Content & Trigger Warnings for The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
12 content warnings identified for this movie.
Quick Summary
Yes, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) contains 12 content warnings : Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Wrongful imprisonment, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Needles / medical procedures, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Suicide (discussed or ideation) (severity 4/5), Wrongful imprisonment (severity 5/5), Confined spaces (claustrophobia) (severity 4/5), Self-harm / suicide (depicted) (severity 4/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
Set up your trigger profile to see which warnings affect you.
| Warning | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | |||
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | 3/5 | Depicted | Racial tensions in prison are depicted, including violence between racial groups |
| Mental Health & Emotional | |||
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters cope with loss of freedom, the death of fellow inmates, and the emotional toll of long-term incarceration. |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | 4/5 | Depicted | A major character contemplates and plans suicide; another character considers it after release |
| Other | |||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | 3/5 | Depicted | The warden and guards psychologically manipulate and control prisoners |
| Wrongful imprisonment | 5/5 | Depicted | The entire film centers on Andy Dufresne's wrongful imprisonment for a double murder he did not commit, spending decades in prison. |
| Phobias & Sensory | |||
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | 4/5 | Depicted | Extended solitary confinement scenes; the entire film is set in prison |
| Needles / medical procedures | 1/5 | Depicted | Brief scenes of injury treatment |
| Violence & Physical Harm | |||
| Gore / graphic violence | 3/5 | Depicted | A man is beaten to death, bloody aftermath of violence shown |
| Gun violence | 2/5 | Depicted | Guns are used by guards and in some plot points |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | 4/5 | Depicted | A character hangs himself after being released from prison, shown on screen |
| Sexual assault / rape | 5/5 | Depicted | The protagonist is gang-raped by other inmates; this is a recurring traumatic element |
| Torture | 3/5 | Depicted | Guards brutally beat and abuse prisoners |
Identity & Discrimination
Racial tensions in prison are depicted, including violence between racial groups
Mental Health & Emotional
Characters cope with loss of freedom, the death of fellow inmates, and the emotional toll of long-term incarceration.
A major character contemplates and plans suicide; another character considers it after release
Other
The warden and guards psychologically manipulate and control prisoners
The entire film centers on Andy Dufresne's wrongful imprisonment for a double murder he did not commit, spending decades in prison.
Phobias & Sensory
Extended solitary confinement scenes; the entire film is set in prison
Violence & Physical Harm
A character hangs himself after being released from prison, shown on screen
The protagonist is gang-raped by other inmates; this is a recurring traumatic element
