The Shawshank Redemption

Released Sep 1, 1994

2h 22m

Drama

List

89%

Tomatometer

141 Reviews

98%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover and is sentenced to a tough prison. However, only Andy knows he didn't commit the crimes. While there, he forms a friendship with Red (Morgan Freeman), experiences brutality of prison life, adapts, helps the warden, etc., all in 19 years.

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Critics Consensus

Steeped in old-fashioned storytelling and given evergreen humanity by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, The Shawshank Redemption chronicles the hardship of incarceration patiently enough to come by its uplift honestly.

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Jonathan Romney

Guardian

If this is a feel-good movie -- and by the end it certainly is -- then at least it challenges us to dig deep for those good feelings when everything inside those mausoleum walls is unrelievedly harsh and grey.

Mar 4, 2024

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

The Shawshank Redemption is both resigned and inspirational, grittily realistic and vaguely surreal, matter-of-fact and operatic. Somehow, these opposites are combined into a remarkably smooth and lyrical composition.

Mar 4, 2024

Full Review

Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

The sad thing is that The Shawshank Redemption, a so-so film, would have made a terrific little movie. A pacier project would have given us less time to notice sentimentalities.

Mar 4, 2024

Full Review

Dan Buffa

Ramble On With Buffa (Substack)

Darabont cut right to the heart of a flock of human birds trapped in a giant cage, under the watch of a corrupt warden and terrifyingly sinister guard. It was serious, certain, and made you laugh. Freeman's legend has never shined brighter.

Rated: A+

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Next to Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption ranks as the strongest, purest film ever made from a novel or novella by Stephen King, a monster film where the horrors are frighteningly human.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 4, 2024

Full Review

Yardena Arar

Los Angeles Daily News

It's Robbins and Freeman who carry the film, working around the most predictable moments with simple understatement.

Mar 4, 2024

Full Review

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John

The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie. Nothing better than watching this classic film on the big screen. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins are at their best. The music of Thomas Newman is remarkable in the theater. An amazing movie experience!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Jonathan L

One of the greatest movies of all time it was tremendous to see it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen, as an electric roller coaster ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

incredible, exciting and lots of plot twists I highly recommend it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

Md. Tanim A

" The Shawshank Redemption " just beautiful , this was a simple story but a perfect enigmatic cinema and world's #1 movie. A lesson i learned from this movie which is " Hope is a good thing and good things never dies "

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Audience Member

just watch this masterpiece of a movie, no spoilers, no idea of it, just watch it. It is amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/03/24

Full Review

Ketan K

Extremely well written and produced. The story of an inmate who inspires hope and persevance among his peers while investigating the nature of his own crime. A favourite amongst many.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/03/24

Full Review

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Frank Darabont

Director

Tim Robbins

Andy Dufresne

Morgan Freeman

Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding

Bob Gunton

Warden Samuel Norton

William Sadler

Heywood

Clancy Brown

Captain Byron Hadley

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13%

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Synopsis

Director: Frank Darabont
Producer: Niki Marvin
Screenwriter: Frank Darabont
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: R (Prison Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.3M
Runtime: 2h 22m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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The Shawshank Redemption

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