# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/41 "2009-10-19T16:08:25Z")
I remember Michael Medved really ranting against this movie as another example of Liberal Hollywood against America. The heroes in the film are criminals and the bad guys are the authorities, typical leftist fare. At least according to some conservatives. ---
**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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/42 "2009-10-19T16:31:29Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > 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. Hey, all I did was make a joke. Then answer the questions put to me. Sorry if I found the OP’s insistance that there is a factual reason why people like something funny. Perhaps I should lighten up and. . . not make jokes? ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/43 "2009-10-19T16:33:56Z")
FYI, here’s a [Wall Street Journal article](http://www.shawshankredemption.org/wsj.htm) from 1999 about the success of this movie. It points out that the movie only made $18 million in its original release (and then $10 million in a re-release) but was a big rental in 1995, and then heavily promoted by the TNT cable channel. As for its popularity in the IMDB polls, I stopped paying attention to them long ago. One reason was that once the daily poll was which Humphrey Bogart film is your favorite and the top response (over fifty percent) was “I haven’t seen any of these movies.” What kind of schmucks haven’t seen _any_ film starring Bogart? ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/44 "2009-10-19T16:36:55Z")
I haven’t. I’ve tried, but I can’t get through one. I find the acting styles in those old movies so ridiculous that I can’t get into them. I’m not much of a fan of the Hayes code era straightjacket either. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/45 "2009-10-19T16:37:23Z")
> [@The\_Piranha\_Brothers](#): > > But my point is, so are many other movies. Therefore I wouldn’t call it unusual. But I agree that of all the movies in the top 10, this one is probably the most overall balanced (whereas the other movies seem to be more “specifically excellent” if you know what I mean). I don’t know if this is what you mean by “balance”, but I can start watching _Shawshank_ at any scene and be captivated. There aren’t any boring, filler-type scenes, no long scenes of people driving or having inane conversations. And the actors are all wonderful, especially James Whitmore. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/46 "2009-10-19T16:47:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. Shawshank has only made about [$28 million](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=shawshankredemption.htm) domestically. [Clerks II](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clerks2.htm) made about $24 million. Very few people went to see Shawshank, so it would be hard to capitalize on this popularity. But, the group who did go was middle aged, white collar white guys. They associated with the main character and felt the horror of being in jail through him. But almost no one else went and no one else reviewed the movie. I suspect that if you showed the movie to poor black audiences they’d just laugh at the prissy little white guy running around and think the movie was stupid. ---
**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, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/47 "2009-10-19T16:54:29Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Perhaps I should lighten up and. . . not make jokes? I have always been fond of you. I think I may now have a crush. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/48 "2009-10-19T16:58:38Z")
There’s also the Stephen King factor. He is one of the greatest storytellers of our time. Fortunately, the movie stuck very close to the book, and the story was very much as King told it. Also, we can’t underestimate the effect of the casting. Morgan Freeman was absolutely perfect in the role and he’s such a charismatic actor that his presence just makes a movie more likable. (Note that the character was written by King as a white Irish guy, which is why he’s called “Red.”) Also, they cast people who could actually act. Could you imagine Nicolas Cage as Andy Dufresne? :eek: > [@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. As _Dio_ pointed out, it’s not really a prison escape movie. Sure there’s an escape in it, but that’s not really what it’s about. Totally different kind of movie than Escape from Alcatraz and so forth. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/49 "2009-10-19T17:02:25Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Hey, all I did was make a joke. Then answer the questions put to me. Sorry if I found the OP’s insistance that there is a factual reason why people like something funny. Perhaps I should lighten up and. . . not make jokes? No, the Blackadder thing was very funny, but also a joke he clearly didn’t get, so your subsequent defense just seemed a bit harsh for someone clearly talking on a different wavelength. That’s all… ---
