OutRun2

I just watched The Shawshank Redemption for the very time(I know, I'm late to the party). This film was unbelievably awesome. Right now I'd definitely say it's within my top 10 favorite films of all time. Did Freeman win an Oscar for this role? If not he should have.

Also will there be a part II?

zekeburger1979

It's #1 on my list and has been for about 12 years now. I first saw it on video back in 1995. Freeman was nominated for the Oscar, but didn't win. Some guy named Tom Hanks did for Forrest Gump.

No, there won't be a part two. I would love to see Red and Andy again on the big screen, but I really can't think of a reason why.

EdTheRipper

This has been one of my favorites since the first time I saw it.

sundog

Asked and answered:

It doesn't crack my top 250.

FinkPish

I'm curious why and what is in your top 5?

gotrice487

Easily in my Top 10 all-time!

SINGLE104

You're right! There's no reason to ruin an excellent film, with a possibility of a bad, inferior sequel, especially if the original leading cast wouldn't be starring in it. Or even worse, a direct to video release.

JesseCuster

Top 50. No doubt.

Fincher Fan

It's in my top 20.

Arpeggi

Barely cracks my top 300.

Banky

There's no chance you can name 300 films better than Shawshank. The elitists on this site annoy me.

Brent L

I'd like to hear 300 movies that someone considers better than TSR as well.

project86

It's probably #7ish on my list.

Altimus Prime

My brother got me to watch this movie for the first time on VHS. I had no interest just by the name. I've got to say, I was stunned and shocked by the ending. And it's still among my favorites.

Like it so much, last year I visited and toured the prison in Ohio, the Mansfield Reformatory, where much of the movie was filmed. I'm fortunate in that it's not that far away from me.

fumanstan

Probably Top 100 or even 50. I don't see how not ranking Shawshank high equates to elistist

lxl

in my 11-20.

Count Dooku

I think The Shawshank Redemption is a very entertaining movie, and I have enjoyed watching it several times...
I also realize that it is an overly sentimental melodrama that just happens to push a male viewer's buttons --It's like Beaches for men!


I won't sit here an attempt to make a list of 300 or even 100 films that are better than The Shawshank Redemption, but here are ten:

1- Pulp Fiction
2- Natural Born Killers
3- Hoop Dreams
4- Once Were Warriors
5- Ed Wood
6- Heavenly Creatures
7- Fresh
8- Exotica
9 & 10- Kryzsztof Kieslowski's White and Red

And guess what, they all came out in 1994 --the same year as Shawshank.

And here are some films from 1994 that are just as (maybe more?) entertaining:
Speed
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Leon (The Professional)
Clerks
and Forrest Gump

Quiz Show, Little Women, True Lies, Sirens, and The Secret of Roan Inish also came out in 1994, and are all (in their own way) excellent and entertaining movies.

Bugg

If I wanted to I could name a thousand films that I think are better. Too bad if that annoys you, but I just did not like Shawshank at all.

Perkinsun Dzees

It's #465 on my list. Just behind THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.

devilshalo

In my top #5 of all time.

hardercore

One of my favourite films. I'm not sure it'd make my all-time Top 10, as I've never really sat downand tried to put one together. But I love the film.

chente

I enjoyed it but there are many I enjoy much more.

DarthMarino

You must annoy yourself then because apparently you can't comprehend that people have different opinions.

Filmmaker

It's not in my Top 20, but I'm sure it would be in my Top 100.

sundog

250 is an estimate. I started keeping track of movies I've seen for the first time back in 2001. I don't have the lists in front of me, but since then, I do know I have seen over 500 films in the last six years (for the first time, either theatrically or at home).

So in that context, one can gather that I give Shawshank Redemption an average rating.

That suits me fine.

If I gave it more thought and actually tried to rank it more precisely, I have a feeling it would drop lower.

Shawshank Redemption is a film that tells its story well, in a swift and pleasant narrative flow. The performances are effective, if not very dynamic: Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins maintain the same tone throughout the film, respectively affable and mopey. Visually, very pretty with some impressive camera compositions.

I had read the King novella more than 10 years before the film came out, so when I first saw it I was still able to be caught up in the story and found the movie to be quite entertaining.

But that was the first viewing, and really the main reason I am not thrilled by The Shawshank Redemption: diminishing returns. I just couldn't find anything more there upon subsequent viewings. Everything was laid out for me that first time, all the plot points filled, all the characters fated to their due courses.

Nothing remained beyond that initial impression.

I don't fault or have any ill will towards Shawshank Redemption for this. It's just that there are plenty of movies that did more, in some cases upon that first viewing, and in all cases upon reflection or repeat viewing.

As for what is in my top 5, all I can say is that Kubrick's Barry Lyndon remains my all-time favorite.

Beyond that, Shawshank Redemption really cannot touch any of the works I've seen by Kubrick, Bunuel, Renoir, Keaton, Chaplin, Sternberg, Welles, Tarkovsky, Lubitsch, Lang, Cocteau... and those are just some of the deceased filmmakers whose works have offered much more than Shawshank Redemption.