Undeniably one of the most underrated films of the year and one of Hollywood’s finest Stephen King adaptations, the survival thriller The Long Walk brings the author’s heart-racing dystopian tale to life as it chronicles the efforts of a group of teenage boys as they participate in the deadly competition in hopes of winning a cash prize by outlasting their fellow peers. The film garnered widespread acclaim upon its release and became a financial success, grossing $48 million during its run while keeping audiences hooked until the credits rolled.
Both critics and fans were in agreement that The Long Walk winningly honors its subject source while weaving a story full of terror, dread, and poignancy, and it’s no wonder the film currently has a fantastic Rotten Tomatoes score. For those of you who enjoy watching new releases from the comfort of your own home and are interested in watching the anxiety-inducing The Long Walk, we now have a time frame in which it will be available for streaming.
‘The Long Walk’ Becomes a Powerful King Adaptation
After decades of being stuck in development hell with revered directors like George A. Romero and Frank Darabont coming and going, the “King of Horror” himself, Stephen King’s pulse-pounding survival thriller The Long Walk finally made it to the big screen in 2025. The adaptation was in good hands as Francis Lawrence officially signed on for the project in November 2023, with the filmmaker having memorably helmed hits like Constantine, I Am Legend, and The Hunger Games series. The King classic takes place in a dystopian America in the 1970s where 50 teenage boys (one from every state) are selected to participate in a brutal competition in hopes of winning life-changing money.
Featuring a large ensemble cast including Cooper Hoffman, David Johnson, Charlie Plummer, and Mark Hamill, the epic reimagining focuses on the courageous young men as they must maintain a walking pace of three miles per hour or faster or else they receive three warnings and are executed. The Walk ends when only one survivor remains, who is then given a large cash prize and has one of their wishes fulfilled. Hoffman stars as Raymond “Ray” Garraty, a participant from Maine who befriends Peter “Pete” McVries (Johnson) while in the violent competition, which is overseen by its merciless official known as The Major (Hamill).
The Long Walk proved to be both a critical and commercial triumph, grossing $48 million worldwide against a $20 million budget while being praised for remaining faithful to the source material (an impressive feat alone) and thrillingly capturing the terror and bleakness of the novel. The adaptation currently has a stellar 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.3/10 IMDb rating, with moviegoers finding themselves on the edge of their seats thanks to the film’s emotional depth, unrelenting tension, and haunting performances by its talented cast, with Slate declaring in their glowing review, “Stephen King has been adapted a lot, but this is the leanest, meanest adaptation of his work in a long time.”
When Is ‘The Long Walk’ Coming to Streaming?
The Long Walk premiered in theaters on September 12, 2025, and currently the only way to experience the heart-wrenching dread of the King adaptation is by heading to the nearest movie theater to watch the tale unfold on-screen. However, if you prefer to enjoy your horror from the comfort of your own couch, the dystopian thriller will be making its way to premium video-on-demand (PVOD) storefronts like Apple TV and Prime Video before it becomes available on popular subscription streaming services.
The Long Walk is expected to arrive on VOD platforms on October 21, 2025 (according to WhenToStream.com), although it is important to note that Lionsgate has not confirmed an official release date. Usually, movies released by Lionsgate make their way to PVOD services three to four weeks after debuting in theaters, and based on the time frame, it seems as though The Long Walk will follow the pattern of fellow flicks like Ballerina and Flight Risk. Though the exact streaming date for the thriller has yet to be officially announced, curious viewers will be happy to know that when The Long Walk heads to streaming, it will first be available on Starz since that is when all of Lionsgate’s movies go.
For decades, Hollywood has had an obsession with bringing King’s countless literary creations to life on both the big and small screen, with each project experiencing various degrees of success. While adaptations like Carrie, Misery, and Stand By Me have become celebrated gems of cinema, there have been many reimaginings that have left fans wanting more, such as Children of the Corn and The Dark Tower. Director Francis Lawrence wanted to make sure he did the survival tale justice and chose to strip down the project by including minimal crowds and walkers to create a heightened sense of dread, while heavily focusing on the bond between the men. He told Den of Geek:
“The big one for me on The Long Walk, and what always stuck with me, was the camaraderie of the young men, their relationships and their dynamics, and the bonds that they form. I always thought that was the most beautiful thing about the story, as violent and as terrifying as it is.”
- Release Date
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September 12, 2025
- Runtime
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108 Minutes
- Director
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Francis Lawrence
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Cooper Hoffman
Raymond Garraty / #47
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David Jonsson
Peter McVries / #23
