem's Lot ending feel somewhat incomplete, which is why it falls toward the middle of the list, but fortunately, the character is further explored in The Dark Tower series.
4 It
Published In 1986
It's controversial sewer scene overshadows the novel's otherwise effective ending. The book carefully alternates between the two timelines of when the Losers Clubs are children and as adults when they face It again 27 years later. This builds to an epic finale that sees Bill Denbrough defeating It with Maturin's help in the 1950s timeline and Bill crushing It's heart in the 1980s timeline. There is also a sense of hope at the end as Bill's wife, Audra, is reawakened from being catatonic after her experience with It.
Seeing the Losers Club confront It in both timelines, with Bill leading the charge, is immensely satisfying, especially since the story begins with It brutally manipulating and killing Bill's younger brother, Georgie. Part of Derry being destroyed by a storm in the 1980s timeline after the confrontation also suggests that It may truly be defeated for good this time. The sewer scene works on a symbolic level for the Losers Club and their growth, but its problematic nature cannot be ignored, which is why It is not one of King's very best endings.
3 The Dead Zone
Published In 1979
As Johnny Smith's health continues to decline and his clairvoyant visions continue to take more of a toll on him, a tragic sense of inevitability hangs over The Dead Zone. While Johnny does die, he es away knowing he prevented the apocalyptic future that Greg Stillson would have created if he had become President of the United States. Further closure is provided by the letters Johnny leaves to his loved ones and Sarah visiting Johnny's grave, with Johnny and Sarah's unfulfilled relationship being at the heart of the story.
Johnny's fate is equally appropriate as the humble and good-hearted character dies a hero, with most of the world not knowing how he saved them.
It is gratifying to see Stillson's political career come to an end and to have his true self unmasked when the picture of him holding up a baby as a shield becomes national news. Johnny's fate is equally appropriate as the humble and good-hearted character dies a hero, with most of the world not knowing how he saved them. The Dead Zone's ending is only matched by two other King stories whose conclusions are more emotional and surprising.
2 11/22/63
Published In 2011
11/22/63 has one of the most bittersweet endings of any King novel as Jake Epping returns to the future and is reunited with Sadie Dunhill. She does not know who he is or the relationship they had in another timeline, but he shares a dance with her, and tells her that he is "Someone you knew in another life." For a story that dealt with time travel and its consequences, this was a simple, but deeply emotional and meaningful way to end 11/22/63.
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This ending was the perfect way to end the story after Jake sacrificed the life he built in the late 1950s and early 1960s to save the future. Jake made the necessary sacrifice by leaving that life, including his relationship with Sadie, behind to return to a future where she does know who he is. It is both heartbreaking and wholesome to end with them sharing a dance when only Jake knows their history. This could've been King's best ending if not for one story whose boldness gives it the top spot in these rankings.
1 The Dark Tower
Published In 2004
After numerous books, thousands of pages, and a story written over decades, it seemed impossible to give The Dark Tower series a proper ending. King pulls off this seemingly impossible task by having Roland Deschain reach the Dark Tower, go inside, and climb to the top, only to discover that he has made it to the Dark Tower before, and is stuck in an endless loop. Roland is sent back to where his journey began in The Gunslinger, although this time he has the Horn of Eld.
Book |
Published in |
Under the Dome |
2009 |
Carrie |
1974 |
Misery |
1987 |
The Stand |
1978 |
The Shining |
1977 |
Salem’s Lot |
1975 |
It |
1986 |
The Dead Zone |
1979 |
11/22/63 |
2011 |
The Dark Tower |
2004 |
This brilliant ending recontextualizes the entire Dark Tower series and everything that Roland did when knowing it is all part of a loop punishing him. Roland simply reaching the Dark Tower and saving the universe would have been too neat of an ending. Instead, King takes an enormous creative swing, but it works and is consistent with The Stand's epilogue of time and fate being a wheel. The Dark Tower's ending completes Roland's journey throughout the series and gives it new meaning, all while making him start the journey anew, which makes it Stephen King's best ending.
- Birthdate
- September 21, 1947
- Birthplace
- Portland, Maine, USA
- Height
- 6 feet 4 inches
- Notable Projects
- Mr. Mercedes, Carrie
- Professions
- Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
