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1408

1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film directed by Mikael Håfström and based on Stephen King’s 1999 short story of the same name.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film directed by Mikael Håfström and based on Stephen King's 1999 short story of the same name. It stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson and follows a sceptical writer who investigates a haunted hotel room in New York City. The film was released in the United States on June 22, 2007, and became a commercial success.

Plot

The film follows Mike Enslin, a sceptical author of books about haunted places, who checks into the Dolphin Hotel despite warnings not to enter room 1408. Once inside, he experiences escalating supernatural and psychological phenomena.

Production and release

1408 was directed by Mikael Håfström and written by Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski. It was released in the United States on June 22, 2007, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer under The Weinstein Company.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics and performed strongly at the box office, earning roughly US$133 million worldwide on a US$25 million production budget.

Source material

The film adapts Stephen King's short story "1408", first published in 1999. The adaptation retains the story's central premise of a cursed hotel room and a sceptical investigator.

Key facts

  • Based on Stephen King's 1999 short story "1408".
  • Directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Håfström.
  • Stars John Cusack as Mike Enslin and Samuel L. Jackson as the hotel manager.
  • A box-office success, grossing about US$133 million against a US$25 million budget.
  • Set in a New York City hotel room with a reputation for deadly and unexplained events.
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Canadian context

The film was released theatrically in Canada in 2007 and is part of the wider North American horror film market, with ongoing availability through home video and streaming in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is 1408?
1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film based on Stephen King's short story about a haunted hotel room.
Who directed 1408?
Mikael Håfström directed the film.
Who stars in 1408?
The film stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.
When was 1408 released?
It was released in the United States on June 22, 2007.
What is 1408 based on?
It is based on Stephen King's 1999 short story "1408".
How did 1408 perform commercially?
It was a box-office success, grossing about US$133 million worldwide against a US$25 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1408_(film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, writers, cast, plot premise, release date, runtime, and box-office figures.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1408
    Supports: Genre, release date, runtime, and synopsis.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/1408
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA rating, cast, director, and release context.