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27 comments
31 comments
Rank This Matchup or Comment/Reply Below
on 8/3/2009
Great storytelling in both of these movies! But Empire wins simply because of the continuous storyline, past and future.
on 8/9/2009
Empire is just better.
on 8/11/2009
No way. Shawashank is what sensible, intelligent film making is all about. Watch Green Mile to see how far wrong the pairing of Darabont and King could have gone....
on 10/27/2009
set a film in a time when american prisons were segregated... then ignore the fact completely and lay on the 'storytelling' with another (yawn) morgan freeman voiceover. empire all the way.
on 11/17/2009
yep as much as I enjoy Shawshank, Empire is the better film.
on 12/10/2009
Empire, without question. Shawshank is entertaining, but it's a completely forgettable manipulative prison drama.
on 12/30/2009
No, it is The Empire Strikes Back that is the entertaining, yet completely forgettable, film here. The Shawshank Redemption stuck with me long after I first saw it. So much so that I went back to it. Yet I can never see myself going back to any of the Star Wars films. All I can see myself remembering about them is the bad taste they left in my mouth.
on 5/20/2010
I'm a "Star Wars" fan because of "The Empire Strikes Back." "Shawshank" features better performances, but it's not getting my vote here.
on 9/7/2010
I know that most people would choose the Empire only because of it's place among the legendary movies of our time. But The Shawshank Redemption has got to be one of the greatest drama of our time. I have to go with the Shawshank Redemption.
on 8/18/2011
Very interesting. I'll go with Empire though. It redefined a lot of what Hollywood is capable of.
on 9/19/2011
Although The Empire Strikes Back is one of the greatest films of all time, I'm going to stick my neck out and say that The Shawshank Redemption is the greatest-er of the two. Tim Robbins plays a character so deep and believable that even Darth Vader doesn't stand a chance.
Of the original trilogy...none of them have ever lost a single VS. Until now. I'm an absolute Star Wars fanatic, but Shawshank is just too damn good to lose this one. I can't believe I'm actually gonna hit submit on this one...
on 2/4/2012
Gonna go with The Empire Strikes back. Star Wars just opened our eyes to the possibility of an entire new world, and TESB is probably the best one.
on 2/9/2012
The Empire Strikes Back is too god damn good even though 'Redemption is a classic.
on 2/16/2012
Both films are classic and could stand as two greats in film. But I am going to lean towards The Empire Strikes Back. Full of so much amazing moments and it is hard to beat the best Star Wars film.
on 3/15/2012
I can't agree with most people here, Shawshank is my favorite film. I love Empire Strikes back, but...
on 5/6/2012
I'll have to watch Empire again but right now it's TSR.
on 5/21/2012
The Shawshank Redemption beats out any Star Wars in my opinion, and it is pretty hard to do that.
on 6/13/2012
Shawshank is still #3
I never get tired of Empire. But I love Shawshank too, just not as much as Empire.
on 12/14/2012
On paper, Shawshank is the better movie, but if I don't pick Empire, the child in me will never let me hear the end of it.
I never got super into the whole Star Wars thing so subsequently Empire doesn't do a lot for me.
I'm no Star Wars fanboy, but this is easy. Vader, Dagobah, Yoda, Hoth, Han, and mid-Trilogy Luke and his missing hand all make this easy. I'll never understand Shawshank's rep.
on 1/18/2013
The Empire Strikes Back v. The Shawshank Redemption. This could take all day.
on 6/19/2013
Even the best Star Wars film can't take out my favorite movie. Empire is outstanding though.
Empire Strikes Back for nostalgic reasons.
on 7/9/2013
Oh how cruel!! My Fav star wars movie against the timeless Shawshank??!! a though one but i have to go with the latter.
on 7/10/2013
Empire ain't the better movie, but I like it better.
on 7/16/2013
I'm switching to Shawshank.
on 9/13/2013
I'm choosing Empire because It's my favorite movie, even though Shawshank is in my Top 10.
ahhh its impossible
on 11/29/2013
Shawshank wins easily
on 12/29/2013
not many movies can handle shawshank
on 2/21/2014
Empire easily gets the win for me. its also #2 on flick chart for me.
on 4/4/2014
Both in my top 20 I grew up watching the original Star Wars films and The Empire Strikes Back was always my favorite out of all of them but Shawshank is a little more amazing really I don't have to explain much with these films on why their so fantastic we all know why their both amazing but again Shawshank wins
on 10/12/2014
The Empire Strikes Back is the best Star Wars film by a long shot and beats The Shawshank Redemption for now.
on 1/2/2015
This is one of the most difficult choices I've ever had to make on this site! I guess I'll go with Shawshank, but it's so close and so hard to call that it can go either way.
on 2/25/2015
Empire Strikes Back is far better and greater.
on 7/2/2015
Empire Strikes Back is a million times better.
on 7/23/2015
Shawshank Redemption wins by, well, almost nothing. But it does win.
on 11/15/2015
shawshank by a hair
on 12/18/2015
Shawshank over every star wars movie
on 8/10/2016
Tough one for me. I watch Empire more, but think Shawshank's the better movie. Probably.
on 4/10/2017
Both films are two the greatest movies of all time and I love them, but I have to give it to The Empire Strikes Back.
on 4/26/2017
WOW! Shawshank gets thrown around as one of or the "greatest film of all time". I thought Shawshank was very emotional and one of the most well acted films I have ever seen. But alas, The Empire Strikes Back has been my favourite film of all time for years! It's the movie that got me into, well, movies.
on 1/9/2018
Wow, I'm actually had to think for a moment... what the heck, Empire has to get it. I must have watched it a hundred times.
on 8/12/2018
I switched to Shawshank.
Empire Strikes Back is timeless and wins here.
The Shawshank Redemption>The Empire Strikes Back
on 1/1/2021
To me, even the best Star Wars film is (albeit barely) lower than Shawshank for me. Love both, though.
on 1/8/2021
My #2 vs #4. When I had recently watched shawshank i loved it more than empire but now my vote goes to empire
on 9/6/2022
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption beats every star wars film
I choose The Shawshank Redemption.Empire is good, but overrated
dude stop spamming, ESB wins but it's close
on 9/20/2022
I love both but Shawshank is better for the technicals and the characters. But I loved Empire.
on 11/9/2022
Shawshank redemption 100000x better than empire
on 11/23/2022
love both but Shawshank has heart
on 1/15/2023
ESB is probably the better movie but I am going with shawshank
on 4/8/2023
Empire is good and all but Shawshank is the best term here
on 8/13/2023
This is hard but Shawshank takes it for me
on 10/30/2023
Both movies are great but Empire wins the reply factor. HARD to watch SSR more than once or twice. You can watch ESB many times and still enjoy it. SSR has far more depth and meaning. I usually go for that. This time , I am going with the SCI-FI icon of all time- Empire STRIKES BACK.. ITS THE BEST MOVIE of the 80s and too iconic
I changed my mind- the story is too strong and compelling and Shawshank wins. Such a serious movie about survival and hope. I hope I dont change again I am going with the more adult movie- Shawshank wins
