Stephen King is well-known for crafting gripping openings and unforgettable storylines, but it is often the ending that leaves readers fiercely divided. In exploring the most infamous Stephen King story endings ranked, this article breaks down the ten most hotly debated, shocking, or controversial conclusions in his expansive bibliography, demonstrating how these finales continue to fuel discussion among fans and critics alike.
Assessing the Most Notable Stephen King Endings
While Stephen King’s beginnings instantly pull readers into thrilling worlds—whether it’s a haunted hotel with a spiraling caretaker in “The Shining” or a time traveler on a mission to prevent the John F. Kennedy assassination in “11.22.63”—his endings have drawn as much infamy as praise. Some of his most discussed stories close on polarizing notes, featuring twisted turns, abrupt stops, or ambiguous fates. The blend of emotion, surprise, and sometimes dissatisfaction ensures these climaxes remain conversation pieces for years. Below are ten endings that have become especially notorious, each infamous for reasons ranging from shocking brutality to unsatisfying closure or unresolved mysteries.
10. ‘Desperation’—A Tale That Slows Down
Penned alongside its twin novel “The Regulators” (under King’s Richard Bachman alias), “Desperation” introduces an ancient evil known as Tak terrorizing an unlucky group of travelers in a small desert town. The narrative begins with a suspenseful setup: multiple characters detained by an eccentric sheriff, their fates uncertain as evil looms. Yet, as the plot shifts to a broad “good vs. evil” confrontation, many readers feel the energy dissipate. Despite a powerful start, the last half is often viewed as losing momentum and not living up to the eerie anticipation, leading to mixed reactions about its place among King’s finales.
9. ‘The Tommyknockers’—A Lengthy Descent into Madness
“The Tommyknockers” stands out not just for its sprawling story but also for the divisive nature of its ending. King himself has admitted that the novel could benefit from a thorough re-edit. The plot centers on the discovery of an alien spacecraft fragment in a quiet town, with local residents slowly succumbing to its mental influence. The conclusion is both a relief and a letdown: after hundreds of pages, the resolution arrives swiftly and unceremoniously, attempting to tie up a messy narrative. For readers who make it through the uneven pacing, the ending’s brevity and tidiness, compared to the epic build-up, remain fiercely debated.
8. ‘The Colorado Kid’—An Unresolved Mystery
Short and steeped in ambiguity, “The Colorado Kid” purposely avoids providing satisfying answers. The novella investigates a mysterious dead body case but deliberately never reveals the solution, centering instead on the allure and frustration of unsolved mysteries. The novel’s brevity softens the blow of its lack of closure, yet the open-ended conclusion leaves many readers unsettled. While thematically consistent with the story’s reflections on the unknowable aspects of life and crime, those looking for a conventional ending may find this one particularly vexing.
7. ‘The Mist’—Ambiguity and Despair Collide
Originally penned as a short story and collected in “Skeleton Crew,” “The Mist” presents readers with a chilling scenario: survivors trapped in a supermarket as horrific creatures roam outside and paranoia festers inside. The original narrative concludes with uncertainty, leaving the fate of the protagonists open for interpretation. However, Frank Darabont’s 2007 film adaptation took the ending further, introducing a harrowing twist: a father kills his companions and son to spare them from perceived doom, only to realize rescue was moments away. This infamous cinematic gut-punch isn’t in King’s text, but both versions are linked eternally in debates about the darkest of story endings.
6. ‘The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands’—Suspense with No Quick Relief
The third entry in King’s epic series,
“The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands,”
infamously closes on a precarious cliffhanger. Roland and his companions find themselves on a sentient, deadly train that demands a game of riddles; failure means certain death. When this novel debuted in 1991, readers were left dangling for six years before “Wizard and Glass” provided answers. While today’s fans can read the next volume quickly, those earlier left in suspense still remember the frustration and anticipation of the long wait. Even after resolution, the following volume subverts expectations by shifting into a lengthy flashback, fueling further debate about the storytelling direction.
5. ‘Cujo’—Heartbreak That Divides Book and Film Audiences
“Cujo” delivers a devious twist by placing its harshest resolution in the original novel rather than its film adaptation. The plot unravels the terror of a rabid dog laying siege to a car-bound mother and son in a small town. In King’s narrative, the boy succumbs to dehydration, cementing the book’s tragic tone; the movie, on the other hand, allows him to survive, softening the blow for audiences. Both versions prompt strong emotional responses, and readers and viewers continue to debate which ending best embodies the core of the story.
4. ‘Under the Dome’—A Journey with an Unexpected Destination
Set in a town suddenly trapped beneath an impenetrable dome, “Under the Dome” starts with explosive momentum as panic and chaos spread. The story remains riveting for most of its pages; however, the eventual explanation behind the dome’s appearance is often labeled outlandish. The resolution polarizes readers, some of whom feel the wild reveal undermines the earlier suspense. Still, even detractors frequently concede that the ride itself, more than the destination, carries the narrative’s strongest qualities.
“more about the journey than the destination”
– Stephen King
3. ‘It’—A Cosmic, Controversial Culmination
Bringing together its child and adult timelines, “It” attempts to resolve two interconnected battles against the shape-shifting entity terrorizing Derry, Maine. The book’s sprawling finale, which delves into cosmic horror and features deeply unsettling sequences—particularly in the childhood narrative—never fails to ignite passionate discourse. While some find the metaphysical elements compelling, others are thrown by their abstractness or by the infamous scenes that King’s narrative is known for. Regardless of perspective, the strength of feeling inspired by the ending is a testament to its lasting impact.
2. ‘The Stand’—Good Versus Evil in Unpredictable Fashion
“The Stand” maps an apocalyptic world where a superflu wipes out most of humanity and surviving factions rally around forces of good and evil. Spanning three lengthy acts, the story’s denouement is marked by an abrupt deus ex machina: the villains are destroyed unexpectedly, leaving readers to wrestle with the implications and the ominous suggestion that evil is never truly vanquished. At over a thousand pages, many expected a more conventional showdown, but instead received an ambiguous, unsettling finish that keeps the debate alive decades after publication.
1. ‘The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower’—A Never-Ending Quest
Perhaps King’s boldest conclusion,
“The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower”
bears the impossible weight of wrapping up a seven-book (or eight, for some) cycle. The gunslinger Roland finally arrives at the mythic Dark Tower, only for the story to loop back to its beginning, suggesting he is doomed to repeat his journey with only minor changes. Along the way, vital companions are lost, villains are dispatched at unexpected junctures, and the nature of Roland’s fate is left to readers’ imaginations.
The cyclical structure challenges traditional resolution and rewards deeper reflection, with King taking significant narrative risks that polarized readers on release. Some regard the ending as spectacularly daring; others were left angered or dissatisfied. The finale ultimately stands as an emblem of King’s willingness to subvert expectations at every turn.
Why Stephen King Endings Continue to Spark Debate
The endings to Stephen King’s most famous works have generated endless discussion, with emotions running high across the spectrum from admiration to frustration. King’s ability to evoke strong reactions stems not just from what happens in the closing pages, but how he challenges readers’ expectations about resolution and meaning. Whether leaving fates unresolved, introducing chilling twists, or looping stories back to their beginnings, King’s notorious finales demonstrate the enduring power of ambiguity and controversy in storytelling. As these ten infamous endings show, a conclusively perfect ending is elusive, but a story that prompts fierce conversation is a legacy in its own right.
