The Long Walk is the latest book-to-movie adaptation to hit the big screen, and it just passed one of Stephen King’s best movies at the global box office. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film adapts King’s 1979 dystopian novel, following an annual contest where 50 teenage boys are forced to walk without rest or risk being shot.

The film features a strong ensemble cast, including Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Roman Griffin Davis, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. Released on September 12, The Long Walk currently holds a Certified Fresh 88% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Though produced on a modest budget of approximately $20 million, the film has already surpassed expectations both critically and commercially.

Now, according to figures by Box Office Mojo, The Long Walk has outgrossed The Shawshank Redemption at the global box office. The Long Walk has earned approximately $31.7 million globally. In comparison, The Shawshank Redemption, widely regarded as the best Stephen King adaptation ever made, earned around $28.3 million globally during its original theatrical run in 1994.

What This Means For The Long Walk

This unexpected box office milestone marks a major turning point for The Long Walk and its place within the landscape of King adaptations. For a relatively low-budget film based on a lesser-known novel, surpassing The Shawshank Redemption in global box office earnings is a remarkable achievement, transforming The Long Walk from a niche dystopian thriller to a breakout hit.

This success could also open the door for The Long Walk to become a franchise-launching property or, at the very least, a major calling card for its cast and creative team. Director Francis Lawrence, already known for large-scale dystopian films like The Hunger Games, has now proven his ability to deliver grounded storytelling in a smaller, more intimate format.

Similarly, rising stars such as Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson will likely see increased interest from major studios, and the film’s critical success could lead to recognition during awards season. Moreover, the film’s performance suggests a cultural resonance with current audiences in a cinematic landscape saturated with superhero films and reboots, showing that dystopian films can still thrive.

Our Take On The Long Walk Surpassing The Shawshank Redemption

David Jonsson as Peter McVries in The Long Walk

In an era when theaters have become increasingly dominated by high-budget franchises and familiar IPs, The Long Walk is exciting and not just for Stephen King fans. By relying less on spectacle and more on emotional, character-focused storytelling, using the walk itself as a metaphor for endurance, conformity, and the human cost of authoritarian systems, the film earns its place.

In my opinion, The Long Walk belongs among the top tier of Stephen King adaptations, not just because it passed The Shawshank Redemption at the box office, but because it dares to stand apart. The Long Walk tells a bleakly human story, trusts its audience to sit with discomfort, and reaffirms that even the darkest journeys can lead to success.