The Green Mile
Movie, 1999, The '90s, Set in Cold Mountain Penitentiary, 1935
The Green Mile is #19 of 42 in release order and #11 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.
The Green Mile recap
The Green Mile (1999) follows the death row guards of a Louisiana prison in 1935 and a gentle giant condemned for murdering two little girls. Frank Darabont directs Tom Hanks as block supervisor Paul Edgecomb and Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey. In a nursing home, the elderly Paul tells the story to a friend. Paul and his guards, including Brutus "Brutal" Howell (David Morse), run the cell block called the Green Mile with decency, except for the cruel, well-connected Percy Wetmore (Doug Hutchison). Coffey heals Paul's bladder infection with a touch and brings back to life the pet mouse Mr. Jingles, owned by inmate Eduard Delacroix (Michael Jeter). Percy sabotages Delacroix's execution so he dies in agony. The guards smuggle Coffey out to cure the brain tumour of Melinda Moores, the warden's wife. Coffey passes the illness into Percy, who shoots the psychotic inmate "Wild Bill" Wharton (Sam Rockwell), and Paul learns through Coffey that Wharton killed the girls.
The Green Mile ending explained
The Green Mile ends with Coffey executed by choice and Paul still alive in his old age. Coffey tells Paul he is tired of the world's pain and asks to go ahead; before he dies he watches his first film, Top Hat. Paul reveals he is 108 years old, given long life by Coffey's touch, and has outlived his wife and everyone he knew. Mr. Jingles is still alive too. Paul wonders how long his own green mile will be.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Green Mile has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Green Mile
The Green Mile is streaming on Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 78%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Dolores Claiborne, before Dreamcatcher.
- Chronological order: after Dolores Claiborne, before 1408.
What to watch before The Green Mile
In release order, 10 Stephen King Universe essentials come before The Green Mile (1999), from Carrie (1976) to Dolores Claiborne (1995).
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb
- David Morse as Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
- Bonnie Hunt as Jan Edgecomb
- Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey
- James Cromwell as Warden Hal Moores
- Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix
- Graham Greene as Arlen Bitterbuck
- Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore
- Sam Rockwell as 'Wild Bill' Wharton
- Barry Pepper as Dean Stanton
- Jeffrey DeMunn as Harry Terwilliger
- Patricia Clarkson as Melinda Moores
Directed by Frank Darabont.