'Stanley Kubrick's The Shining' Offers a Behind the Scenes Look on the Cult Classic

In 1966, Stanley Kubrick sought out to create “the world’s scariest movie.” A decade later, Stephen King’s The Shining landed on his desk, setting the stage for his 1980 adaptation which stands as one of cinema’s most iconic horror films, continuing to chill audiences even four decades later.

Taschen is celebrating this cinematic masterpiece with a newly released edition of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, just in time for the holidays. Across 1,396 pages and ten years in the making, the two-volume collection offers an unparalleled behind-the-scenes look at the film featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew, rare production photographs from the Stanley Kubrick Archive, conceptual art and more.

Edited by Academy Award winning, Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich, with text by J.W. Rinzler and Steven Spielberg, the collection channels the film’s iconic legacy in form and focus. Unkrich tapped M/M (Paris) to design the publication nearly eight years ago. The front cover nods to the infamous garden labyrinth, while the books themselves look like they were plucked off the shelves of The Overlook Hotel, taking the likes of a flimsy red hotel bible and the story’s enigmatic scrapbook.

From the mechanics of the legendary blood elevator to the endless rounds of script rewrites, the collection offers a compelling exploration of a cult-classic, presenting fresh perspectives while honoring Kubrick’s enduring mystery.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is now available to purchase on Taschen’s website and Amazon for $125 USD.