Directed by Mike Flanagan, based on Stephen King’s novella

Told in three acts played in reverse, The Life of Chuck traces the final moments of Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), a Maine-born accountant who dies at 39 from a brain tumor—with the end of his life mysteriously triggering an animated global apocalypse. In the middle act, Chuck encounters a street drummer and launches into an exuberant dance, celebrating life and connection despite his illness. The final act rewinds to his troubled childhood in Maine: orphaned and raised by grandparents (including an evocative turn from Mark Hamill), eager to unlock hidden truths and embrace every moment—even knowing his fate. King’s famed small-town Maine atmosphere shines throughout, and in Flanagan’s hands, the film leans into the emotional, even surreal, moments—especially a breathtaking street dance symbolizing joy in the face of loss. The result is a soul-stirring meditation on life’s fleeting beauty, its connections, and the bittersweet grace of acceptance.