# Why is The Shawshank Redemption rated so high? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2009, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310 "2009-10-19T09:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/21 "2009-10-19T13:44:01Z")
I really need to give this movie another try. I’ve only seen it once many, many years ago. I was on a prison escape movie binge and in the same month watched _The Great Escape, Cool Hand Luke, Papillon,_ and _Escape from Alcatraz_. The last one I watched was _Shawshank Redemption_ and either I was totally burnt out on prison escape moives or it never helad a candle to the others. I don’t remember anything about the film and just remember being bored by it. I probably should try and see it again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Piranha_Brothers)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/22 "2009-10-19T13:50:22Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > You need a dictionary to parse nonsense? Of course you are arguing taste, how else is anyone supposed to explain the fact that The Shawshank Redemption is so popular? Do you think something besides taste is a factor here? Like they put LSD on the tickets when people purchased them? Or that the imdb voters were bribed? > > Seriously, what ‘fact’ are you in search of here? This apparently will surprise you, but beauty can be analyzed to a point. Even if I myself thought it was the best film ever, I could have still asked the question. Just a few examples. Rembrandt’s paintings work with a clair-obscure technique. Hitchcock’s movies work with suspense and brilliant shots combined with the right background music. Monty Python remained popular because it conquered the USA. Charlie Chaplin usually plays the outsider in a story while Harold Lloyd plays the normal guy. Classical architecture is designed according to certain proportions. Star Wars is not famous for its weak dialogue but rather for combining traditional stories in a new format with all sorts of interesting characters. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/23 "2009-10-19T13:53:17Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > This apparently will surprise you, but beauty can be analyzed to a point. Even if I myself thought it was the best film ever, I could have still asked the question. > > Just a few examples. Rembrandt’s paintings work with a clair-obscure technique. Hitchcock’s movies work with suspense and brilliant shots combined with the right background music. Monty Python remained popular because it conquered the USA. Charlie Chaplin usually plays the outsider in a story while Harold Lloyd plays the normal guy. Classical architecture is designed according to certain proportions. Star Wars is not famous for its weak dialogue but rather for combining traditional stories in a new format with all sorts of interesting characters. I don’t want to get into a fight you seem to be trying to pick with **Biggirl** , but what you have done here is a phenomenally bad job of illuminating the word _analyze_. By your own example what you want is the following: > [@](#): > > _The Shawshank Redemption_ is a redemption tale. Okay, mods, we can close this up now. Asked and answered. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/24 "2009-10-19T13:55:35Z")
I think people like the ending. It’s unexpected when you don’t know it’s coming, but it plays fair wth the clues about it. I think people also like the friendship, they like Andy’s little victories and they like Morgan Freeman’s narration (as parodied as it’s now become). I disagree that it’s a “prison escape movie.” That’s not really the genre. The escape comes as a total surprise. It’s more of a buddy movie and a survival movie. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/25 "2009-10-19T13:57:57Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > This apparently will surprise you, but beauty can be analyzed to a point. Even if I myself thought it was the best film ever, I could have still asked the question. This may very well be true but analyzing beauty has nothing to do with how popular a thing is. There are some very popular models who many find ugly. There are some extremely popular movies that are judged horrible. If you wanted to know what made The Shawshank Redemption popular than starting the thread in CS and asking for opinions is the way to go. Asking in GQ why this movie is popular and then bitching when it’s moved to CS because it’s a ‘factual’ question is silly. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/26 "2009-10-19T13:58:23Z")
I think it’s a fanbase issue. The people who like it are also the kind of people who are likely to do polls like at imdb. I don’t think the film is at all good. Saw it once, that was enough and then some. But then I don’t go around doing online polls. So if there are a lot of people like me, that skews such polls. In other words, online polls are worthless. E.g., [askmen’s](http://www.celebritysmackblog.com/2009/10/07/don-draper-tops-askmen-coms-49-most-influential-men-of-2009/) recent poll that put Don Draper as #1 most influential man. Obama was third. Some guy I barely heard of 2nd. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/27 "2009-10-19T13:59:00Z")
Shawshank has the attraction of innocent guy put in prison, finds out a way to get a new trial, finds out he’s done so much for the warden that he’ll never get a chance to get out - then BOOM! Screws the warden worse than the Sisters ever screwed him. It’s about _redemption_. It’s an awesome movie. One of King’s best stories. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/28 "2009-10-19T14:00:43Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I was on a prison escape movie binge… > > I probably should try and see it again. If you’re gonna go on another bender, put _Le Trou_ on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/29 "2009-10-19T14:20:35Z")
