Tom Hanks' 189-Minute 'Shawshank Redemption' Successor Breaks Out on Streaming 27 years Later

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Published Feb 24, 2026, 2:36 PM EST

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

Tom Hanks is an iconic figure in entertainment. From very early in his career, after switching to dramatic roles following breakthroughs in comedic projects like Splash and Bachelor Party, his skill was evident. With six Oscar nominations, including for his performances in Big, Saving Private Ryan, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, very few can contend with what Hanks brings to the table. His two Oscar wins came for his performances in Forrest Gump and Philadelphia in back-to-back years.

A filmography that includes projects with legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis is certainly enviable. Despite having featured heavily in movies for the better part of 40 years and clearly heading into the latter part of his career. None can boldly claim that Hanks is incapable of delivering entertaining movies. His straight-to-streaming WWII movie, Greyhound, and the heartwarming drama, A Man Called Otto, offer evidence to the contrary. In fact, the actor is billed to reprise his role as Woody in Toy Story 5 this summer.

However, before he returns to one of his most iconic roles, fans of the actor can revisit an underrated classic from Hank's filmography. This entry came 27 years ago when Hanks starred alongside David Morse and the late Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile.

The film has quietly returned to streaming, and globally, the film has re-entered the Apple TV Store top 10 in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Green Mile is a prison drama that follows a death row guard, Paul Edgecomb (Hanks), and his discovery of John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), an inmate and gentle giant who seems to possess an unnatural gift.

Was 'The Green Mile' Successful?

The Green Mile was written and directed by Frank Darabont based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, making it something of a spiritual successor to The Shawshank Redemption. The series is a classic, a certified hit with audiences, but holds a modest view from critics. On the aggregator siteRotten Tomatoes, The Green Mile sits at 78% Certified Freshfrom critics but holds an even better 94% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter. Commercially, the film reportedly cost around $60 million, which was considered a major risk in the late 90s. Thankfully for those involved, the bet paid off as The Green Mile grossed $286 million worldwide and continues to generate profits as a streaming title. The film also stars Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore.

Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.