How did Shawshank Redemption get so much acclaim?

[DanielsonTHAGOAT]

I was just thinking how the Shawshank Redemption got so much acclaim. From what I've read, it flopped in the box office and most critics said it was a solid film at the time but now it's considered to be the best movie ever made to some people.

Why is this? What makes this film so special and where did the love for it come from recently?

[Matteo]

The film did remarkably well in video sales and rental, and has grown progressively - both in terms of critical acclaim and popularity - since. It's not a masterwork, but it's something that hits all the right notes. It's a perfect example of downright good storytelling, where every component of the filmmaking process works to great effect. Wonderfully restrained direction from Darabont, a (predictable) but nonetheless real and honestly written script, impressive editing, and two good leads with enough chemistry. There is a great level of commerciality and artistry to the film which makes it much easier to appeal to a mass audience, too. You can tell it's much more than a lifeless, insipid project Hollywood occasionally dishes out, but it's not too... 'distinctive' to isolate viewers or have something of a niche audience. But yes, its prodigious success has mystified me on occasions too, especially when you look at its initial performance with both critics and the box-office.

[Chewy]

Because it's a good movie.

[Everlong]

Yeah I think the biggest reason it's found so much success in the years after its release is because there's just something in it for everyone. It hits all of the right notes emotionally and really does an outstanding job at sucking the viewer in with the stories of the people in the prison. And as Chewy said, it's just a darn good movie.

[Hanley!]

It's just a good film. It didn't perform well at the box office because it probably didn't have the machine behind it fully and because it's not necessarily the type of film that tends to do well at the box office anyway. But it received really positive word of mouth and therefore gradually more and more people came to know about it and watched it for themselves. And once they did there was nothing to stop them from liking it.

Often, you can tell how good something is by how it's received years later. Once you separate it from the marketing and the hype and the fanfare. We've had some extremely successful blockbusters over the last few years that nobody will remember come 2020. And there have been films that didn't do nearly as well, that will be remembered fondly for years to come. If something is good enough, it will stick with people.