Based on a short story by Stephen King, The Children of the Corn is a horror classic that has spawned multiple sequels.


Children of the Corn. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the 1977 book
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
Fritz Kiersch, 1984

Young lovers on a cross-country trip stop in a small Nebraska community and make a shocking discovery. One day, three years prior to the couples’ arrival, the town’s children killed all of the grown-ups at the apparent behest of a demon simply dubbed “He Who Walks Behind the Rows.”


Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice. Poster of the 1992 movie and cover of the 1977 book, Children of the Corn
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
David Price, 1992

Arriving in Gatlin, Nebraska, a news-reporter and his son get wind of a story about the youth in the town murdering their parents finds that a series of brutal murders are revealed to be worshipers of the corn-stalks and try to stop them before they carry out their plans.


Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest. Poster of the 1995 movie and cover of the 1977 book, Children of the Corn
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
James D.R. Hickox, 1995

Eli and Joshua are being taken into foster care with William and Amanda Porter of Chicago after the death of their father, who was killed by Eli. On his first night in Chicago, after everyone else has gone to sleep, Eli quietly leaves the Porters’, taking his corn-filled suitcase, and heads to an empty factory on the other side of a nearby cornfield.


Children of the Corn. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the 1977 book
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
Donald P. Borchers, 2009

Set primarily in 1975 in the fictional town of Gatlin, Nebraska this remake of the 1984 original centers around traveling couple Burt and Vicky as they fight to survive a cult of murderous children who worship an entity known as He Who Walks Behind The Rows, which had years earlier manipulated the children into killing every adult in town.


Children of the Corn: The Gathering. Poster of the 1996 movie and cover of the 1977 book, Children of the Corn
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
Greg Spence, 1996

Medical student Grace Rhodes returns to her hometown of Grand Island, Nebraska to take care of her agoraphobic mother June, who refuses to leave her yard. One night, a group of children descend upon the house, led by a child preacher, and Sandra is murdered in front of Marcus.


Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror. Poster of the 1998 movie and cover of the 1977 book, Children of the Corn
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
Ethan Wiley, 1998

A group of teenagers become lost in middle America and arrive in Divinity Falls, where forgotten children have taken on the duty of serving He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Upon arrival, they are stopped by Ezekial, who could be considered the leader of the children, and he informs them they are on private property and must leave.


Children of the Corn: Genesis. Poster of the 2011 movie and cover of the 1977 book, Children of the Corn
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Children of the Corn
Stephen King, 1977
movie vs book
Joel Soisson, 2011

Tim and Allie’s car breaks down and they attempt to find shelter in a remote desert farmhouse after becoming lost. They find their hosts weird but don’t think much of it and head to bed after dinner. Allie wanders off in the middle of the night after using the outhouse, and discovers the garage has been converted into a cult worshipping church.

“As an author, it's a strange process to watch your novel turned into a movie. It's tremendously exciting but somewhat voyeuristic.”

MARCUS SAKEY (Writer)