The Verdict
"Cooper Hoffman and David Johnsson's soulful performances bring a lot of heart to Stephen King's dystopian tale, makingThe Long Walka life-or-death ordeal for its characters but a riveting ride for audiences."
"The Long Walkis a dystopian emotional journey with strong King-esque vibes that thoughtfully navigates themes of morality without straying from its well-trodden path."
Movie Review and Other Insights
The Long Walk is a visionary Mystery & Thriller, Horror film directed by the acclaimed Francis Lawrence (Roy Lee). Released in theaters on Sep 12, 2025, Wide, this cinematic experience offers a fresh take on the classic narrative. Produced by Vertigo Entertainment and distributed by Lionsgate, the film features a runtime of 1h 48m.
The story follows from the highly anticipated adaptation of master storyteller Stephen King's first-written novel, and Francis Lawrence, the visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films (Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Pts. 1 & 2 , and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), comes THE LONG WALK, an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go? Leading the cast are star performers Francis Lawrence, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, who bring depth and intensity to their roles.
Rated R for Pervasive Language|Grisly Images|Sexual References|Strong Bloody Violence|Suicide, The Long Walk delivers a Dolby Atmos audio experience presented in a Digital 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Critics have praised the film, stating: "Cooper Hoffman and David Johnsson's soulful performances bring a lot of heart to Stephen King's dystopian tale, makingThe Long Walka life-or-death ordeal for its characters but a riveting ride for audiences."
Images
Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews
"Notwithstanding the shockingly graphic splatter... this is unremittingly dull stuff."
"The Long Walk is a satisfying piece of entertainment that feels curiously relevant"
"At times, it's a slog... but what makes it work it's that like all the best dystopian sci-fi, it does seem to resonate with the modern world."
"The Long Walk goes beyond being a good adaptation: it's an emotional journey that blends physical horror with poetic sensitivity. [Full review in Spanish]"
"King's idea is brought to the screen with a very effective simplicity that is as savage, lewd, and scatological as it is forceful. [Full review in Spanish]"
"The film doesn't water down or diminish the original text, nor does it try to sugarcoat it to make it easier for a general audience to swallow. In fact, the starkness of the approach is surprising...[Full review in Spanish]"
Audience Reviews
I read the book prior and was jaded with my expectations of the movie
I read the book many moons ago. The film definitely did the book justice, which doesn't always occur with Stephen King's books. It is gruesome for some parts but, to the director's credit, it looked real which gave the 'action' in the story more meaning. I would recommend this to any fan,.like me,.of Stephen.King.
Truly a suspenseful movie
To me, this is movie of the year in 2025. Best movie I seen all year, definitely worth the money and can’t wait till it’s on streaming services. Hopefully this is nominated for an Oscar! Amazing cast and great story, written by the great Stephen King.
A long disturbing long walk with casualties mentality and physically. Stephen King does it again with a creation of intrigue worthy of being told on screen. It’s a watch one time, not memorable to the viewer.
Phenomenal acting but lacked story telling. Assumed you already knew the backstory. I’ve heard the ending is different than the book. Felt like an abrupt ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Long Walk released?
The Long Walk hit theaters on Sep 12, 2025, Wide. It became available for streaming on Oct 21, 2025.
How long is the movie and what is the genre?
The film has a runtime of 1h 48m. It falls under the Mystery & Thriller, Horror genre, featuring a sound mix in Dolby Atmos.
Who is the director of The Long Walk?
The movie is directed by Francis Lawrence. The script was penned by JT Mollner.
Who are the main actors in The Long Walk?
The top billed cast includes:
- Francis Lawrence as Director
- Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty, #47
- David Jonsson as Peter McVries, #23
- Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, #38
- Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker, #6
Why is The Long Walk rated R?
It is rated R (Pervasive Language|Grisly Images|Sexual References|Strong Bloody Violence|Suicide)
Which studio produced the movie?
The Long Walk was produced by Vertigo Entertainment and distributed worldwide by Lionsgate.
About the movie
NEWFrom the highly anticipated adaptation of master storyteller Stephen King's first-written novel, and Francis Lawrence, the visionary director of The Hunger Games franchise films (Catching Fire, Mockingjay - Pts. 1 & 2 , and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), comes THE LONG WALK, an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go?
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Producers
- Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Francis Lawrence, Cameron MacConomy
- Screenwriter
- JT Mollner
- Distributor
- Lionsgate
- Production
- Vertigo Entertainment
- Genre
- Mystery & Thriller, Horror
- Release Date
- Sep 12, 2025, Wide
- Run Time
- 1h 48m
- Rating
- R
- Sound Mix
- Dolby Atmos
- Aspect Ratio
- Digital 2.39:1