Beloved Prison Drama Bombs on Peacock Despite Perfect Ratings
A film that topped IMDb's greatest movies list for over a decade mysteriously vanishes from streaming charts, leaving industry watchers puzzled about viewer preferences in 2026.
The Shawshank Redemption landed on Peacock January 1st, carrying its legendary status as IMDb's top-rated film. For more than ten years, this Stephen King adaptation has dominated the Top 250 Movies list with a 9.3 rating, beating out The Godfather at 9.2 and The Dark Knight at 9.1.
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star in this story about a banker falsely convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. The film follows his decades-long journey adapting to life behind bars.
Streaming Success Everywhere Except Peacock
This prison drama typically crushes it on every platform. Throughout 2025, it climbed into Top 10 lists on Pluto TV, Tubi, and MGM+. But Peacock tells a different story this month.
Fresh releases like Bugonia and Black Phone 2 grabbed the spotlight instead. The Hunger Games trilogy and the first two Despicable Me films have controlled Peacock's rankings since January started.
Why the Cold Shoulder?
Several factors explain this streaming anomaly. The movie turns 32 this year. Millions have already watched it, choosing newer content over revisiting this classic.
Peacock's streaming rights expire in February 2026. With such a tight window, the platform likely prioritizes promoting films with longer availability. Personal recommendation algorithms probably favor content sticking around.
Too much competition exists right now. Without heavy promotional push, even masterpieces get buried under fresher options.
Critical Acclaim Remains Untouchable
Peacock's Top 10 snub doesn't diminish this film's reputation. Rotten Tomatoes shows 89% from critics and 98% from audiences.
Weekend viewers seeking nostalgia should catch it before February ends. Sometimes the greatest stories need rediscovering, even when streaming charts suggest otherwise.