Editorials
Happy 37th Birthday to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining!’
On May 23, 1980, Stanley Kubrick’s seminal horror film The Shining was unleashed upon the world. Adapted from Stephen King’s classic 1977 novel of the same name, The Shining has become known as one of the scariest movies of all time, as well as regarded as one of the best horror films of all time. We all know Stephen King feels about Kubrick’s adaptation of his third novel, but interestingly enough, audience and critical reception were decidedly mixed when the film was first released. We thought we’d take a look back at just what people thought about The Shining back in 1980.
In terms of box office, The Shining would go on to gross $44 million upon in 1980 ($127.8 million in 2016 dollars). Of course, it only made $622,337 its opening weekend. That was only in 10 theaters, which gives it a respectable $62,233.70 per theater average, but when you consider the fact that Friday the 13th grossed $5.8 million when it opened just two weeks prior (though that was in 110x more theaters) it puts it a bit more into perspective. Luckily, the film would go on to earn more than double its $19 million production budget.
Would you believe that The Shining was also nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards? Stanley Kubrick was nominated for Worst Director and Shelley Duvall was nominated for Worst Actress (something Stephen King was probably not too upset about). In fact, The Shining was the only one out the last nine films that Kubrick made not to be nominated for an Academy Award or a Golden Globe. It seems almost impossible to believe now, but The Shining was once critically maligned by many critics.
Variety agreed with King’s perception of the film, stating that it “destroy[ed] all that was so terrifying about Stephen King’s bestseller.” The Guardian wrote that “If The Shining isn’t trivial, it certainly encourages one to think that it is.” Gary Arnold of The Washington Post went on to describe it as an “elaborately ineffective scare movie.” What is fascinating about his review is that he points out that trailer for the film gives away its best money shot (the blood coming out of the elevator doors), showing that even in 1980, people were pissy about trailers showing all the good stuff.
Not all reviews were so negative, however. Janet Maslin of the The New York Times gave the film a positive review, though she did mention that “the film’s climactic chase virtually fizzles out before it reaches a resolution.” Roger Ebert, who failed to review the film upon its initial release would go back to the film in 2006 and add it to his list of “Great Movies.”
Of course, we all know that The Shining is a fantastic film, right? Truth be told, The Shining was always one of my least favorite Stephen King novels (I’m so sorry Mr. King. If we ever meet please don’t hold that against me). I’m more of a Misery guy myself, but perhaps my general animosity toward’s King’s novel is why I love Kubrick’s film version so much. King was right when he described the film as “cold” and that’s what makes it such an effective and (sorry) chilling horror film.
What are your thoughts on The Shining? Do your negative thoughts on the film now feel validated by knowing that not everyone adores the film? Or do find the film to be the classic it is so often claimed to be? Either way, give the film a re-watch on its 37th birthday today, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Originally published on this day last year.
A new month means a new guide as titles are added (and dropped) from streaming services. Let’s unpack the most exciting titles that are available to watch on Tubi in July 2026.
New to Tubi July Horror Films
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Premise: Searching for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.
- Why Watch It? Let’s be frank: Director Renny Harlin has made some absolute dogs in the last few years (the less said about The Strangers trilogy the better, though this year’s Deep Water was actually ok). Deep Blue Sea remains one of the Finnish director’s best contemporary efforts, though. Between the great cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Stellan Skarsgård, Michael Rapaport, LL Cool J, Thomas Jane, and Jane’s sleeveless wetsuit), the ridiculous premise, and that damn/dumb song (“My hat is like a shark’s fin”), you basically can’t go wrong with Deep Blue Sea. It’s one of two great shark films gliding onto Tubi this month, so why not stay out of the water and watch this instead?
- Streaming: July 1
Exorcist II: Heretic (1977)
- Premise: Reagan (Linda Blair), a girl once possessed by a demon, finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) investigates the death of the priest who performed her exorcism.
- Why Watch It? August sees the release of documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the troubled production of this sequel. The notoriety surrounding Heretic has undoubtedly kept plenty of horror fans away from the sequel, but this truly is a “seeing is believing” kind of film. Real talk: it’s undeniably a disaster, but the John Boorman film has also become a minor cult film. Don’t you want to see it to make up your own mind?
