Folks using the IMDB know what they're talking about!

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 1999)

If anyone has any doubts about how great this movie is...just look at the number of votes, the average of them, and read all the user comments. It was a crime not to award this movie the Oscar in 1994. I have used the IMDB for two years...at least...and Shawshank is consistently in the top three; the only exceptions being when one of those over-advertised "hype" movies is fresh in the box office. To anyone who has not witnessed near perfection in movie-making, just rent this movie and think about how you feel as the credits start to roll at the end. I'd go out on a limb to say that anyone who isn't moved emotionally to a higher level after seeing this movie is probably a robot.
In my opinion, it's not the number one movie of all time (please see Holy Grail) but it is a very close second! And, I believe the AFI should pay attention and make this movie its first amendment to the top 100 of all time.