Among film fans, no topic is more hotly debated than the subject of what the greatest movie ever made is. While there will never be an official answer to such a subjective topic, a massive fan vote has arguably provided the most definitive choice possible. According to that ranking, a legendary 1994 drama that flopped at the box office and has inspired generations of viewers is the top movie of all time.
Why ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Was Ranked the ‘Best Movie of All Time’
On July 16, 2026, Ranker updated its article, which allows readers to vote on the “Best Movies of All Time.” That article revealed that The Shawshank Redemption was ranked at No. 1 by a massive margin. Currently, the movie has received more than 107,000 upvotes and 36,000 downvotes. The No. 2 film on the list, Saving Private Ryan, has more than 51,000 upvotes and 24,000 downvotes. While people continue to vote on the ranking, it will be very difficult for any film to overtake the current top choice.
The same movie currently sits atop another prestigious ranking of the greatest films. The Shawshank Redemption is listed at No. 1 on the “IMDb Top 250 Movies,” with the website noting the ranking is based on ratings from “regular IMDb voters.”
There are many reasons why movie fans have consistently lavished praise on The Shawshank Redemption for more than three decades now. The most obvious thing that makes the film so special is that it is deeply emotional for most viewers who become deeply invested in its characters and story. Additionally, it is amazing that it tells an inspiring story about the humanity of people who are in a horrible place, most of whom have done horrific things. Of course, Morgan Freeman’s iconic performance, narration, and chemistry with Tim Robbins have gone down in film history. For those reasons and more, it is easy to argue that The Shawshank Redemption is a flawless film.
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Was a Box Office Flop
According to Box Office Mojo, The Shawshank Redemption was produced for an estimated $25 million and made just over $29.4 million at the worldwide box office. After factoring in the additional marketing and distribution expenses, the film’s run in theaters has long been considered a flop.
Over the last several years, the movie’s director and two main stars have spoken about its box office failure. In September 2019, director Frank Darabont spoke to Paste Magazine about how he was affected by the film’s poor box office receipts. “You can’t spend a year and a half of your life devoted to one thing, not have the audience show up, and not be discouraged by it. I was pretty upset.”
In October 2019, Tim Robbins spoke to Entertainment Weekly about what led to The Shawshank Redemption’s initial failure. “When it came out, and was not well received at the box office, there were various reasons given: Well, it’s the title. No one can remember the title. And that makes sense too, because for years after that film came out, people would come up to me and say, “You know, I really liked you in that film Scrimshaw Reduction” or “Shimmy, Shimmy, Shake” or “Shankshaw” — you know, so many different ways that people got it wrong.”
One year later, in October 2020, Morgan Freeman posted on X to thank fans for saving The Shawshank Redemption from being remembered as a flop. “It has been 26 years since #ShawshankRedemption came out in theaters, and I’m still thankful to everyone who made our box office flop one of the most beloved movies of all time.”
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This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jul 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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