The Green Mile (1999)
Kernel Score: 92% · 18,927 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Fantasy, Drama, Crime
Released: 1999-12-10
Runtime: 189 minutes
Is The Green Mile worth watching?
Must-watch. A death-row guard meets a gentle prisoner with an odd gift, and the film uses its three hours to make you care about everyone in that block. It is sad, warm and sometimes hard to watch, with a few harsh scenes of cruelty.
Watch it if you
- like long, character-driven prison dramas
- enjoy Tom Hanks in a decent-man role
- don't mind a story with a touch of the supernatural
Skip it if you
- dislike graphic execution scenes
- want something short and light
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Green Mile
- Free with ads: Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.
The Green Mile parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that The Green Mile is an R-rated death-row drama with intense, disturbing violence including executions, alongside moving themes of compassion and dignity.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Depicts death-row executions (including a botched electric-chair scene), torture, cruelty, and reference to the murder of children.
- Language: Moderate — Contains strong language consistent with its R rating and harsh prison setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Green Mile
If you liked The Green Mile, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) — 100%: Same director, same patient prison drama about hope and friendship
- 12 Angry Men (1957) — 96%: Tense, humane drama about justice and doubt
- Just Mercy (2019) — 87%: True story of injustice and mercy on death row
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) — 85%: A prison film about spirit under pressure
- Papillon (1973) — 87%: Long, tough prison drama about endurance
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: Dark, tense thriller with a memorable captive
Director
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb
- David Morse as Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
- Bonnie Hunt as Jan Edgecomb
- Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey
- James Cromwell as Warden Hal Moores
- Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix
- Graham Greene as Arlen Bitterbuck
- Doug Hutchison as Percy Wetmore
- Sam Rockwell as 'Wild Bill' Wharton
- Barry Pepper as Dean Stanton
The Green Mile FAQ
Is The Green Mile worth watching?
Must-watch. A death-row guard meets a gentle prisoner with an odd gift, and the film uses its three hours to make you care about everyone in that block. It is sad, warm and sometimes hard to watch, with a few harsh scenes of cruelty.
Where can I watch The Green Mile?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Green Mile OK for kids?
The Green Mile is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that The Green Mile is an R-rated death-row drama with intense, disturbing violence including executions, alongside moving themes of compassion and dignity.
What movies are like The Green Mile?
If you liked The Green Mile, try The Shawshank Redemption, 12 Angry Men, Just Mercy and Cool Hand Luke.