RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
88 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:56

Fresh:49

Rotten:7

Average Rating:8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 25 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: In writer-director Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover in the late... In writer-director Frank Darabont's THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover in the late 1940s. However, only Andy knows that he didn't commit the crimes. Sent to Shawshank Prison to do hard time, Andy--a taciturn banker in the outside world--has to learn to get by in the brutal, cutthroat confines of prison life. His quiet strength slowly earns the respect of his fellow inmates--most notably, Red (Morgan Freeman)--and even much of the prison staff. But Andy's seemingly stoic acceptance of his unjust imprisonment hides a fierce determination for freedom. This beautifully crafted movie features touching and sincere performances from the entire cast, with an uplifting message about humanity's indomitable spirit and the redemptive value of hope. Based on the novella RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION by Stephen King, Darabont's intriguing adaptation is easily one of the finest films of the 1990s. [More]

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, James Whitmore, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston

Director: Frank Darabont

Director: Frank Darabont
Screenwriter: Frank Darabont
Story: Stephen King
Producer: Niki Marvin
Composer: Thomas Newman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Shawshank Redemption

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

I love this film. It's a story about hope and dreams and one whose emotional impact is as great as the Pacific Ocean is blue.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/27/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/01/00
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Rarely rises above the overbearing, obnoxious and trite.

Full Review Source: Projection Booth | comment 1 Comment
06/20/09
Rob Humanick
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Hollywood.com

...itself a testament to overcoming odds. It is sentimental and stereotyped, yet we are able not only to suspend our disbelief but to root for it all the way.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
11/19/08
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

...has certainly earned its reputation as one of the most effective prison movies in cinematic history...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
07/30/08
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

It's an old-school melodrama at heart, sturdy and forthright and upstanding, but without a whisper of complexity or wit.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/23/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

A testament to the human spirit...

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/28/07
Leonard Klady
Leonard Klady
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A 'life-affirming' tale about life imprisonment, The Shawshank Redemption is the kind of old-fashioned entertainment that is easily overvalued in an era of diminishing expectations.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/28/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A passing reference to 'The Count of Monte Cristo' offers a partial clue to what makes this movie compelling.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/28/07
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

I have not read Stephen King's novella (his first non-horror), but some of the movie's deficiencies, such as the old-fashioned morality tale and portentous messge about camarderie and redemption--must have been in the source material.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment 2 Comments
01/13/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

...a throwback to the kind of serious, literate drama Hollywood used to make.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out

An amazing movie. Easily one of the best movies made during the 90s and definitely one of the top 'prison' movies of all-time. Pretty much everything about this movie works and works extremely well!

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
06/24/06
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

An unhurried, engulfing prison drama.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
03/10/06
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

Why are these men in jail?

Full Review Source: F5 (Wichita, KS) | comment 46 Comments
02/09/06
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

The Shawshank Redemption works not only as an excellent prison drama, but as a metaphor for overcoming our own private prisons.

comment Comment
01/25/06
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

Drawn in straight, brutal lines.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment 10 Comments
12/17/04
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

The Shawshank Redemption is one of those films that is a true work of both art and magic.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
10/31/04
James Brundage
James Brundage
Filmcritic.com

Beaches for straight men.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment 28 Comments
10/16/04
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

The Shawshank Redemption sprawls out over a leisurely 142 minutes, operating with the same unflagging patience of its protagonist.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
09/27/04
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Shawshank Redemption

July 02, 2008: Total Recall: RT Celebrates the Bill of Rights
We the people of Rotten Tomatoes, in order to make this Independence Day more perfect, do ordain and establish this Total Recall as a cinematic tribute to the Bill of Rights. More...

May 15, 2008: Cannes 2008: Darabont Back Behind Bars
Frank Darabont is heading back to prison for a crime thriller that is selling international rights in Cannes this week. More...

November 30, 2007: Frank Darabont and Stephen King Reteam for Long Walk
Directing three Stephen King movies (four, if you count an early short film) wasn't enough for Frank Darabont. Perhaps cinema's biggest fan of the horror author, the Mist... More...

November 21, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Enchanted Leads Packed Holiday Weekend
This weekend For the first time this decade, a new release seems set to take over the number one spot during the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the North American box... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

— Shutter Island 18/2
33% 33% From Paris With Love 18/2
97% 97% The Hurt Locker 18/2

What’s Hot On RT

So Bad They Rule!

So Bad They Rule!

25 Movies so awful you cannot miss them

Last Airbender

Last Airbender

See an all-new trailer for the other Avatar

Five Alice Facts!

Five Alice Facts!

What you may not know about Burton's film

Wolfman Clips

Wolfman Clips

Watch out! The Wolfman is back!

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tim Robbins Joins Green Lantern Source: Hollywood Reporter
12
  • Fox Moves Forward with 24 Movie Source: HitFix
3
  • Bill Murray Talks Ghostbusters III Source: Sunday Mail [UK]
50
  • Captain America News, News, and More News Source: Collider.com
19
  • Taylor Lautner Is Stretch Armstrong Source: MTV
78
  • Weekly Ketchup: Sci-Fi at the Oscars, Raimi eyes The Shadow
258
  • Percy Jackson Star (Briefly) Rumored for Spider-Man Reboot Source: Hollywood Reporter
35
  • Five Facts About Alice in Wonderland
140
  • Matt Damon Says a Bourne Prequel Could Be Next Source: Empire Magazine
42
  • Weekly Ketchup: Sam Worthington takes on Dracula, George Lucas takes on fairies
132
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Jeff Bridges' Best Movies
111
  • Weekly Ketchup: Sci-Fi at the Oscars, Raimi eyes The Shadow
86
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Finally Toppled by Dear John
85
  • Five Facts About Alice in Wonderland
70
  • Five Favorite Films With Precious' Gabby Sidibe
34
  • Friday Harvest: The Last Airbender, The A-Team, and more!
27
  • Critics Consensus: From Paris With Love Is Not Bon
22
  • Oscar Nominee Gabby Sidibe Talks Precious
20
  • Five Favourite Films with Anika Noni Rose
17
  • Awards Tour: Pixar and Disney Rule The Annies
14
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Oscar Nominee Gabby Sidibe Talks Precious
20
  • One Man's Quest To Find The Worst Movie Ever
7
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
77
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
22
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
3
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
13
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Shawshank Redemption at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Shawshank Redemption at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Follow RT on Twitter!
Follow RT on Twitter! External Link

Get all the latest review updates, movie news and features here.

Competitions
Win copies of Coco Avant Chanel
Win copies of Coco Avant Chanel External Link

We're giving away the Audrey Tautou-starring fashion pic on DVD.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2010, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.