Did you know that the master of horror, Stephen King, once stepped behind the camera to direct a movie? And let’s just say, it didn’t go as planned. Maximum Overdrive, released in 1986, is the only film King ever directed—and it’s now streaming for free. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the movie is easily accessible on platforms like Tubi, Roku, Pluto TV, and even ad-free for a small fee on Google Play or Apple TV+, its availability might just be because it’s… well, not very good. Starring Emilio Estevez as a cook with a criminal past, the film explores a wild premise: what if machines suddenly came to life and started killing people? Think vending machines launching soda cans as weapons and steamrollers with a mind of their own. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? But this isn’t Transformers—it’s a full-length film built around what feels like a 20-second gag stretched way too thin.
And this is the part most people miss: Maximum Overdrive isn’t just a forgotten flick; it’s a film King himself disowned. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 14% and an IMDb rating of 5.4/10, it’s safe to say it didn’t win over critics or audiences. But the most damning review came from King himself, who admitted in an interview for Hollywood’s Stephen King that he was ‘coked out of his mind’ during production and had no idea what he was doing. Ouch. While he learned from the experience and expressed interest in directing again, he never did. Maybe sticking to writing was the wiser choice—after all, King’s genius lies in his ability to craft vivid characters and pacing that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Directing, on the other hand? Not so much.
But here’s the real question: Is Maximum Overdrive as bad as everyone says, or does it deserve a second look? Some might argue it’s a cult classic, a bizarre artifact of the ’80s that’s so bad it’s good. Others might say it’s a cautionary tale about the limits of talent. What do you think? Is King’s directorial debut a failure, or does it have a redeeming quality we’re all missing? Let’s debate in the comments—and if you’re curious, why not stream it for free and judge for yourself?
