Thescreescore – Released September 12th, The Long Walk, the latest Stephen King adaptation, isn’t just walking; it’s sprinting to the top of Rotten Tomatoes. Based on King’s chilling novel, the film, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), follows Raymond Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) as he endures a brutal, televised walking contest with deadly consequences. Alongside Hoffman, a stellar cast including David Jonsson, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Tut Nyot, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill bring this dystopian nightmare to life.
The film’s critical and audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Boasting a remarkable 90% critic score and an impressive 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Long Walk solidifies its place as one of the best-reviewed Stephen King adaptations to date. This success is particularly noteworthy given the wildly varying quality of past King film adaptations. The film’s opening weekend box office numbers, while not record-breaking, totaled $4.8 million, placing it fourth behind major releases. With a $20 million budget, its long-term box office performance remains to be seen, but the positive buzz could propel it to unexpected heights.
The Long Walk is a character-driven thriller that masterfully blends the oppressive violence of a dystopian regime with the unexpected bonds of friendship forged under extreme pressure. While its unflinching depiction of brutality might limit its appeal to a broader audience, the film’s powerful narrative and strong performances are sure to resonate with viewers seeking a gripping and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. The film’s success, however, faces stiff competition from other big-budget releases, but its strong Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it has the potential to become a sleeper hit, especially once it hits streaming platforms. Thescreescore.com gives The Long Walk a solid 7/10.
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