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Cell adaptations: books & films
Every version of Cell — the books & films, compared across media.
Stephen King's Cell builds its horror on a single chilling premise: a mysterious signal transmitted through cell phone networks reduces most of humanity to savage, murderous creatures in an instant. What remains is a New England artist's desperate journey to reunite with his young son in a world that has collapsed overnight. That premise — the signal, the survivors, the devastated landscape — runs through both a novel and a film adaptation.
Cell films
Cell books
Frequently asked
Is the movie Cell based on a book?
Yes — the 2016 film Cell is based on the 2006 novel Cell by Stephen King. Both center on a signal broadcast over cell phone networks that triggers a violent epidemic, with survivors in New England trying to cope with the fallout.
How many versions of Cell are there?
There are two versions: Stephen King's 2006 novel Cell and the 2016 film adaptation, also titled Cell. Both tell the same core story of a catastrophic signal and its survivors.
Should I read the book or watch the Cell movie first?
The 2006 novel Cell is the original work and the film's source. The 2016 film adapts the same premise, so either can serve as an entry point depending on your preferred medium.