The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is more than a prison drama — it’s a profound story of hope, resilience, and friendship. Adapted from a Stephen King novella and directed by Frank Darabont, the film follows the decades-long journey of Andy Dufresne as he clings to dignity behind bars and inspires those around him — especially his close friend Red.
From stone walls to sweeping Pacific shores, this movie captures the soul like few others. Think you remember every brilliant twist, emotional beat, and clever escape? Take this 10-question trivia challenge and find out if you’re ready to break free with a perfect score!
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Trivia Questions & Answers
Here are the correct answers and deep-dive insights into the timeless masterpiece that is The Shawshank Redemption. Whether you passed with flying colors or missed a few, each explanation below offers a window into the soul of the film — a story of injustice, friendship, and the unbreakable human spirit.
1) Who directed The Shawshank Redemption (1994)?
Correct Answer: Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont both directed and wrote the screenplay for The Shawshank Redemption, adapting it from Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Although the film wasn’t a huge success at the box office initially, it gained legendary status over time through critical acclaim, repeat TV airings, and word of mouth — eventually topping IMDb’s Top 250 list.
2) Who plays the character of Andy Dufresne?
Correct Answer: Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins delivers a restrained yet emotionally rich performance as Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongly convicted of double murder. Robbins captures Andy’s quiet resilience and intellectual strength, making the character’s transformation over nearly two decades all the more inspiring.
3) What is Andy wrongly convicted of?
Correct Answer: Murdering his wife and her lover
Andy is accused and convicted of killing his wife and her lover, despite maintaining his innocence. The circumstantial evidence and his cold demeanor in court seal his fate. His conviction sets the stage for a journey not just of survival, but of inner redemption and ultimate escape.
4) What is the name of the prison in the film?
Correct Answer: Shawshank State Penitentiary
The fictional Shawshank prison becomes a symbol of oppression, corruption, and — paradoxically — transformation. Its stark walls contain both physical cruelty and emotional growth, making it one of cinema’s most iconic settings. The real filming location was the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.
5) Who narrates the story in The Shawshank Redemption?
Correct Answer: Ellis “Red” Redding
Morgan Freeman’s deep, reflective voice narrates the film as Ellis “Red” Redding, Andy’s closest friend and moral anchor within Shawshank. His narration adds warmth, wisdom, and a poetic quality to the story, turning what could’ve been a bleak tale into something soulful and human.
6) What hobby does Andy take up while in prison?
Correct Answer: Rock hammering and carving chess pieces
Andy’s hobby of carving stone with a tiny rock hammer serves as both a literal and symbolic act of patience and freedom. He sculpts chess pieces and eventually uses the tool to chip away at the prison wall for nearly 20 years — a quiet rebellion against his wrongful incarceration.
7) What song does Andy play over the loudspeakers that enchants the inmates?
Correct Answer: An opera duet from The Marriage of Figaro
In one of the film’s most iconic scenes, Andy plays a hauntingly beautiful opera duet by Mozart over the prison loudspeakers. Though no one understands the lyrics, the moment symbolizes spiritual liberation. Red says, “It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away.”
8) What is hidden behind the poster in Andy’s cell?
Correct Answer: A tunnel he dug to escape
For nearly two decades, Andy secretly tunnels through the wall behind a series of pin-up posters. His final escape through the tunnel and a sewage pipe is one of cinema’s most satisfying and cathartic sequences, representing not just physical escape, but a victory of spirit and will.
9) What does Andy help the prison staff with that gains him special privileges?
Correct Answer: Handling their finances and taxes
Andy’s skills as a banker earn him favor with the guards and the corrupt Warden Norton. He assists with financial paperwork and laundering money, which buys him access to the library and small comforts. Ironically, the same talents that got him imprisoned help him engineer his escape.
10) Where does Andy go after escaping Shawshank?
Correct Answer: Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Zihuatanejo, a peaceful town on the Pacific coast, is Andy’s long-dreamed destination — a place of warmth, freedom, and hope. The film ends with Red traveling to join Andy there, completing the emotional arc of their friendship and closing the story on one of the most uplifting finales in film history.
