Entertainment Blog #373 | The Long Walk [2025] : Walk or Die...
“The Long Walk” is a #survival #thriller #movie directed by Francis Lawrence and released in the United States on September 12, 2025. It’s adapted from Stephen King’s 1979 novel of the same name by JT Mollner. The film stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Judy Greer, Josh Hamilton, and Mark Hamill in a story that’s as horrifying as it is gripping.
The setting is a dystopian version of the 1970s United States under a totalitarian regime. Every year the government holds a nationally televised endurance challenge where fifty teenage boys are chosen at random to take part in what’s called “The Long Walk.” To stay in the competition, each boy must keep walking at least three miles per hour without any breaks. If a walker slows down or stops, they receive warnings. Get three warnings and you’re executed right there. Only the last boy left alive wins a huge cash prize and one wish of their choice.
Cooper Hoffman leads the cast as Ray Garraty, a determined walker with personal reasons for joining the contest. Along the way he bonds with other competitors like Peter “Pete” McVries, Billy Stebbins, Arthur “Art” Baker, and Hank Olson while powerful figures like The Major, played by Mark Hamill, oversee the deadly march. The dynamic challenges between the participants give the movie a tense mix of drama, camaraderie, and survival instinct.
Critics responded positively to the film, particularly praising the performances of Hoffman and Jonsson and the movie’s ability to bring King’s unsettling vision to life. It also did well at the box office, earning over $63 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. On review aggregator sites, it holds high approval scores and many viewers highlight its relentless suspense and emotional weight.
So will Ray and his fellow walkers make it through the endless miles? Can any of them keep hope alive while every step might be their last? And what exactly would you choose if you had just one wish at the end of something like this? It’s up to you to find out.
