Overview
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.
MovieMagicScore Overview
Auto-generatedFrank Darabont's 1999 prison drama blends crime realism with quiet fantasy, unfolding on a Depression-era Southern death row. The story follows a head guard whose routine is upended by a towering, soft-spoken inmate said to carry an inexplicable healing gift, prompting questions about justice, faith, and human decency. Patient and melancholy in tone, it leans on emotional weight rather than shock, building toward sober reflection on mortality and compassion. With its mix of grounded period detail and the supernatural, it suits viewers drawn to slow-burning, character-rich dramas. It holds a MagicMovieScore of 8.5.
An automated summary to help you decide what to watch — not a user review or critic rating.
Trailer
Top Cast
Tom Hanks
Paul Edgecomb
David Morse
Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
Bonnie Hunt
Jan Edgecomb
Michael Clarke Duncan
John Coffey
James Cromwell
Warden Hal Moores
Michael Jeter
Eduard Delacroix
Graham Greene
Arlen Bitterbuck
Doug Hutchison
Percy Wetmore
19,209 ratings, tightly clustered. This score is unlikely to move more than 0.02 with new ratings.
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Movie Info
Release Date
December 10, 1999
Runtime
3h 9m
Rating
R
Genres
Crime, Drama, Fantasy
Director