The Langoliers (1995)
Stephen King's chilling miniseries strands ten passengers in a ghostly, decaying world after everyone else on their flight mysteriously disappears.
The Langoliers - Series Information
- Original Title: The Langoliers
- First Air Year: 1995
- Last Air Year: 1995
- Created by: Stephen King
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mystery
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 2
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: May 14, 1995 (Germany - 16), May 14, 1995 (France - 12), May 14, 1995 (Brazil - 14)
- Networks: ABC
- Production Companies: Laurel Entertainment, Spelling Films, Worldvision
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: Välitila (FI), I Langolieri (IT), Stephen King's Langoliers - Verschollen im Zeitloch (DE), Les langoliers (FR), Grieta en el tiempo (MX), The Langoliers (BR), Langoliers (ES), The Langoliers - Stephen King (AU)
The Langoliers - Plot
A jet leaves on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Boston. But early in the flight, ten passengers awaken to a startling realization: All of the other passengers have vanished.
The Langoliers - Trailer
See the eerie mystery unfold in this official look at the miniseries:
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The Langoliers - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Stephen King
Main Cast
- Patricia Wettig
- Dean Stockwell
- Kate Maberly
- David Morse
- Bronson Pinchot
- Mark Lindsay Chapman
- Frankie Faison
- Christopher Collet
- Baxter Harris
- Kimber Riddle
Writers
- Tom Holland
Executive Producers
- Mitchell Galin
- Richard P. Rubinstein
The Langoliers - FAQs
What are the Langoliers in Stephen King's miniseries?
The Langoliers are terrifying creatures that devour the remnants of the past. In the story, the stranded passengers discover they've slipped into a dead zone of time — a world already spent — and the Langoliers are the universe's cleanup crew, consuming everything left behind before moving on.
Is The Langoliers based on a Stephen King story?
The miniseries adapts Stephen King's novella of the same name, published in his 1990 collection Four Past Midnight. King himself wrote the original story, and the adaptation stays closely faithful to its premise of passengers trapped in a mysterious, decaying version of reality.
Who plays the memorable villain Craig Toomy?
Bronson Pinchot delivers a wildly unhinged performance as Craig Toomy, a high-strung businessman whose grip on sanity rapidly disintegrates after the passengers vanish. His portrayal became one of the most talked-about elements of the miniseries, earning both praise and cult-favorite status for its sheer intensity.
Where can I watch The Langoliers today?
The Langoliers originally aired on ABC in May 1995 and has since been released on home video and DVD. Streaming availability varies by region and changes over time, so checking your local platforms or digital rental services is the best way to find current viewing options.
How many episodes does The Langoliers miniseries have?
The Langoliers is a two-part miniseries that aired across two nights on ABC in May 1995. Together, the two episodes run for approximately three hours, giving the story room to build tension and develop its ensemble cast of stranded passengers.
Who directed and wrote The Langoliers TV adaptation?
Tom Holland, best known for directing the horror classic Fright Night (1985) and the original Child's Play (1988), both directed and wrote the screenplay for The Langoliers. His dual role gave the production a unified creative vision, translating King's novella into a tense, atmospheric television event.
How was The Langoliers received by audiences and critics?
Reception was mixed but enthusiastic among Stephen King fans. Critics noted uneven pacing and dated visual effects, yet the miniseries drew strong ratings for ABC and developed a devoted cult following over the years. Bronson Pinchot's performance in particular remains a beloved touchstone of 1990s TV horror.
What shows are similar to The Langoliers?
Fans of The Langoliers tend to enjoy The Twilight Zone (1959), Manifest (2018), and The Outer Limits (1995) for their shared blend of supernatural mystery and existential dread. The OA (2016) and The Lost Room (2006) also capture that same unsettling sense of reality unraveling around ordinary people.
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