The Shining

Year: 1980

Runtime: 146 min

Language: English

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Budget: $19M

ThrillerHorror

A struggling writer, Jack Torrance, accepts a winter caretaker position at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies, hoping the solitude will overcome his writer's block. He brings his wife, Wendy, and their young son, Danny. However, the hotel harbors a dark history, and as Jack becomes increasingly isolated by the heavy snowfall, he slowly descends into madness, threatening his family and uncovering terrifying secrets within the Overlook's walls.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Shining yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Shining (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Shining (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

Main Characters – The Shining (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Shining (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

Major Themes – The Shining (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Shining (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:07

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Slow burn horror movies with psychological collapse like The Shining

Stories where isolation and psychological pressure lead to a terrifying unraveling.If you liked the slow, terrifying unraveling of Jack Torrance in The Shining, this thread features movies with similar psychological horror. Find films where characters descend into madness in isolated settings, featuring oppressive atmospheres, heavy tension, and bleak outcomes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist, often already vulnerable, who is placed in a confined or isolated setting. The pressure of the environment, combined with internal or supernatural forces, methodically erodes their sanity. The story structure is a slow escalation from unease to full-blown psychosis, where the line between reality and delusion blurs, typically culminating in violence and a bleak resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a slow, methodical pacing that builds unbearable tension, a consistently high intensity driven by psychological horror, and a bleak, heavy emotional weight. They explore similar themes of isolation, paranoia, and the fragility of the human mind.

Supernatural horror movies with haunted locations like The Shining's Overlook Hotel

Where the setting itself is a malevolent character preying on its inhabitants.For viewers who loved the malevolent Overlook Hotel in The Shining, this collection features movies where the setting is the true villain. Discover similar horror films about haunted places with dark histories that actively torment their residents, creating an atmosphere of inescapable dread and supernatural terror.

hauntedatmosphericominoussupernaturalunsettlinggothicdreadhistory

Narrative Summary

The central conflict is between characters and the sentient, evil nature of their environment. The location's dark history is slowly revealed through supernatural phenomena, visions, or echoes of past violence. The narrative involves characters uncovering these secrets while simultaneously being manipulated or driven insane by the location's influence, leading to a struggle for survival against an intangible, environmental foe.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their use of a pervasive, atmospheric dread generated by the setting itself. They share a tense, ominous tone, a focus on supernatural horror, and the theme of a place's history repeating itself. The experience is defined by a feeling of being trapped and hunted by one's surroundings.

Unlock the Full Story of The Shining

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Shining in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Shining is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Shining Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Shining, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Shining Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Shining with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Shining Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Shining that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About The Shining

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Shining: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Shining

Discover movies like The Shining that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.