The Shawshank Redemption

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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The Shawshank Redemption

What to Know

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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Critics Reviews

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The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

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

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The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

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

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The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

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

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The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

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

The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

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

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The Shawshank Redemption | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

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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Audience Reviews

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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 5/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/21/24 Full Review Kamil B There is really nothing "bad" about this movie. Everything is so stunning, excellent, mastery of cinematography. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/24 Full Review Gonzalo P For true it's the Best movie Ive ever seen.A Masterpiece Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review sean p One of the best movies of all time, hands down. I could speak at length about the tension, story structure, and acting chops in this classic, but it's better to just sit back and enjoy the story for yourself. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Jon S Great movie, but not the best movie ever made. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Shawshank Redemption

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Cast & Crew

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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The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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Movie Info

Synopsis 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.

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)