The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
An innocent man's integrity and unquenchable hope shine through decades of gritty prison life.
Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
How intense is The Shawshank Redemption?
The Shawshank Redemption has light gore and strong violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a comfort watch. Rated R.
What The Shawshank Redemption feels like
- Tone
- grittyupliftingearnestmelancholy
- Pace
- Measured
- Best for
- Full attentionComfort watch
Where to stream The Shawshank Redemption
Not on a US subscription service at our last check. Rent or buy may still be an option.
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 12, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is The Shawshank Redemption for you?
Is The Shawshank Redemption scary?
No. The Shawshank Redemption is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is The Shawshank Redemption gory or violent?
Light gore (1 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3).
Is The Shawshank Redemption sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
Is The Shawshank Redemption OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 0, gore 1, violence 2, each out of 3.
How long is The Shawshank Redemption?
The Shawshank Redemption runs 2h 22m.
Where can I stream The Shawshank Redemption?
The Shawshank Redemption is not on a US subscription service right now (rent or buy may still be an option).
Does The Shawshank Redemption have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Yes. It lands on a happy note.
Cast and crew
More like The Shawshank Redemption
Matched on genre, tone, intensity and pace, not just keywords.
The Green Mile (1999)Mildly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastatingOn death row, a gentle giant's miraculous gift brings both healing and profound melancholy to a gritty prison.
The Godfather (1972)Mildly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastatingA crime family saga unfolds with measured, gritty suspense, building an epic and melancholy atmosphere.
The Godfather Part II (1974)Graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · measuredA crime family's epic saga unfolds with melancholy, as a son expands the empire his father built.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)Light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measuredA grieving mother's darkly comedic quest for justice ignites a small-town war with measured, gritty suspense.
Just Mercy (2019)Light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measuredAn earnest lawyer fights a corrupt system to free an innocent man from death row, sparking measured hope.
Better Call Saul (2015)Light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · measuredA small-time lawyer's darkly comic hustles slowly transform him into a criminal underworld's fixer.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)Mildly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastatingA sprawling crime saga unfolds with melancholic grit as a gangster confronts his past in a slowly burning epic.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)No gore · emotionally heavy · briskA witty con man eludes a gritty FBI agent in a brisk, earnest, true-crime caper.
Find The Shawshank Redemption in
Want five more like The Shawshank Redemption?
Tell CouchRot the mood. It picks from what you can actually stream and learns from every rating.
Get CouchRot, it's freeThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Intensity, tone and pace tags are CouchRot's own.