The Shining (1997)
Stephen King's own adaptation of his iconic novel, bringing the haunted Overlook Hotel to life across three chilling episodes on ABC.
The Shining - Series Information
- Original Title: The Shining
- First Air Year: 1997
- Last Air Year: 1997
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (90 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 3
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: April 27, 1997 (United States - TV-14), April 27, 1997 (Brazil - 14)
- Networks: ABC
- Alternative Titles: O Iluminado (BR), Shining : Les Couloirs de la peur (FR), Stephen King's The Shining (US), 史蒂芬·金之鬼店 (CN)
- Production Companies: Lakeside Productions, Warner Bros. Television
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Shining - Plot
A new caretaker moves with his family into the mysterious Overlook Hotel for the winter.
The Shining - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what awaits inside the Overlook Hotel:
Some guests never leave!
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The Shining - Cast & Crew
Executive Producer(s)
- Stephen King
Main Cast
- Rebecca De Mornay
- Steven Weber
- Wil Horneff
- Courtland Mead
- Cynthia Garris
- Mickey Giacomazzi
- Melvin Van Peebles
- John Durbin
- Stephen King
- Stanley Anderson
The Shining - FAQs
How does the 1997 miniseries differ from Kubrick's film?
Stephen King famously disliked Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation and wrote this miniseries himself to stay faithful to his novel. The 1997 version restores key elements Kubrick omitted, including the topiary animals, Jack's alcoholism arc, and a more sympathetic portrayal of the Torrance family.
Is The Shining miniseries based on a true story?
The series is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, which was itself inspired by King's own struggles with alcoholism and his stay at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. While fictional, the themes of addiction and family dysfunction draw heavily from real personal experience.
Where can you stream The Shining 1997 miniseries?
The Shining miniseries is currently available to stream for free on Tubi TV. Availability may vary by region, so check your local streaming services for the latest updates.
Who plays Jack and Wendy Torrance in the 1997 version?
Steven Weber takes on the role of the troubled Jack Torrance, while Rebecca De Mornay portrays his resilient wife Wendy. Young Courtland Mead plays their son Danny, whose psychic gift — the shining — draws the hotel's malevolent forces toward the family.
Did Stephen King appear in The Shining miniseries?
Stephen King makes a cameo appearance in the miniseries, playing Gage Creed — a nod to the doomed child from his novel Pet Sematary. King also wrote the screenplay himself, making this adaptation a uniquely personal project and his most direct creative involvement in any screen version of his work.
How many episodes does The Shining 1997 miniseries have?
The miniseries consists of three feature-length episodes, each running approximately 90 minutes, originally broadcast on ABC in April 1997. Together they offer a sprawling, novelistic retelling of King's story that the format of a single film could never fully accommodate.
How was The Shining 1997 miniseries received by critics?
Critical reception was mixed but generally positive among King fans. Many praised its fidelity to the source novel and Steven Weber's layered performance, while others found the pacing slower than Kubrick's film. It earned a Saturn Award nomination and remains a beloved alternative for readers who felt Kubrick strayed too far from the book.
What are similar shows to The Shining miniseries?
If The Shining miniseries captivated you, explore The Haunting of Bly Manor for elegant supernatural dread, The Fall of the House of Usher for another King-adjacent gothic nightmare, or The Midnight Club for more Stephen King-inspired horror. The Leftovers also delivers that same unsettling atmosphere of isolation and psychological unraveling.
More About The Shining
Explore further details about the series on these authoritative resources: