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The Shining

Play trailer 0:30 Poster for The Shining R 1980 2h 23m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 112 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by psychic premonitions. As Jack's writing goes nowhere and Danny's visions become more disturbing, Jack discovers the hotel's dark secrets and begins to unravel into a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorizing his family.

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The Shining

The Shining

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Critics Consensus

Though it deviates from Stephen King's novel, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a chilling, often baroque journey into madness -- exemplified by an unforgettable turn from Jack Nicholson.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 10/20/2023
The supernatural joins forces with psychosis in Stanley Kubrick’s superb adaptation of a Stephen King bestseller. Go to Full Review Jay Scott Globe and Mail 08/16/2022
Kubrick sabotages his own thesis in the most knuckleheaded way conceivable: we can't be charged as accomplices in horror when there is no horror. Go to Full Review David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture 06/17/2022
There are a few terrific thrills, and some eerie moments of dislocation that only Kubrick could achieve, but most of the movie is unfelt, unscary, and bizarrely heavy-handed. It's the first pompous haunted-house movie. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 19
5/5
‘…one of the great cinematic spell-binders that’s somehow more than the sum of the various memorable parts…’ Go to Full Review Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Jan 5
Nicholson gives the performance of his life here, subtly changing from a vaguely defeated family man to a maniacally leering American version of Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible. Go to Full Review Sebastian Zavala Kahn Cinencuentro Nov 3
5/5
'The Shining' is many things, but in the strictest sense, it is a highly disturbing and expertly crafted experience that, more than forty years after its original release, remains as relevant as ever. [Full review in Spanish]. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cesar Feb 25 If you enjoy watching classic horror, movies, this is a must see!!😎👍 See more ALVN h Dec 14 Movie is outdated but seeing it on the premium format IMAX in 2025 brings back why we love movies originally from the 70s , 80s, and 90s decades. To truly enjoy Kubrick's masterclass directorial efforts to bring Stephen King's novel onto the big screen , you have to enjoy the way it was filmed , the actors' performances and the haunting score. If you like classic horror and want to experience in the biggest picture format.... GO SEE THIS FILM See more Sebastian Dec 14 Thank you for bringing a classic like The Shining back to the big screen! See more geminielsy U 10/27/2024 Still one of my favorites. See more Dominick 10/19/2024 The greatest horror film of all time See more Fandango Customer C 10/02/2024 A masterpiece that stands the test of time. See more Read all reviews
The Shining

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Cast & Crew

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Jack Nicholson

Jack Torrance

Shelley Duvall

Wendy Torrance

Danny Lloyd

Danny

Scatman Crothers

Hallorann

Barry Nelson

Ullman

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The Shining

The Shining (1980) Presented by TCM: Fathom Events Trailer The Shining (1980) Presented by TCM: Fathom Events Trailer 0:30 View more videos
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The Shining

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado, hoping to cure his writer's block. He settles in along with his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by psychic premonitions. As Jack's writing goes nowhere and Danny's visions become more disturbing, Jack discovers the hotel's dark secrets and begins to unravel into a homicidal maniac hell-bent on terrorizing his family.
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Producer
Robert Fryer, Stanley Kubrick
Screenwriter
Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Producers Circle, Peregrine, Warner Brothers, Hawk Films
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 23, 1980, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
2h 23m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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