The Shawshank Redemption
A wrongfully convicted banker forms a close friendship with a hardened convict over a quarter century while retaining his humanity through simple acts of compassion.
Directed by Frank Darabont · Drama · 142 min · 1994
Trailer
Director
Frank Darabont
Studio
Castle Rock Entertainment
Release
14 Oct 1994
Runtime
142 min
Genres
Drama
Full Plot
Chronicles the experiences of a formerly successful banker as a prisoner in the gloomy jailhouse of Shawshank after being found guilty of a crime he did not commit. The film portrays the man's unique way of dealing with his new, torturous life; along the way he befriends a number of fellow prisoners, most notably a wise long-term inmate named Red.
Cast & Characters
Andy Dufresne: A banker sentenced to life in prison in 1947 for the murder of his wife and her lover
Tim Robbins
Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding: A prison contraband smuggler who befriends Andy
Morgan Freeman
Samuel Norton: The ostensibly pious and tyrannical warden of Shawshank penitentiary
Bob Gunton
Heywood: A member of Red's gang of long-serving convicts
William Sadler
Byron Hadley: The brutal captain of the prison guards
Clancy Brown
Tommy Williams: A young convict imprisoned for burglary in 1965
Gil Bellows
Brooks Hatlen: The elderly prison librarian, imprisoned at Shawshank for over five decades
James Whitmore
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $25.0M, The Shawshank Redemption has grossed $28.3M worldwide — about 1.1x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Frank Darabont first collaborated with author Stephen King in 1983 on the short film adaptation of King's 1978 collection Night Shift story "The Woman in the Room", buying the rights from him for $1—a Dollar Deal that King used to help new directors build a résumé by adapting his short stories.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
On a $25 million budget, principal photography took place over three months between June and August 1993.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Shawshank Redemption holds 9.3/10 on IMDb (3,182,645 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (9.3/10 on IMDb (3,182,645 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Shawshank Redemption's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Shawshank Redemption holds a 89% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Shawshank Redemption's IMDb rating?+
The Shawshank Redemption has a 9.3/10 rating on IMDb from 3,182,645 votes.
What is The Shawshank Redemption's Metacritic score?+
The Shawshank Redemption has a Metascore of 82/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Shawshank Redemption good? What are critics saying?+
The Shawshank Redemption holds 9.3/10 on IMDb (3,182,645 votes), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Shawshank Redemption?+
The Shawshank Redemption has a runtime of 142 min.
Who directed The Shawshank Redemption?+
The Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont.
Where can I watch The Shawshank Redemption?+
The Shawshank Redemption is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Sky Go, Now TV Cinema, HBO Max, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "The Shawshank Redemption" has received widespread critical acclaim and positive public reaction. Reviewers praise the film's strong performances, a perfect cast, and engaging storyline, with many stating that it is one of the best movies ever made. The film's themes of hope, freedom, and redemption have resonated with audiences worldwide.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
very good movie 9.5/10 محمد الشعراوى
elshaarawy · 9/10Some birds aren't meant to be caged. The Shawshank Redemption is written and directed by Frank Darabont. It is an adaptation of the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the film portrays the story of Andy Dufresne (…
John Chard · 10/10Make way for the best film ever made people. **Make way.**
tmdb73913433 · 6/10There is a reason why this movie is at the top of any popular list your will find. Very strong performances from lead actors and a story line from the literary brilliance of Stephen King (and no, its not a horror). Sufficient drama and depth to keep you interested and occupied wi…
thommo_nz · 10/10It's still puzzling to me why this movie exactly continues to appear in every single best-movies-of-all-time chart. There's a great story, perfect cast, and acting. It really moves me in times when I'm finding myself figuring out things with my annual tax routine reading <a href=…
I will not say that the film is predictable, because it is not quite so, due to the fact that we only know Andy’s intentions at the end, and during the film, it is important to understand that there was not a hint of it, but let's not forget our guys who so imprudently localized…
First time seeing this in probably close to 20 years, maybe longer. Forgot how excellent of a movie this was, amazing all around from the performances, Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins especially, with a roller coaster of emotions. The writing (from Stephen King's novel) direction…
JPV852 · 10/10No 1 movie for all the time
This is much more predictable and Hollywood than a King novel. This story of another man wrongfully in prison for murder joins the list of about every other movie about a man sent to prison for murdering his wife. And therein lies the problem. Most of the time, the killer is the…
drystyx · 3/10This movie is great
Tim Robbins is wealthy banker "Andy Dufresne" who finds himself sentenced to life imprisonment after his wife and her lover are found murdered. The handsome "new fish" is initially the target of the "sisters" who would use him as they would like - but he fights back and gradually…
CinemaSerf · 8/10**Watched it 32 times** Call me obsessed, but I have watched this movie 32 times (and counting) over the past 2 decades. One may wonder why? It is because every time I watch this movie, I learn something new from it. For example, despite being such a good friend of Red, Andy neve…
dumasori · 9/10Amazing movie
Angel Rodríguez · 10/10This movie is an absolute masterpiece, blending deep emotion and powerful storytelling. It follows the journey of a banker wrongfully imprisoned, whose enduring hope and resilience inspire everyone around him. His friendship with a fellow inmate is heartwarming and beautifully po…
Simple, I would say, beauty in the art of cinematography and storytelling.
Leezan · 10/10The Shawshank Redemption is a timeless masterpiece, blending powerful performances with a poignant narrative about hope and friendship. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman deliver unforgettable performances, creating a deeply emotional story of resilience and redemption. With its capt…
The Shawshank Redemption is one of those timeless classics that pulls you in with its heartfelt storytelling and remarkable performances. At its core, it’s a story about hope, friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit, set against the bleak backdrop of Shawshank prison.…
RalphRahal · 10/10**Wow amazing movie **
Kelvin_ricky · 10/10Morgan Freeman plays a little red haired Irishman and no one cares. No one cares, and now when people across the globe read this segment in Different Seasons, they read it in Morgan Freeman's voice. It's sort of impossible not to. It was a race swap that not a single person compl…
GenerationofSwine · 10/10Hope, strength of character, self-worth and the loss of it at the same time… friendship, brotherhood, and every human emotion in this life 🤍. On my first watch of this film, I had no idea about its ratings. Someone recommended it to me, and I started watching it just 15 minutes…
From the trailer's comments
Greatest movie ever. I'm still alive because of this movie only hoping that one day i will also get free just like Andy.
@rahuljoshirahulmagic · 16 likesa film that I really like and I have watched several times
@sirodjlapak4372 · 12 likesBits you may find interesting: 1. When the prison warden found the Bible where Andy had hidden the rock hammer, it was in the book of Exodus. Exodus is a Greek word meaning "departure." 2. Red describes Andy's dream as "shitty pipe dreams". During his escape to live that dream, A…
@aislopstop · 2 likesI love this film
@jarekogarek1986 · 3 likesGood video. John
@leslierhodes8430 · 2 likes#30yearsago💎🎞
@k.delpino1124 · 0 likes
