The Long Walk (2025)
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12-month trend
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2025-09 to 2026-08
In a dystopian America, fifty boys must participate in a deadly, televised walking contest where the only way to survive is to never stop moving.
The story
Set in a dystopian 1970s style America, the film follows fifty boys in an annually televised competitive walking contest, meant to inspire viewers. Each boy must maintain a pace of 3 mph of nonstop walking for days, and failure to do so after three warnings results in death. The boy who lasts the longest wins a large cash prize and the fulfilment of one wish of his choice. The competition takes place in an alternate 20th century where the United States is a totalitarian military regime following a devastating civil war. The regime established the 'Long Walk' to inspire patriotism and work ethic among the destitute during a severe economic depression.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a totalitarian, post-civil war United States, fifty teenage boys from every state are selected to participate in the 'Long Walk.' They must walk hundreds of miles at a constant pace while being monitored by armed soldiers and broadcast to the public. Ray Garraty, a boy from Maine, joins the walk despite his mother's pleas. As the days pass, the group forms bonds while others are executed for slowing down or falling ill. Ray forms a close bond with Pete, who dreams of using his wish to improve the world, while Ray secretly hopes to use his to kill the Major, the official overseeing the event. After several participants are eliminated, only Ray and Pete remain. On the fifth day, in a city filled with spectators, Pete sits down, but Ray encourages him to continue. Instead, Ray stops walking and is executed by the Major. Pete is declared the winner and, fulfilling Ray's plan, uses his wish to obtain a rifle, kills the Major, and walks away into the silence. An alternate ending shows Pete sparing the Major and continuing to walk, while a postscript reveals he was responsible for sending money and mementos to the families of the fallen walkers.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Francis Lawrence
- Writers
- JT Mollner · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Cooper Hoffman · Ray Garraty; David Jonsson · Pete; Garrett Wareing; Tut Nyuot; Charlie Plummer; Ben Wang; Jordan Gonzalez; Roman Griffin Davis; Josh Hamilton; Judy Greer; Mark Hamill · the Major
- Genres
- dystopian horror thriller; adventure; science fiction horror; science fiction thriller
- Themes
- survival; sacrifice; totalitarianism; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- morose; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- death game; survival; dystopian
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1979 novel by Stephen King
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was noted for its performances and cinematography, though some critics found the premise thinly drawn or the ending cryptic.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 34; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was shot largely in chronological order.; The production required actors to walk 15 miles each day.; A promotional screening was held where attendees watched the film while walking on treadmills.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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