Films The Shawshank Redemption

Subscribe
Advertising Remove ads
The Shawshank Redemption poster

Film · 1994

The Shawshank Redemption

Directed by Frank Darabont · starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman and Bob Gunton

  • 2 h 22 min
  • 15
  • Crime · Drama
  • USA
  • Released in the UK 16 February 1995
  • 9.3 AverageMovieNCo
  • 9.2 Users58 votes
  • 9.4 Critics4 reviews
Where to watch Rate it

Synopsis

Andy Dufresne is a banker sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Gradually Andy gets the respect of other prisoners and friendship of Red, who runs the black market in prison. Andy acquires certain privileges because resolves fiscal problems to the guards and the warden, for whom organized an extensive network of taints políticas. Andy discovers that the true murderer of his wife is locked in another prison, and therefore calls his case reopened. Then the governor ordered to kill this new inmate to prevent the departure of Andy and come to light their dirty business. From that moment Andy loses all its privileges, so he decides to take advantage of all the services the warden still requires him for regain his honor and freedom.

Where to watch The Shawshank Redemption

All the options

Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
142 min2 hours and 22 minutes
Budget
$25mCastle Rock Entertainment
Rating
15Suitable only for 15 years and over
How long is The Shawshank Redemption?
2 hours and 22 minutes (142 minutes).
When was The Shawshank Redemption released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 16 February 1995.
Who directed The Shawshank Redemption?
Frank Darabont.
Who is in The Shawshank Redemption?
It stars Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton and William Sadler.
Where can I watch The Shawshank Redemption?
In the UK it is available with a subscription on HBO Max and with a channel on Now and a channel on Prime Video.
Advertising Remove ads

Cast

Full cast (21)
Director
Frank Darabont
Writers
Stephen King, Frank Darabont

Photos and posters

All 7 photos

Reviews

All 4 reviews
9.2 58 votes
  • 1038 %
  • 934 %
  • 821 %
  • 73 %
  • 62 %
  • ≤52 %

What the critics say average 9.4 from 4 outlets

  • 10 EmpireIan Nathan A thumpingly good ode to friendship, hope, wit, wiles and wisdom, brimming with crackling characters and topped with the most twisteroo of twists since 'The Crying Game'.
  • 9.5 Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert This is not a "prison drama" in any conventional sense of the word (...) But mostly the film is an allegory about holding onto a sense of personal worth.
  • 9.0 New York TimesElvis Mitchell There are times when 'The Shawshank Redemption' comes dangerously close to sounding one of those "triumph of the spirit" notes. But most of it is eloquently restrained.

Awards

All the awards

Soundtrack

All 6 songs
  1. If I Didn't CareJack Lawrence, The Ink Spots Spotify
  2. Duettino - Sull'ariaEdith Mathis, Gundula Janowitz, Conducted, Karl Böhm Spotify
  3. Put the Blame on MameAllan Roberts, Doris Fisher Spotify
  4. A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodBob Gunton Spotify

Trivia

All 10 facts

  • Morgan Freeman's favorite film of his own.

  • Director Frank Darabont watched 'Goodfellas' (1990) every Sunday while shooting this film and drew inspiration from it, on using voice-over narration and showing the passage of time.

  • Jeff Bridges, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp and Charlie Sheen were all considered for the part of Andy Dufresne. Hanks turned it down because he was committed to 'Forrest Gump' (1994). Costner liked the script a lot but was then embroiled in the filming of 'Waterworld' (1995).

  • Although a very modest hit in theaters, it became one of the highest-grossing video rentals of all time.

  • Frank Darabont took a pay cut in order to be allowed to shoot his own script.

If you liked The Shawshank Redemption

Advertising Remove ads