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Yes—Stephen King’s The Long Walk is now a released feature film. Directed by Francis Lawrence and written by JT Mollner, it opened in theaters on September 12, 2025, with Lionsgate distributing it. The adaptation follows a group of young men forced into a lethal endurance contest, with Raymond Garraty and Peter McVries at its emotional center.
What is The Long Walk about?
Set in a dystopian America, the story follows boys compelled to take part in a state-sponsored walking contest. They must keep moving at the required pace. Slowing down or stopping brings warnings; a contestant who fails to resume the pace after three warnings is shot. The rules make exhaustion itself a threat, while the walkers continue alongside one another as the group is gradually eliminated.
It is a survival story, but not a conventional battle royale: the contestants are not trying to kill one another. Director Francis Lawrence told Vanity Fair that this changes the relationships at the heart of the story: “Here, you’re not actually trying to kill one another. It’s a very different dynamic, in terms of relationships.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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The Long Walk | $12.57 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Long Walk | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Stephen King: His Life, Work, and Influences (Young Readers' Edition) | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Body | $7.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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Study Guide: The Long Walk by Stephen King (SuperSummary) | $11.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Who made the movie, and who stars in it?
Stephen King’s official film listing names Francis Lawrence as director and JT Mollner as screenwriter. Cooper Hoffman plays Raymond Garraty, David Jonsson plays Peter McVries, and Mark Hamill plays the Major, who oversees the contest. Other cast members include Garrett Wareing, Joshua Odjick, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Judy Greer, and Josh Hamilton, according to TV Insider.
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Lionsgate presents the film in association with Media Capital Technologies. Its official billing also lists Vertigo Entertainment and about:blank among the production entities. Lawrence is known for directing several Hunger Games films, but the contest in The Long Walk has a different dynamic because the walkers do not attack one another.
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How does the movie compare with the book?
The central premise carries over, but the walking pace changes. In King’s novel, contestants must maintain four miles per hour; in the film, the required pace is three miles per hour. King told Vanity Fair, “They changed it at my advice,” adding that “four miles an hour was just too fucking fast.” The Guardian also reports the difference between the book’s and movie’s speeds.
Reporting describes the film as following the ensemble while focusing particularly on Garraty and McVries. The Guardian’s interview says the production largely played out on the road and that actors walked several miles per day during sequential filming; that is an account of the production, not a measure of what every viewer will experience on screen.
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If you want to read the source story, TV Insider’s article links to an Amazon listing for King’s novel. The book is the basis for the movie, but it is not required preparation for watching the adaptation.
Where can you watch The Long Walk?
The film’s theatrical release is documented on King’s official page, which lists September 12, 2025, and Lionsgate as distributor. For later viewing, check the official movie site and its viewing information, or search local retailer and streaming listings. Availability can vary by country and date.
TV Insider reported digital on-demand availability beginning October 21, 2025, and HBO Max availability beginning July 10. Because that article’s timeline and metadata are inconsistent, those dates should not be taken as confirmation of current availability in every region; verify the listing where you live.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about its opening weekend?
ScreenDollars’ September 14, 2025 newsletter reported an $11.5 million opening weekend and a fourth-place finish. That is a dated opening-weekend figure, not a final domestic or worldwide total.
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Rank #4
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