‘The Running Man’ Has Grossed More at the Box Office Than ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

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Movie and TV adaptations of Stephen King’s novels have been consistently popular lately. A recent example is a new film based on his dystopian novel originally published under the name Richard Bachman – a story that was famously turned into a campy, over-the-top action movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger years ago. This new version stars and has been a box office hit, even managing to outperform what many consider to be not just King’s best film adaptation, but one of the greatest movies ever made, despite some mixed reactions.

It’s always been a challenge for filmmakers to bring Stephen King’s stories to the screen. Both new and experienced directors often find it difficult to capture the same sense of fear in a visual format as King creates with his writing. Interestingly, some of his most successful movies aren’t about monsters or supernatural creatures at all, but focus on very human stories. In fact, one of these films consistently appears on “Best Movies of All Time” lists, even though it initially failed at the box office.

Released in 1994, the critically acclaimed film The Shawshank Redemption – based on a novella by Stephen King – follows Andy Dufresne, a banker brilliantly portrayed by Tim Robbins, who is wrongly convicted of murder. Over twenty years, he relentlessly pursues his freedom while exposing the corruption of the prison guards and the ruthless Warden Norton. Directed by Frank Darabont and featuring Morgan Freeman, Clancy Brown, and a talented ensemble cast, the movie is a powerful story of hope and perseverance, often considered one of the best films ever made.

‘The Running Man’ vs. ‘The Shawshank Redemption’


Paramount Pictures

Leaving aside the connection to Stephen King, The Running Man and The Shawshank Redemption are quite different films. However, both powerfully portray the universal human struggle against difficult circumstances – a theme common to nearly all of King’s stories, no matter the specific genre.

When comparing the two films, The Shawshank Redemption is clearly superior to this year’s remake of The Running Man. The Running Man has mixed reviews—64% from critics and 79% from audiences—on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, Shawshank Redemption boasts an impressive 89% rating from critics and a remarkable 98% audience score, proving it’s a film that deeply connects with viewers.

When The Shawshank Redemption first came out in theaters, it didn’t do well, earning only $16 million despite costing $25 million to make. While it became more popular after receiving Oscar nominations, its total earnings in the US still reached only $28.3 million – a number that The Running Man has already exceeded. The Running Man is likely to make even more than the $73.3 million Shawshank earned from its original release and re-release in 1994/1995. However, because The Running Man cost $110 million to produce, it’s also expected to be considered a box office failure, just like Shawshank. Despite this, it’s unlikely The Running Man will ever be as beloved as The Shawshank Redemption, though it might find a place on some lists of enjoyable guilty pleasures.

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2025-11-29 18:39