- Streaming: July 1
Hostel: Part III (2011)
- Premise: Four men attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas fall prey to the Elite Hunting Club, who are hosting a gruesome game show of torture.
- Why Watch It? What does Hostel look like without Eli Roth? Part III kinda answers the question. Technically Roth is still a writer, but he hands over the directorial reins to Scott Spiegel (best known for acting in Evil Dead films). The result is a film with a terrible pedigree; it’s also the first (and last) entry to skip theatres before the franchise was permanently shelved (until that TV show with Paul Giamatti shows up?). For some horror fans, however, there’s something exciting about a bad low-budget sequel. Just bear in mind that the Hostel: Part III‘s biggest star is Kip Pardue…so adjust your expectations accordingly before hitting play.
- Streaming: July 1
Insidious 1-3 (2010/2013/2015)
- Premise: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
- Why Watch It? It’s hard to believe that the sixth (!) Insidious movie is coming out in a month and a half, but James Wan and Leigh Whannell‘s other horror franchise has been steadily chugging along for sixteen years. It’s a shame that Tubi doesn’t have all five films available to watch, but in terms of quality, you can do far worse than the original trio. The first film is iconic, and the second is basically an extended coda (with some admittedly problematic stuff going on). I’ll go to bat for Whannell’s 2015 directorial debut, though: there’s a few banger sequences in that film that people slept on.
- Streaming: July 1
Man Finds Tape (2025)
- Premise: After finding mysterious video clips, siblings investigate the strange recordings and uncover a disturbing secret spreading through their Texas town.
- Why Watch It? Writer/directors Paul Gandersman and Peter S. Hall‘s well-received found footage film did an extensive tour of the festival circuit, so now is a great time to check out one of the most contemporary titles debuting on Tubi this month. Surely a title that hails from producers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring and The Endless) is worth a free look?
- Streaming: July 2
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- Premise: A depressed musician Adam (Tom Hiddleston) reunites with his lover Eve (Tilda Swinton). However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska).
- Why Watch It? This beautiful, melancholy vampire film is courtesy of writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who doesn’t often dabble in genre fare. As always, some will quibble if this artsy drama qualifies as horror, but the existential ennui of an eternal life certainly qualifies (bonus: there’s also something inherently sexy about watching Hiddleston and Swinton just lay about). Plus: if Leviticus has you hankering for more Wasikowska, this is an under the radar pick.
- Streaming: July 1
The Shallows (2016)
- Premise:A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.
- Why Watch It? What better time to watch a shark movie than July? The temperatures are soaring and the idea of escaping into the water is so tantalizing. This tight, contained thriller features a great performance by Lively (and that damn seagull!), but it’s the direction from genre fave Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan; the House of Wax remake) that keeps the movie clicking along like clockwork. At 86 minutes, this is a perfect summer flick.
- Streaming: July 1
Vacancy (2007)
- Premise: Stranded in an isolated motel, a couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) become the unsuspecting subjects of a snuff film.
- Why Watch It? I’m not going to pretend that this Nimród Antal-directed home invasion film is high art, but it is a good time. You’ll likely wish there were deeper characterizations for Wilson and Beckinsale’s David and Amy in Mark L. Smith‘s screenplay, but this mid-aughts thriller is tense, exciting, and just the right amount of grimy. Plus: another short runtime, clocking in at an expeditious 85 minutes!
- Streaming: July 1
July Tubi Originals
The One Next Door (2026)
- Premise: When a mysterious stranger moves in next door to Robert and Tabitha, boundaries are tested, loyalty is questioned, and danger comes for all.
- Streaming: July 10
I Know Where You Live (2026)
- Premise: Sarah thinks she’s found “the one” until his flaws emerge. When she pulls away, chilling threats suggest he’s watching her from inside her own home.
- Streaming: July 24
What’s your favorite from the list above? Will you check out the new Original? Sound off in the comments below
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