The Shawshank Redemption Is A Good, Bordering On Great Movie At Best. Here’s Why I Don’t Think It Belongs On Any “Best Of” Lists, Though

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Let me be clear: I don’t think The Shawshank Redemption is a bad film. It’s actually quite good, and possibly even great. However, I disagree with those who call it one of the greatest movies ever made – it simply doesn’t reach that level, and isn’t even in the same ballpark.

If only a handful of people liked this movie, that would be fine – everyone has their preferences. But I’ve seen it appear on many “best of” lists, which is surprising. For instance, IMDB users have actually rated it as the top movie out of 250, even higher than classics like Schindler’s List, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and The Godfather – and I strongly disagree with that! Even this website called it the best movie of the 90s, which is just… no.

Here’s my take on why even a well-made, potentially fantastic movie doesn’t always deserve all the praise it receives.

First, I Don’t Even Consider It The Best Adaptation Of A Stephen King Story

Many people don’t realize that the film The Shawshank Redemption is based on a novella by Stephen King called Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. It’s one of four novellas in his book Different Seasons, and three of them have been made into movies (though filmmakers still hope to adapt The Breathing Method one day!). However, I actually think another film from Different Seasons is even better than Shawshank.

While some might point to Apt Pupil, I think Stand By Me is a much stronger adaptation. It’s based on the novella The Body, and I believe it excels in its setting, how the characters grow, and the overall rhythm of the story – all of which I think are better than in Shawshank Redemption. Plus, I find Stand By Me much more enjoyable to watch again and again.

Beyond that, when considering the best movie adaptation of a Stephen King story, The Shining stands out. It’s not just one of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpieces, but a true horror classic. It’s hard to see how The Shawshank Redemption even compares. Seriously, how does it measure up?

In Fact, I Don’t Even Think Shawshank Was The Best Film Of 1994

Was Forrest Gump truly deserving of the Best Picture award in 1995? It’s a question with no easy answer, but many people, myself included, would argue it wasn’t. 1994 was a strong year for film, giving us both Quiz Show and Pulp Fiction. Either of those would have been a more deserving winner – and many consider Pulp Fiction to be Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece.

Even so, I still believe Forrest Gump is a better film than The Shawshank Redemption. Actually, here are several other movies from 1994 that I’d rank higher, even above what some consider a great movie: Ed Wood, Interview with the Vampire, The Lion King, Cemetery Man, Leon, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, and Drunken Master II.

Honestly, I think every single one of those movies is better than The Shawshank Redemption. I’m not kidding, especially when it comes to Godzilla – I absolutely love that movie!

Finally, I Get That It’s A Crowd-Pleaser, But Still. There Are Better Crowd-Pleasing Films!

Movies like Forrest Gump can be overly sentimental, but they’re still really popular with audiences. Singin’ in the Rain is another example – beloved by many, but without the same level of sappiness. The same goes for films like Groundhog Day, The Princess Bride, and the original Babe – though the sequel, Babe: Pig in the City, didn’t quite capture that magic. I believe The Shawshank Redemption is so well-loved because it’s simply a very feel-good movie. That scene where Red and Andy reunite on the beach? It definitely gets a lot of people emotional.

Look, enjoy the movies you like! But there are other films that are arguably more universally appealing while still offering positive themes like hope, friendship, and overcoming challenges. For example, I think Toy Story 3 is actually better than The Shawshank Redemption, and I strongly believe that.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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2025-12-08 17:09