The Shawshank Redemptionhas been named the best movie of 1994 in a Rotten Tomatoes fan poll. The critically acclaimed movie starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman isadapted from Stephen King’s 1982 novellaRita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Despite positivereviews forThe Shawshank Redemption, seven Academy Award nominations, and its powerful legacy, the movie did not perform well at the box office during its initial theatrical run.
Nevertheless, as per aRotten Tomatoesfan poll,The Shawshank Redemptionhas been named the best movie of 1994. It defeated Quentin Tarantino’sPulp Fictionin the finals and Disney’sThe Lion Kingin the semifinals.Forrest Gumpwas the other movie that made it to the final four before losing toPulp Fiction.Other movies in the poll thatThe Shawshank Redemptionwon over include Jim Carrey’sThe Mask, Kevin Smith’sClerks, and Brandon Lee’sThe Crow.
What This Means For The Shawshank Redemption
It Has Stood The Test Of Time
Even thoughThe Lion King,Forrest Gump, andPulp Fictionall performed better at the box office,The Shawshank Redemptionis now widely regarded as the best movie of 1994. While critics are still impressed by it, general audiences are even more complimentary, leading to an 89% critical score and a near-perfect 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Another telling metric is IMDb, whereThe Shawshank Redemptionis rated the number one movie of all time with a 9.3/10 score that surpasses evenThe GodfatherandThe Godfather Part II.
The Shawshank Redemption: 10 Differences Between The Book & The Film
The Shawshank Redemption was actually a Stephen King book before it was a movie, and here are the big differences from page to screen.
“Get busy living, or get busy dying"became one ofThe Shawshank Redemption’s best quotesand encapsulates the movie’s hopefulness that has allowed it to stand the test of time. It is a rare movie that feels complete and satisfying on its own, has aged well, and only gets better as time goes on, which is an accomplishment that many movies in 1994 and in many other years cannot achieve. It is tonally different from most other King adaptations, butit remains a beloved take on the prolific author’s work.
Our Take On The Shawshank Redemption Winning The Fan Poll
The Movie Has An Unparalleled Legacy
The Shawshank Redemptionis a deserving winner in a year when many impressive movies were released. The incredible legacy it has shaped is proof thatbox office performance is not the only important metric of a movie’s success. This latest accolade may just be a fan poll, but it is reflective of the movie’s far-reaching and enduring acclaim in an uplifting and empowering story that builds toThe Shawshank Redemption’s deeply satisfying ending.
The Shawshank Redemption
Cast
The Shawshank Redemption follows Andy Dufresne, a banker sentenced to life in Shawshank prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. While incarcerated, he befriends fellow inmate Red and uses his financial skills to assist the corrupt warden, all while maintaining his hope and integrity.
