Despite being a perennial favorite on IMDb's Top 250 list, The Shawshank Redemption did not secure any prestigious awards, including the Oscar, Golden Globe, or Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The reason for this oversight lies in the highly competitive film landscape of 1994, a year that produced several iconic films. Notably, the Oscars were dominated by Forrest Gump which took home multiple awards, while Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction also garnered significant acclaim and recognition.
As a result, The Shawshank Redemption, although critically praised and beloved by audiences, was overshadowed by these blockbuster hits during awards season. This phenomenon highlights how even exceptional films can sometimes be overlooked in favor of others that capture the zeitgeist or have stronger marketing campaigns.