Name: Shawshank Redemption was a box-office flop
Item: The Shawshank Redemption
Author: @gooddream

It is difficult to imagine that what is routinely rated as one of the best films ever made (IMDB has it at #1 based on user reviews) failed to even get close to recouping its budget but this is a fact.

Over the years it has, no doubt, gotten that money back many times over but I was shocked to find out that the total box office numbers were $9 million under the overall film budget and some other sites rate it as having just barely broken even.

[source](https://static.gbtimes.com/uploads/old/2014/12/02/the-shawshank-redemption.jpg)

If you somehow managed to have not seen this movie by now you need to do so ASAP. I know I recommend a LOT of movies on here, but if there was a category above "Wowsers!" there would only be a handful of films on it and this would be one of them.

[source](https://media.golfdigest.com/photos/5b7441293404e637f689c81f/master/pass/180815-shawshank.jpg)

This film is so abundantly awesome that I can say that everything about it is just perfect. The choice in actors, the story, how the story stays interesting and keeps moving, the musical score, and the twists are absolutely spot on. I think that this film might be perfect.

It was nominated for a bunch of awards and didn't win any of them. I believe this press enabled the studios to make a bunch of their money back but even after DVD sales and what not the film only grossed around $90 million, and this was years later.

[source](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cGo5rXUAH2o/hqdefault.jpg)

In Shawshank, Morgan Freeman established himself as the perfect narrator as well. Unless I am mistaken, I don't think this happened before this film. He is continually asked to do narration work, but he declines a vast majority of it unless it is done in jest such as on a late-night variety show.

I started thinking about this because I have become a bit frustrated about what it is that ends up being a box-office hit these days. It seems that every film that makes a crap-ton of money is almost exclusively a superhero film that is all-but-completely devoid of actual substance. Shawshank is filled with beautiful cinematography, a compelling story about the human condition, as well as perfectly cast villains and heroes and I wonder if such a wonderful film would also be generally ignored in today's entertainment times.

This isn't really a review so much as it was a real shock to me to learn that what is largely considered to be one of the best movies ever made, actually lost money initially. To be fair The Wizard of Oz was a box office flop also. :)

Comments · 13

@wiseagent🏆#12 🔥4 🎵551 🎬475 📺76(81)· 2636d

This is more than a clear proof that being a hit in the box office doesn't mean much (because this movie is just phenomenal).

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@bozz(83)· 2637d

Wow, that is really surprising to me as well. I didn't see it until well after it was available on video. It was a fantastic movie though. The storytelling is great and even the end is not quite what you expect.

@cristiancaicedo(75)· 2637d

This is my favorite Stephen King's adaptation. Movie's based on Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank redemption which I think is the best King ever wrote. And the film with Freeman and Robbins is one of those movies you can watch over and over again. It was a great idea not making a review and inviting people to watch it instead. Great post, thanks for sharing.

@xrplover(55)· 2638d

The best thing about this movie: No Leo.

I agree, it's an awesome movie! Time to watch it again.

@mikenevitt(62)· 2638d

I’ve seen this film many times it’s a great film, I didn’t know it was a flop at the box office that surprises me. Thanks mike

@foxkoit(76)· 2638d

This old film is GOLD :) .... this days we not get more good films.

@smallearth(64)· 2638d

One of my top 5 all time movies.

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@magnata(67)· 2638d

I agree with you. This is an amazing and iconic picture. She talks about so many things at once and in such a simple, non-metaphoric, sometimes even cruel language. I can not believe that you can put so much in one picture. Unfortunately, the picture did not receive any Oscar statuettes, although there were as many as seven nominations. Most likely, this was due to the complex prison themes of both the original story and the film. But who needs highbrow academics, when 'Shawshank Escape' won such a love of sincere, impartial, ordinary viewers, that for a year now it has held a leading position in all sorts of movie lists.

@tezmel(70)· 2638d

I watched this a few times before my imprisonment and it never closed my mind that I'd one day think about it while behind bars for an entire year. One of the most RELATABLE movies ever!

@erikah🏆#9 🔥6 🎵1.2k 🎬9 📺4(83)· 2638d

Another film on my waiting list, I have to watch it. I love Morgan Freeman, I believe he's a legend and deserves recognition. About budgets and IMDb ratings ... that is something you can't control or predict. I don't know what's happened here, maybe it was overspending or the viewers had other preferences at that time. Either way, I'm watching the movie 🙂

@josediccus(82)· 2638d

Definitely could be people's favourite and still be a box office failure, I remember some African folks telling me how much they loved this movie , there was this whole new side to Morgan Freeman

@moghul(65)· 2638d

I’m ashamed to say I have not watched this yet and I have a DVD. Unpardonable :) I will watch it this week

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@martinmcfly(60)· 2638d

Undoubtedly one of my favorite movies, although I did not know it was a box office failure. Anyway, it's a great movie, well directed, with an excellent script, and magnificent interpretations.