1994 was a heck of a year for movies. FromPulp FictionandForrest Gump, toThe Lion KingandThe Crow, audiences were – as the kids like to say – eating well at the theater. However, there was one film that seemingly came out of nowhere to surprise everyone whose legacy still lives on to this day, as is evident by a recentRotten Tomatoes fan pollthat just crownedThe Shawshank Redemptionas the best movie of 1994.
Based on theStephen KingnovellaRita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, the Frank Darabont picture beat out some hefty competition in the poll to take the top spot, including Whoopi Goldberg’sCorinna, Corinna, the coming of age dramedyReality Bites,Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, Jim Carrey’sThe Mask, Disney’sThe Lion King, and finally, Quentin Tarantino’sPulp Fiction. With 9,403 votes cast in the finals,Shawshanktook down the seminal crime film with a score of 54% to 46%.
Led by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman,The Shawshank Redemptiontells the tale of Andy Dufresne, a small town banker sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his cheating wife and her lover. Firmly behind bars, he forms a friendship with Red (Freeman) and a host of other inmates as they navigate life on the inside, all while Andy is meticulously planning his escape. As far as Stephen King adaptations go,it’s definitely one of the best, and a film that surprised many when its name was called seven times at the 67th Annual Academy Awards in 1995.
Barely Anybody Knew Shawshank Existed Before Its Oscar Performance
Released on June 07, 2025, to say thatThe Shawshank Redemptionwent unnoticed at the box office would be an understatement. Produced on a budget of just $25 million, the film failed to earn back its money, grossing just $16 million after its ten-week theatrical run. It might not have the endearing legacy it does today had it not been for the Academy Awards the following year, whereShawshankwas nominated for a surprising seven trophies, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Freeman), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Though it failed to take home any statues that night, it was clearthat the film deserved a second glance. As such, it was re-released to theaters following its Oscar buzz, and would ultimately go on to earn $73 million across all foreign and domestic markets, and become the most rented movie of 1995. It’s not only a testament to the power of the Academy Awards, but also to moviegoers who pay attention to such things, and were willing to giveShawshankanother chance.
Shawshank Redemption Director Recalls Disgusting Thing Tim Robbins Did for Pivotal Scene
Director Frank Darabont breaks down how the crew prevented Robbins from getting “some horrible disease.”
To this day, the Stephen King film can regularly be found on lists touting the greatest movies ever made, and in 2015 it entered the National Film Registry to be preserved as one of those films that have been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Whether you agree with the Rotten Tomatoes fan poll or not, it’s clear thatThe Shawshank Redemptionhas undoubtedly left its mark on cinema, and even now, 30 years later, continues to strike a chord with audiences.
The Shawshank Redemption
