A detailed, highly favorable discussion of Misery as a near-perfect, tightly executed Stephen King adaptation, driven above all by Kathy Bates’ performance as Annie Wilkes. The hosts focus on Stephen King’s 1980s cultural dominance, Rob Reiner’s directing run, William Goldman’s screenplay and the hobbling scene, plus casting what-ifs and why the movie remains intensely rewatchable despite being mostly set in one room.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSpeakers were clearly identifiedExplore the connections
favorableRichard FarnsworthBill Simmons: His role as the sheriff is treated as effective and memorable, though the character’s death is emotionally rough for the hosts. Opening minutes
favorableFrances SternhagenBill Simmons: Praised for her role as the sheriff’s wife and as a strong scene partner in brief appearances. Opening minutes
mixedLauren BacallBrian Koppelman: Mentioned as part of the later Four Seasons material and briefly proposed as an alternate casting thought, with some sense she felt TV-movie-ish. Opening minutes · medium confidence
very favorableBill GoldmanBill Simmons: Referenced affectionately as ‘our friend Goldman’ and used as a model of legendary screenwriting wisdom. Opening minutes
Admires King’s ability to generate terrifying, high-concept stories that also feel emotionally relatable.
Opening minutes
5 ThemesThe larger ideas in the discussion
Stephen King as a cultural force
The hosts frame King as the biggest writer of the era, comparable to the Beatles in cultural reach, and note how widely his books translated to film.
Opening minutes
Addiction as subtext
They interpret Annie Wilkes as a representation of King’s drug dependency and the struggle to escape it.
Opening minutes
Adaptation and creative compromise
A major thread is how Reiner/Goldman changed the hobbling scene and other elements, showing that filmmaking often improves through unexpected revisions.
Opening minutes
Star baggage versus anonymity
They debate whether stars help or hurt a role, using Kathy Bates as the ideal unknown face and comparing that to other actors who bring too much history.
Opening minutes
Performance contrast
The episode contrasts Bates’ stage-like, total immersion with Caan’s restrained, movie-star physicality.
Opening minutes
25 Facts and referencesProduction notes and other movies mentioned
Production note
Kathy Bates won Best Actress for Misery and the hosts note it was the first time a woman won the category for a horror/thriller performance.
Opening minutes
Production note
The film was adapted from Stephen King’s novel and King later said Annie Wilkes was his favorite character he wrote.
Opening minutes
Production note
The screenplay and production changed the original mutilation from chopping off the foot to breaking the ankle.
Opening minutes
Production note
Rob Reiner appears uncredited as the helicopter pilot.
Opening minutes
Production note
Laurie Metcalf starred in the 2015 Broadway adaptation as Annie Wilkes, with Bruce Willis as Paul Sheldon.
Opening minutes
Production note
Brian Koppelman says James Caan arrived hungover and had to reshoot scenes after unusable takes.
Opening minutes · medium confidence
Production note
Stephen King allowed himself exactly four cigarettes a day after quitting, which Brian says echoed the film’s cigarette detail.
Opening minutes
Production note
The fake hobbling legs were molded out of gelatin with wire and prosthetics so they could bend correctly.
Opening minutes
Production note
The film made about $61.3 million on a $20 million budget.
Opening minutes
Production note
Bill Goldman had a strong personal association with the Knicks and would walk by Bill at games.
Opening minutes
Stand By Me
Used as one of King’s best adaptations and as a possible double feature partner.
Opening minutes
The Shawshank Redemption
Named among the top Stephen King adaptations and a classic benchmark.
Opening minutes
The Shining
Discussed as a classic King adaptation and a major reference point in the horror canon.
Opening minutes
The Dead Zone
Discussed as a great King adaptation and a film that explains politics better than many others.
Opening minutes
Carrie
Mentioned as part of the early wave of successful Stephen King adaptations.
Opening minutes
All in the Family
Used to frame Rob Reiner’s fame as 'Meathead' before his directing career.
Opening minutes
Spinal Tap
Cited as an early Reiner directing success that changed his career path.
Opening minutes
When Harry Met Sally...
Used as part of Reiner’s run of classic films and later as a possible double feature pair.
Opening minutes
A Few Good Men
Mentioned as another major Reiner success and a benchmark for satisfaction and rewatchability.
Opening minutes
Rounders
Used in Brian’s anecdote about the value of showing the cards to the audience.
Opening minutes
Billions
Referenced while discussing actor baggage and audience adjustment to a new role.
Opening minutes · medium confidence
Homeland
Referenced as Damian Lewis’s prior role that audiences had to unlearn.
Opening minutes · medium confidence
NYPD Blue
Used to discuss actor replacement and character continuity in long-running TV.
Opening minutes
L.A. Law
Referenced as part of a discussion about Victor Sifuentes and character replacement.
Opening minutes
The West Wing
Mentioned as another favorite network show and as part of the actor-baggage discussion.
Opening minutes
10 Running jokes and short linesRecurring bits captured from the conversation
Goldman/Knicks sightings
Bill repeatedly reminisces about seeing Bill Goldman at Knicks games and treating him like a movie-world celebrity.
Opening minutes
Brunson panic
The episode repeatedly detours into Knicks angst about signing Jalen Brunson.
Opening minutes
Mr. Man
'Mr. Man' is highlighted as a hilarious recurring Annie Wilkes phrase and a household joke.
Opening minutes
Cockadoody / Annie insults
The hosts enjoy quoting Annie’s weird, childish curses and insults as part of her unique voice.
Opening minutes
Bedridden logistics jokes
They keep joking about how much the movie skips over bathroom and physical-care details.
Opening minutes
Bill Simmons
“you sick, twisted fuck”
Opening minutes
Brian Koppelman
“What's the name of that Dago”
Opening minutes
Brian Koppelman
“If I die, you die.”
Opening minutes
Bill Simmons
“I go out of my way for you”
Opening minutes
Bill Simmons
“You'll never know the fear”
Opening minutes
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
Where to watch
UNITED STATES
Checking where Misery is available…
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Movies to watch before and after.
Three movies to watch before Misery, and three to watch next.
Finding six movies…Three to watch first and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
2 voices on this episode
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
BKBrian KoppelmanThe Rewatchables
REWATCH FAVS
One of your favorites?
Upvote it for the live listener ranking.
YOUR PROGRESS
Save this one to your tracker
Sign in with Google only when you want to save progress. The rest of the site stays public.
KEEP LISTENING
Hear the full conversation
Play the episode directly from the official feed, open it on Spotify, or save it to your private Listen Later playlist.
