How & Where to Watch The Shawshank Redemption Online in 2025: Access Max & Netflix From Anywhere
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is one of those films everyone should see at least once in their lifetime — a story of hope, friendship and an iron will. Read on to find out how and where to watch The Shawshank Redemption online and from anywhere.
Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)
Facts checked by Vildana Bratic (Video Editor, Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Watch The Shawshank Redemption Step-by-Step Guide
Since The Shawshank Redemption is currently available for streaming on Netflix Canada, you’ll need a VPN to access the Canadian Netflix library. Here’s how to do it:
- Create a NordVPN account with a 72% discount on the first two years.
- Download NordVPN and connect to a Canadian server.
- Log in to or sign up for Netflix
- Start watching The Shawshank Redemption.
Best VPNs to Watch The Shawshank Redemption:
- NordVPN — Best VPN overall with great speeds, advanced features and affordable pricing. A 72% discount is available for users who choose NordVPN’s extended subscription options.
- Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections. New Surfshark subscribers get up to 66% (plus 3 months free) reduced rates on long-term commitments.
- ExpressVPN — Intuitive protection for VPN newcomers. Explore ExpressVPN’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 25% discount.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Where to Watch The Shawshank Redemption
- The Shawshank Redemption is on Netflix Canada and Max. You can also buy or rent the movie on a variety of platforms, including Amazon Prime Video.
- If you’re outside Canada or a location where Max is available, you can change your IP address with a VPN to access Netflix Canada or your Max account.
- NordVPN is our top VPN recommendation for streaming. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are also fast, secure and consistent VPN providers.
If you’re planning on streaming the iconic motion picture The Shawshank Redemption, the good news is that it’s really simple to do so from anywhere. All you need is a reputable virtual private network (VPN) provider like NordVPN to help you unblock Netflix libraries outside your country. In this guide, we’ll explain how to watch The Shawshank Redemption with a VPN from anywhere.
First, a quick refresher. The Shawshank Redemption was first released in theaters in September 1994. It was written and directed by Frank Darabont and the soundtrack was composed by Thomas Newman.
The Shawshank Redemption stars Tim Robbins as wrongly accused murder convict Andy Dufresne. After being accused of murdering his wife and her lover in a jealous rage, Andy is sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank State Prison. There, he endures brutality at the hands of officers and other inmates.
Andy later befriends a prison smuggler called “Red” (Morgan Freeman) — a friendship that helps him survive the brutal prison conditions and enriches them both.
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Watch The Shawshank Redemption now on Netflix
Status checked 2025/03/14:
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10/01/2024
We adjusted the article’s VPN positions to reflect recent improvements and feature updates.
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02/11/2025 Facts checked
Added additional details and data on the best VPNs to stream The Shawshank Redemption.
Where Can I Watch The Shawshank Redemption?
You can watch The Shawshank Redemption on Netflix Canada or Max. Due to regional restrictions, you can’t access the Canadian Netflix library outside the country unless you use a VPN to change your IP address to one in Canada.
We’ll show you how to do that further down.
By using a VPN, you can also access your Max account if you’re traveling in a country where Max is unavailable. For example, if you have an Max account in the U.S. but are traveling to the U.K. (a location in which Max is not currently available), you can connect to a U.S. server on a VPN, then log in to your account as normal.
Alternatively, you can buy or rent The Shawshank Redemption via the following platforms:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Vudu
- iTunes
- Redbox
- Google Play
Is Shawshank Redemption Based on a True Story?
No, the film itself isn’t based on a true story. The Shawshank Redemption is an adaptation of the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
How to Watch The Shawshank Redemption With a VPN
We recommend NordVPN for unblocking Netflix and other major platforms like Max and Amazon Prime Video. Follow these steps to stream The Shawshank Redemption from anywhere.
Bear in mind that you can also use this method to access your other streaming service accounts from locations where they’re not available (if you’re traveling or moving abroad, for example). Simply connect to a server in the country where the service is available and log in to your account as normal.
