It’s been a pretty muddled year for new movies in theaters. While I’d say there have been more average releases than great ones, a handful of outstanding movies have been at an Oscar-worthy level. One of them is “The Long Walk,” a Stephen King adaptation that didn’t get nearly the attention it deserved upon release.
Grossing just over $50 million worldwide, “The Long Walk” has largely been overlooked. I’m hoping its arrival on premium streaming (PVOD) will give it the recognition it truly deserves. This dark thriller is not only relentlessly gripping but also features some of the strongest performances I’ve ever seen.
Ranking as my third favorite movie of 2025 so far, there’s so much I love about how King’s novel was brought to the big screen. If you haven’t seen “The Long Walk,” here’s why you need to stream it right now.
What is ‘The Long Walk’ about?
“The Long Walk” follows 50 teenage boys selected to compete in an annual, government-run endurance contest in 1970s dystopian America. The rules are simple but deadly: they must maintain a pace of at least 3 miles per hour, and any contestant who falls behind after three warnings is executed.
Among the participants is Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), a determined and resourceful teenager trying to survive at all costs. He forms tense alliances and rivalries with fellow competitors, including Peter McVries (David Jonsson), Hank Olson (Ben Wang), and Art Baker (Tut Nyuot). The event is overseen by a mysterious official known as The Major (Mark Hamill).
As the walk progresses, the participants face extreme physical exhaustion, injuries, and relentless pressure. The walk continues until only one contestant remains alive, earning a substantial cash prize and the fulfillment of a wish.
‘The Long Walk’ is one of Stephen King’s best adaptations
“The Long Walk” had me experiencing so many emotions in its 108-minute runtime. One minute I was tense, the next my jaw was on the floor, and then I felt the urge to sob. It’s crafted brilliantly, not just in the performances and Francis Lawrence’s direction, but also in the sound design and unsaturated visuals. Everything about this thriller feels carefully designed to rattle your nerves and emotions, and I don’t think a movie has ever kept me up the night I watched it.
There are moments when you’ll want to look away, yet the movie’s gripping pace keeps you locked in, even as teenage boys are executed on live television without a single cut. The opening title doesn’t appear until the first shocking death, shown in graphic detail and extreme close-up about 20 minutes in. Only once the danger of the walk feels real for both the characters and the audience does “The Long Walk” fully step into its own, letting you understand just how high the stakes are.
Our protagonist, Raymond Garraty, enters the Long Walk for deeply personal reasons, revealed through a series of brief but powerful flashbacks. These glimpses into his motivations are the only moments we step away from the road as for the rest of the runtime, we follow him walking alongside the shrinking group of competitors. As the journey unfolds, the movie also explores the bonds that form under extreme pressure and how friendships can grow and endure even in the most intense, harrowing circumstances.
That’s one of the things I love about King’s novel and this adaptation. “The Long Walk” places friendships and human connection at its core, showing Garraty forming bonds with those around him, even with participants who may be hostile on the outside but remain deeply human. While Hoffman delivers a strong performance as the lead, Jonsson completely steals the show for me, and I knew he would after seeing his work in “Alien: Romulus.”
Making a movie that revolves almost entirely around walking, punctuated only occasionally by gunfire and the watchful eyes of spectators, is no small feat, but Lawrence and cinematographer Jo Willems handle it perfectly. “The Long Walk” rarely feels monotonous, despite most shots following the walkers head-on through a bleak, oppressive landscape. Much of this impact comes from the movie’s commitment to its characters, keeping the audience invested in their struggles every step of the way.
I should warn you that “The Long Walk” can be extremely violent and doesn’t shy away from its brutality. For those familiar with the book, the movie also diverges from the source material in places, leaving an ending that’s open to interpretation. Even so, “The Long Walk” is a challenging journey worth taking, and I highly recommend watching it for the performances alone.
Buy/rent "The Long Walk" on Amazon or Apple TV now.
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