After three weeks in theaters, The Long Walk, a horror-thriller inspired by Stephen King’s storytelling, can now be called a box office success. The film has earned more than double its reported $20 million budget, surpassing the domestic earnings of other notable King adaptations. It has even outpaced a film originally expected to achieve mainstream success but now holds a cult following instead.
Comparing The Long Walk with Doctor Sleep’s Performance
The Long Walk has taken in $32 million domestically, slightly exceeding the $31 million total earned by Doctor Sleep. The latter was a sequel to King’s celebrated novel The Shining and also served as a continuation of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film adaptation. Despite receiving generally favorable reviews with a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Doctor Sleep underperformed financially.
With a worldwide gross of only $72 million against an estimated $50 million budget, Doctor Sleep struggled to meet expectations. Its release followed the massive success of It, another King adaptation that shattered box office records, making the film’s failure all the more unexpected.
“I mostly write books and hope for the best. Box office numbers aside, Mike Flanagan’s film is excellent. If people choose not to go, that is their choice, but when something is good, I cheer for it,”
Stephen King, Author
Ongoing Collaborations between King and Director Mike Flanagan
The partnership between Stephen King and director Mike Flanagan began with the Netflix adaptation of Gerald’s Game. Flanagan also directed The Life of Chuck, another King adaptation that received positive critical attention last year. Currently, Flanagan is developing series based on King’s Carrie and The Dark Tower novels, further continuing their successful collaboration.
This year’s releases have pleased King’s fans, not only with The Long Walk but also with The Monkey. Looking ahead, audiences can anticipate Edgar Wright’s upcoming adaptation of The Running Man and the movie It: Welcome to Derry, expanding the reach of King’s works.
The Premise and Cast of The Long Walk
Set in a bleak dystopian future, The Long Walk portrays a deadly contest involving one hundred teenage boys forced to walk continuously at a minimum speed or face fatal consequences. Controlled by a strict authoritarian regime, the competition tests the limits of endurance and sanity.
The narrative focuses on Raymond Garraty, played by Cooper Hoffman, who is contestant number 47. He, along with others like Peter McVries (portrayed by David Jonsson, contestant #23), confronts the brutal physical and mental challenges within the event. As the boys endure exhaustion and the looming threat of death, the story explores their struggle for survival amidst intense oppression.
The Importance of The Long Walk’s Success and Future Outlook
The Long Walk demonstrating strong box office numbers highlights the ongoing appeal and marketability of Stephen King’s work, even when some recent adaptations have fallen short financially. The film’s success adds momentum to King’s presence in film and television and validates the creative partnership with Mike Flanagan. This achievement is likely to encourage further adaptations and series development, keeping King’s stories prominent in contemporary popular culture.
