Forget Shawshank Redemption, Stephen King’s Beloved 27-Year-Old Adaptation Is Officially #1 On Streaming

Credit: Heiko Sehrsam/startraksphoto.com Published Oct 8, 2026, 4:09 PM EDT Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty. However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website. Although Stephen King is synonymous with horror, he has explored other genres, such as in his 1982 novella The Shawshank Redemption, which was adapted into one of the most beloved movies of all time. Directed by Frank Darabont, the 1994 film follows the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank Prison, and over the following two decades, forms a friendship with fellow prisoner Red (Morgan Freeman). A few years later, Frank Darabont adapted King's 1996 novel into an equally beloved movie, The Green Mile. The 1999 film stars Tom Hanks as a death row correctional officer who discovers that an enigmatic convict (played by Michael Clarke Duncan) possesses the supernatural ability to heal people's ailments. Also starring are David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton, and Gary Sinise. King's The Green Mile Can't Be Stopped On Tubi Now, nearly three decades after its debut, The Green Mile is No. 1 on Tubi's Top 10 overall movies and TV shows in the United States as of today, October 8. It ranks above Spider-Man: Far from Home, Boo! A Madea Halloween, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Waterworld, No Good Deed, The General's Daughter, Maid in Manhattan, The Silence of the Lambs, and Forrest Gump. The Debate Between Green Mile & Shawshank Redemption Continues With Fans To this day, the debate between The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile continues with fans – both being beloved prison-set dramas directed by Frank Darabont, adapted from stories by Stephen King. However, The Shawshank Redemption didn't start out with the reputation it enjoys today. It originally disappointed at the box office, grossing just $16 million during its initial theatrical run. The Green Mile was much more of an immediate commercial success, grossing $286.8 million against its $60 million budget. On Rotten Tomatoes, both movies are beloved by audiences, with 98% and 94% scores, though Shawshank Redemption has a slightly higher score from critics, 89% compared to The Green Mile's 78%, which received some criticism for its three-hour runtime, arguably giving Shawshank Redemption the edge as the tighter and nearly perfect film pacing-wise. Shawshank Redemption also received more Oscar nominations, seven to The Green Mile's four, and a theatrical re-release that increased its box-office gross to $73.3 million. In the end, though, the debate ultimately comes down to whether one prefers the inspirational hope of The Shawshank Redemption or the emotional heartbreak of The Green Mile. Release Date December 10, 1999 Runtime 189 minutes Director Frank Darabont