The Long Walk
Movie, 2025, The 2020s, Set in A walking contest
The Long Walk is #39 of 42 in release order and #23 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
In a dystopian America, fifty teenage boys take part in a deadly annual walking contest, forced to maintain a minimum pace or be executed, until only one survivor remains.
The Long Walk recap
The Long Walk (2025) follows 50 teenage boys in an annual walking contest where anyone who slows below pace three times is shot. Francis Lawrence directs Cooper Hoffman as Ray Garraty from Maine and David Jonsson as Pete McVries. In an alternate America ruled by a military regime and sunk in depression, the Major (Mark Hamill) runs the walk to inspire patriotism, offering a large cash prize and one wish. Ray joins despite his mother Ginnie's (Judy Greer) pleading and forms a pact with Pete, Art Baker (Tut Nyuot), Hank Olson (Ben Wang) and Collie Parker (Joshua Odjick). Curly is the first to die, from a cramp. Gary Barkovitch (Charlie Plummer) taunts another walker into his death, then later kills himself. Olson becomes delirious and is shot, Parker grabs a soldier's rifle and dies, Baker collapses with internal bleeding, and Billy Stebbins (Garrett Wareing) reveals he is one of the Major's sons before he dies.
The Long Walk ending explained
The Long Walk ends with Pete as the winner and the Major shot. Ray and Pete are the last two; Ray sees his mother as they pass through Freeport, and Pete saves him from a soldier. In the final town Pete sits down, and Ray lifts him and urges him on, then stops walking himself and is shot by the Major. Pete uses his wish to ask for a soldier's rifle, kills the Major and walks off down an empty street. In the novel, Garraty wins after McVries and Stebbins die and keeps walking towards a dark figure ahead.
Where to watch The Long Walk
The Long Walk is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Institute, before The Running Man.
- Chronological order: after The Institute, before The Running Man.
What to watch before The Long Walk
In release order, 22 Stephen King Universe essentials come before The Long Walk (2025), from Carrie (1976) to The Institute (2025).
Cast
- Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty #47
- David Jonsson as Peter McVries #23
- Garrett Wareing as Billy Stebbins #38
- Ben Wang as Hank Olson #46
- Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker #6
- Charlie Plummer as Gary Barkovitch #5
- Jordan Gonzalez as Richard Harkness #49
- Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker #48
- Mark Hamill as The Major
- Roman Griffin Davis as Curly #7
- Judy Greer as Mrs. Ginnie Garraty
- Josh Hamilton as Mr. William Garraty
Directed by Francis Lawrence.