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Stephen King has been the architect of some of the most iconic narratives in the horror genre. His remarkable storytelling prowess is underscored by the numerous times his works have been transformed into films and television series by Hollywood, many of which have become timeless classics. Despite King’s own ambivalence toward these adaptations—some he admires, others he critiques—there is one particularly infamous flop that is garnering renewed interest on Netflix. The 2022 remake of “Firestarter” has surprisingly captured the attention of viewers, propelling it into the top 10 of the platform’s most-watched movies list.
Universal Pictures
The original “Firestarter” movie debuted in 1984, featuring a young Drew Barrymore as Charlie, a little girl gifted with pyrokinetic abilities due to dubious medical experiments conducted on her parents. The 2022 iteration stars Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie and was produced by Blumhouse, the horror studio behind contemporary hits like “Get Out,” “Insidious,” and “The Black Phone.” Although this version of “Firestarter” was heavily criticized, earning a mere 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have shown it more leniency. Its popularity surged once it was available on Netflix, quickly climbing the streaming service’s charts.
Stephen King’s adaptations are currently more popular than ever, with projects like the HBO Max series “It: Welcome to Derry” receiving enthusiastic acclaim. This moment presents an opportune time to explore this overlooked film on Netflix.
Upon its release in 2022, “Firestarter” faced a barrage of negative reviews and failed to secure any notable awards, at least from the Academy. However, it was recognized at the Golden Raspberry Awards, infamously known as the ‘Razzies,’ which highlight subpar films, performances, and directorial efforts. The nomination of Ryan Kiera Armstrong for her role drew considerable attention, prompting Drew Barrymore, the original film’s star, to step in and defend the young actress.
Barrymore denounced the nomination, labeling it as bullying, especially given Armstrong’s young age of just 12 years. She expressed her outrage on an episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” her regular daytime talk show, as reported by The Wrap. Barrymore stated, “This makes my blood boil. Please don’t do this to people who are younger. That’s not nice. And I really like Ryan, and as [the original] ‘Firestarter,’ don’t do this again.”
Drew Barrymore defended her successor — and changed award show rules
Olivia Wong/Getty Images
In response, the nomination was retracted. John B. Wilson, co-founder of the Razzies, acknowledged, “Sometimes, you do things without thinking.” He admitted that the criticism over nominating 11-year-old Armstrong brought to light the insensitivity of their decision. As reported by CNN, Wilson announced a new rule that only actors over the age of 18 would henceforth be considered for nomination.
Barrymore called out the nomination as a form of bullying because it targeted such a young actress. Armstrong was barely 12 years old at the time. “This makes my blood boil,” Barrymore said during an episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” the daytime talk show she regularly hosts (via The Wrap). “Please don’t do this to people who are younger. That’s not nice. And I really like Ryan, and as [the original] ‘Firestarter,’ don’t do this again.”
The nomination was withdrawn in response. “Sometimes, you do things without thinking,” said Razzies co-founder John B. Wilson in a statement published by CNN. “The recent valid criticism of the choice of 11-year-old Armstrong as a nominee for one of our awards brought our attention to how insensitive we’ve been in this instance.” Wilson went on to declare that, from then on, only actors over the age of 18 would be eligible for a nomination.