> [@BKReporter](#): > > VHS tapes, except for kids’ movie and blockbusters, were never really affordable until almost the very end of the format’s run. If you look through video catalogs from the 1990s, most of the movies are still hovering around $100. > But you nailed all the other points. IIRC this movie was actually a box flop. I remember a lot of critics saying people were turned off the name. But then it got great word of mouth once it hit video. As I remember, the movie hit it big after repeatedly being shown on TBS, rather than from VHS or DVD sales. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/30 "2009-10-19T14:36:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Shawshank has the attraction of innocent guy put in prison, finds out a way to get a new trial, finds out he’s done so much for the warden that he’ll never get a chance to get out - then BOOM! > > It’s about redemption. It’s an awesome movie. One of King’s best stories. I’m not sure if you’re connecting these two points. But the story isn’t about Andy’s redemption - as you point out, he’s innocent and doesn’t need redemption. It’s about Red’s redemption. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/31 "2009-10-19T14:39:52Z")
One thing that surprises me is how Frank Darabont either was unable or chose not to capitalize on the popularity of his movies. He’s only directed four feature films in his career. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/32 "2009-10-19T14:49:29Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > But my point is, so are many other movies. Therefore I wouldn’t call it unusual. Which movies? Be specific, because right now I can’t really think of any that have all those elements without also being gory, or maudlin, or preachy. > [@Hampshire](#): > > I really need to give this movie another try. > I’ve only seen it once many, many years ago. > I was on a prison escape movie binge and in the same month watched _The Great Escape, Cool Hand Luke, Papillon,_ and _Escape from Alcatraz_. The last one I watched was _Shawshank Redemption_ and either I was totally burnt out on prison escape moives or it never helad a candle to the others. > I don’t remember anything about the film and just remember being bored by it. > > I probably should try and see it again. You know, I really couldn’t tell you much about _The Great Escape_ or _Escape from Alcatraz_. I watched them, but they just never engaged me. I enjoyed _Cool Hand Luke_, but it’s not something I’d probably watch anything like the number of times I’ve watched _Shawshank_. It just didn’t have the sort of visceral impact that makes me want to watch a movie over and over. _That’s_ the secret of this movie’s success, imo. It makes that sort of visceral impact on a huge range of people. What makes it have that sort of impact? Well, that’s going to be slightly different for pretty much everybody, and it’s not something you can quantify or objectively define. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/33 "2009-10-19T14:58:13Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > It’s a very good, low-key film that hardly anyone dislikes, rather than being a towering masterpiece. I dislike it with a slightly irrational passion. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/34 "2009-10-19T15:10:33Z")
The movie’s own merits aside, **ftg** makes a good point. It’s still a pretty new movie, which is going to help a lot in a poll like this. A quick count shows that nine of IMDb’s top 20 movies were released in 1990 or later. Why Shawshank in particular? I think the movie’s merits have already been explained. I found it corny as hell, but the same qualities obviously speak to a lot of people. They wouldn’t make cheesy movies if people didn’t like them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Piranha_Brothers)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/35 "2009-10-19T15:19:31Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I don’t want to get into a fight you seem to be trying to pick with **Biggirl** , but what you have done here is a phenomenally bad job of illuminating the word _analyze_. By your own example what you want is the following: > > (…) > > Okay, mods, we can close this up now. Asked and answered. Those were just a few examples off the top of my head. Do you have a better idea? And I’m not trying to pick a fight with anyone, I’m just wondering why people reply if they don’t agree with or don’t want to understand the question. But yes, topic can be closed. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/36 "2009-10-19T15:29:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I dislike it with a slightly irrational passion. And I join you in that. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/37 "2009-10-19T15:34:18Z")
I liked the film; the one incident that stands out in my mind, is when the Morgan Freeman character goes before the parole board. He is (initially) eager to impress the board with his sincerity and his rehabilitation-and they keep denying him parole. Late, after many years, the guy is very bitter, and he tells the board to “shove it”-and they grant him parole! Kind of a commentary of the mindless nature of parole boads. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/38 "2009-10-19T15:43:08Z")
It’s got TWO happy endings! That’s hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/39 "2009-10-19T16:01:33Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It’s got TWO happy endings! That’s hard to find. Not in porn. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/40 "2009-10-19T16:07:18Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > If you wanted to know what made The Shawshank Redemption popular than starting the thread in CS and asking for opinions is the way to go. Asking in GQ why this movie is popular and then bitching when it’s moved to CS because it’s a ‘factual’ question is silly. Jeez Louise, lighten up a little! So a newbie didn’t parse the differences we have in our forums! Hardly merits the 3rd degree snark (and I saw no “bitching” in evidence at all). Sheesh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310.md?page=3)