One of the best-known late-20th century horror writers is Stephen King, known for Carrie, The Shining, It, Misery, and several dozen other novels and about 200 short stories. Beginning in the 1970s, King's stories have attracted a large audience, for which he was awarded by the U.S. National Book Foundation in 2003.

According to Stephen King, people crave horror movies because they serve as a way to confront and deal with the fears and anxieties that exist in the real world. He suggests that watching horror movies allows people to experience fear in a controlled environment, providing a sense of catharsis and relief.