Misery
“Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he’s writing to stay alive.”
Synopsis
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official SizzleOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-09-07
Top Cast
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Kathy Bates
Annie Wilkes
James Caan
Paul Sheldon
Richard Farnsworth
Buster
Lauren Bacall
Marcia Sindell
Frances Sternhagen
Virginia
Graham Jarvis
Libby
Jerry Potter
Pete
Thomas Brunelle
Anchorman
June Christopher
Anchorwoman
Julie Payne
Reporter #1
Archie Hahn
Reporter #2
Gregory Snegoff
Reporter #3
Wendy Bowers
Waitress
Rob Reiner
Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
J.T. Walsh
State Trooper Sherman Douglas (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 30, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 29, 1998
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$61.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.06x
+$41.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Screenplay & Story
- William Goldman
- Original Score
- Marc Shaiman
- Original Title
- Misery
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Worldwide Gross
- $61.3M
- Production Studios
- Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rob Reiner
William Goldman, Stephen King
Marc Shaiman
Barry Sonnenfeld, Gary B. Kibbe
Robert Leighton
Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman
Department Leadership Roster
Rob Reiner
Director
William Goldman
Screenplay
Rob Reiner
Producer
Andrew Scheinman
Producer
Marc Shaiman
Original Music Composer
Barry Sonnenfeld
Director of Photography
Robert Leighton
Editor
David R. Ellis
Stunt Coordinator
Norman Garwood
Production Design
Gloria Gresham
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Misery.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Misery
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Misery about?
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
Who directed Misery?
Misery was directed by Rob Reiner.
Who stars in Misery?
The principal cast of Misery includes Kathy Bates, James Caan, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall, Frances Sternhagen.
When was Misery released and how long is it?
Misery was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 1h 47m.
What was the box office and production budget of Misery?
Misery had a reported production budget of $20M and grossed $61.3M at the worldwide box office (3.06 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Misery?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Misery was composed by Marc Shaiman.
Is Misery based on a book or true story?
Misery is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Stephen King".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Misery?
Misery holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).