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Stephen King's The Long Walk Tops HBO Max After Streaming Debut

Its brutal R-rated approach with a high-profile cast has driven a surge in viewers that renewed critical attention.

Overview

  • The Long Walk climbed to the No. 1 movie on HBO Max in the United States after landing on the service, with FlixPatrol and HBO Max Top 10 listings showing the spike in viewership.
  • Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film adapts Stephen King's 1979 novel about a televised endurance walking contest that kills contestants who slow or stop.
  • Critics and outlets have praised the film's ensemble performances from Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Charlie Plummer, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill.
  • The movie had a modest theatrical run in 2025, earning about $63 million worldwide against a reported $20 million production budget, making it a profitable release.
  • The streaming surge highlights continued audience demand for intense, R-rated horror and thriller adaptations and may boost visibility for other recent Stephen King projects.