Since The Shawshank Redemption is currently available for streaming on Netflix Canada, you’ll need a VPN to access the Canadian Netflix library. Here’s how to do it:
- Create a NordVPN account with a 72% discount on the first two years.
- Download NordVPN and connect to a Canadian server.
- Log in to or sign up for Netflix
- Start watching The Shawshank Redemption.
- Get NordVPN
Visit NordVPN’s website and sign up for a plan. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Download NordVPN
Go to “products” and select the NordVPN app for your device. Click “download app.”
- Connect to a Canadian Server
Open the NordVPN app and connect to a Canadian server.
- Stream The Shawshank Redemption
Log in to Netflix and search for The Shawshank Redemption to start streaming.
The 3 Best VPNs for Watching The Shawshank Redemption
If you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, it can be hard to know which ones are best because there are just so many on the market. Here are our top VPN recommendations for streaming. We’ll also link to the full review of each service, so you can find out more.
1. NordVPN — Best VPN to Stream The Shawshank Redemption
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
If you’re looking for top-notch speeds, look no further than NordVPN — our best fast VPN recommendation. It works seamlessly with Netflix and other streaming services.
Another pro of NordVPN is that it has an affordable two-year plan. If you’d like to try NordVPN, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can read more about the service in our NordVPN review.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
- 10
2. Surfshark — Best Cheap VPN for Streaming The Shawshank Redemption
providing a great streaming experience.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Surfshark is another secure, fast VPN service with an extra bonus — its 24 months plan is incredibly affordable. It puts up a good fight in our recent speed tests and sits in second place on our fastest VPN roundup.
We tested it out again with The Shawshank Redemption on Netflix and we were in and streaming buffer-free in a few seconds. In short, if you’re looking for a VPN with decent speeds and great value, Surfshark is well worth considering. You can try it out with its 30-day money-back guarantee and learn more in our Surfshark review.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN — Best User-Friendly VPN for Streaming The Shawshank Redemption
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Don’t be fooled by the simple, no-nonsense user interface — ExpressVPN is a veteran VPN provider with great speeds and that works consistently with streaming services. It’s the most user-friendly VPN for beginners but won’t hold more advanced users back.
No VPN is perfect, though — ExpressVPN’s speed, consistency and security don’t come cheap. You can save a bit by going for the two-year plan. You can try out ExpressVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee and find out more in our ExpressVPN review.
- Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
Final Thoughts
We hope our guide has helped you break into (sounds weird, right?) Shawshank State Prison on Canadian Netflix from wherever you are in the world. With a trustworthy VPN that boasts decent speeds, you should have a smooth, buffer-free and secure experience.
We recommend NordVPN. If NordVPN seems interesting to you, you can check it out risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.
Are you planning on streaming The Shawshank Redemption outside Canada with a VPN? Which VPN do you recommend? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading!
FAQ
The Shawshank Redemption is on Netflix Canada, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play and Redbox.
In some countries, yes. Fortunately, it’s still on Netflix Canada. You can use a VPN to access Netflix Canada outside the country.
Yes, The Shawshank Redemption is on Max. If you want to access your Max account from a location where Max is unavailable, you can connect to a VPN server. Read our guide to watch Max abroad.
The Shawshank Redemption is 2 hours and 22 minutes long, which is about the industry average for this genre.
Yes — in fact, The Shawshank Redemption movie was based on the book called Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, written by author Stephen King and published in 1982. The book manages to fit all of the plot and then some in only 100 pages. If you’re a fan of the movie, it’s well worth a read.
In 2019, movie critic and author Mark Dawidziak published a book called The Shawshank Redemption Revealed: How One Story Keeps Hope Alive to mark the 25th anniversary of the movie premiere. The book is all about the making of the movie and contains a lot of behind-the-scenes content, as well as interviews with the crew.