Frank Darabont's 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. It follows the story of Andy Dufresne, a man who is serving two life sentences at the Shawshank State Penitentiary for his supposed involvement in the double murder of his wife and her lover. In prison, Andy befriends Ellis "Red" Redding and has a profound effect on life at Shawshank through his quiet spiritual leadership and generous spirit.
Upon release, the film was not widely attended, and indeed it was a box office disappointment, but critics raved about its merits, which gave it a second life. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Original Score. While it did not win any awards, the film became an instant classic, with esteemed critic Roger Ebert writing, "...the film is an allegory about holding onto a sense of personal worth, despite everything."
In 2015, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Stephen King has called Shawshank his favorite film that is based on his work.
