The latest movie adaptation of a Stephen King’s novel, “The Long Walk,” brings an interesting take on the novel, leading the viewer along the miles that the contestants walked. The realism and engagement leave the viewers’ eyes attached to the screen throughout its runtime.

Lionsgate announced the adaptation of the film in 2023, and a trailer later followed at CinemaCon in April 2025, where its release date was revealed. This film follows the story of Wayne Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) as he lives in a future American dystopian society and must enter a dangerous competition ran by the government regime. Fifty contestants must walk for miles on end until there is one contestant remaining.

This film brings grueling realism and makes the viewer feel that they are in competition with the characters. From gruesome deaths to gut-wrenching monologues, this film truly lets the viewer walk out of the theater feeling like they took the journey the contestants did. The performance by supporting characters Peter McVries (David Jonsson) and Hank Olson (Ben Wang) bring the impact and true grit to what makes “The Long Walk” special.

However, with realism comes an abundance of foul language, with some moments in the movie creating distractions due to the obscenities With hot-headed characters like Collie Parker (Joshua Odjick) and Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) brings the story away from the heart of the film and adds an odd taste.

Overall, this movie brings a great take on King’s novel, with twists and turns that make you regret taking bathroom and snack breaks. “The Long Walk” leaves the viewer with empathy and sorrow, creating a great impact on its theatrical debut.

The Long Walk is in theaters now.