**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, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/50 "2009-10-19T17:49:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. Good point. I guess by the end of my post ( I got interrupted while typing) I was thinking about Andy’s revenge, not redemption. The other day I watched _Escape from Alcatraz_ with Clint Eastwood. I wonder if Stephen King “borrowed” any ideas from that movie. I was reminded of _Shawshank_ a bit. The scene where Eastwood was shaking dirt out of his pocket into the yard hit home. 😉 ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/51 "2009-10-19T17:54:32Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > No, the Blackadder thing was very funny, but also a joke he clearly didn’t get, so your subsequent defense just seemed a bit harsh for someone clearly talking on a different wavelength. That’s all… Ah. I didn’t catch the different wavelength part. Reading back, I see what you mean. I didn’t think I was being particularly harsh but then I never do. Anyways. . . why was he called Red? He didn’t have red hair. Maybe Morgan was a communist. Or David Caruso was too busy learning to whip off his sunglasses to play the part. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/52 "2009-10-19T17:58:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Ah. I didn’t catch the different wavelength part. Reading back, I see what you mean. I didn’t think I was being particularly harsh but then I never do. > > Anyways. . . why was he called Red? He didn’t have red hair. Maybe Morgan was a communist. Or David Caruso was too busy learning to whip off his sunglasses to play the part. Didn’t the movie make a joke about this at some point, where Freeman delivered the line “Because I’m Irish” with a straight face? ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/53 "2009-10-19T18:06:56Z")
Stephen King called him Red in the book, because he was a white Irish guy with red hair. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/54 "2009-10-19T18:10:46Z")
I’ve always wondered the same thing. I mean, it was a good enough movie, but the utter worship for it baffles me. Well, maybe not. The movie is corny, but only in a general way; there isn’t anything specific about it that’s particularly bad. So people tend to get a good feeling from it but there’s no one thing about it to turn people off. ---
**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, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/55 "2009-10-19T18:12:06Z")
> [@](#): > > The other day I watched Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood. I wonder if Stephen King “borrowed” any ideas from that movie. I was reminded of Shawshank a bit. The scene where Eastwood was shaking dirt out of his pocket into the yard hit home. That was actually true. Allied POW’s did this in WWII. So King, Darabont, Bruce, and Tuggle probably all took it from _The Great Escape_. ---
**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, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/56 "2009-10-19T18:13:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyways. . . why was he called Red? He didn’t have red hair. Maybe Morgan was a communist. Or David Caruso was too busy learning to whip off his sunglasses to play the part. He was easily embarassed. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/57 "2009-10-19T18:35:12Z")
As you might expect with a movie where the hero crawls through a toilet pipe, Family Guy did an memorable [spoof](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsaBN-wJFro). “Why he chose enchilada night, I’ll never know.” > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > …the prissy little white guy running around… Tim Robbins is not a little guy. Neither is Peter Griffin, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/58 "2009-10-19T18:38:58Z")
I’m not sure where I’d rate it in one of those polls but this movie is one that I can watch all or part of multiple times and not get tired of it. “The Princess Bride” and “Stand By Me” are two other movies that I’d give that description. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/59 "2009-10-19T18:46:27Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Well kid Andy Dufresne didn’t argue about taste either. Rumor has it that all 198,991 guys who gave it a 10 were voting after Andy gave them a blow job. > [@Munch](#): > > To add a little meat to this… Simultanous synchronicity at work! [Both posts were made at 8:31 am] ---
**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, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310/60 "2009-10-19T19:18:28Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > 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. That’s because the question is not wether or not it is any good. The question is why is it so succesful. Not: do people like it, but: Why do people like it. Many people wrote meaningful replies so I know I am not mad or incomprehensible. > [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > No, the Blackadder thing was very funny, but also a joke he clearly didn’t get, so your subsequent defense just seemed a bit harsh for someone clearly talking on a different wavelength. That’s all… If you meant that nonsense was supposed to be a reference to _Ink and Incapability_, you may want to notice the subtle use of the word “dictionary” in my reply. Even so, now every piece of gibberish is suddenly a Blackadder reference? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-shawshank-redemption-rated-so-high/514310.md?page=4)