The Long Walk (2025) begins with 100 teenage boys gathered at the starting line of the annual dystopian contest known as The Long Walk, held in a totalitarian United States. Each boy is assigned a number and must maintain a walking speed of at least three miles per hour without stopping. Failure to keep pace results in warnings, and after three warnings, the contestant is executed by soldiers accompanying the walk. The event is overseen by the Major, a stern military figure who enforces the rules strictly.

As the walk commences, the boys start off in a large group, chatting nervously and sizing each other up. Raymond Garraty (#47) is introduced as the protagonist, walking alongside other key characters such as Peter McVries (#23), Stebbins (#38), and Gary Barkovitch (#5). Early on, the walkers experience the physical strain of maintaining the pace, and some begin to falter, receiving their first warnings. The soldiers are quick to shoot those who fail to comply after three warnings, setting a grim tone.

As the hours pass, the group thins out due to exhaustion, injuries, and executions. The walkers form temporary alliances and rivalries. Raymond bonds with some of the other boys, including Collie Parker (#48) and Arthur Baker (#6), sharing stories and motivations. The Major occasionally addresses the group, reminding them of the rules and the stakes. The walkers endure harsh weather conditions, blisters, and muscle cramps, pushing their bodies to the limit.

A significant confrontation occurs when Gary Barkovitch (#5) collapses from exhaustion but tries to continue walking. He receives his third warning and is shot by the soldiers, causing shock and fear among the remaining walkers. This event marks a turning point, intensifying the psychological pressure on the contestants. Raymond witnesses the brutal reality of the contest and becomes more determined to survive.

As the walk progresses into the second day, the number of walkers has drastically decreased. Raymond and Peter McVries develop a cautious friendship, sharing their fears and hopes. Stebbins (#38) reveals his strategy to conserve energy and avoid warnings by carefully pacing himself. The walkers face moments of temptation to stop or slow down, but the threat of death forces them onward.

During a rest break, Raymond receives a letter from his mother, Mrs. Garraty, which he reads silently, drawing emotional strength. The walkers are then ordered to resume the march immediately. Some contestants attempt to cheat by slowing down briefly, but the soldiers catch and punish them swiftly. The Major enforces discipline with an iron fist, emphasizing the totalitarian nature of the regime.

In a tense sequence, Arthur Baker (#6) suffers a severe leg injury but refuses to quit. He limps forward, receiving warnings, and eventually collapses. The soldiers execute him on the spot, demonstrating the unforgiving rules. This event deeply affects Raymond, who contemplates the cost of survival.

As the contest nears its end, only a handful of walkers remain, including Raymond, Peter, Stebbins, and Collie. The physical and mental toll is evident; the boys are gaunt, exhausted, and desperate. They engage in brief conversations about their lives before the walk and their dreams for the future. The Major watches silently, preparing for the final phase.

In the climax, Raymond and Peter engage in a final push to outlast the others. Stebbins collapses and is shot after receiving his third warning. Collie attempts to slow down but is also executed. Raymond and Peter continue, their pace relentless despite their injuries and fatigue.

The final confrontation occurs when Peter falters, receiving his third warning. Raymond, though barely able to stand, maintains his pace. Peter is shot, leaving Raymond as the last walker standing. The Major approaches Raymond, declaring him the winner of The Long Walk. Raymond collapses from exhaustion but is alive.

The film ends with Raymond being taken away by the soldiers, his fate uncertain but marked by survival. The Major's cold demeanor underscores the brutal nature of the regime and the contest. The Long Walk concludes with a haunting image of Raymond, the sole survivor, embodying the cost of endurance in a dystopian world.

Raymond Garraty, played by Cooper Hoffman, is the main protagonist and a contestant (#47) in the brutal walking contest where participants must maintain a minimum speed or face execution. His journey and interactions with other walkers form the core of the story's plot.

The Major, portrayed by Mark Hamill, is a menacing military figure overseeing the contest. His presence adds a threatening and authoritarian dimension to the event, embodying the totalitarian regime's control over the walkers.

Peter McVries (#23), played by David Jonsson, is one of the key walkers alongside Raymond Garraty. Their interactions and relationships with other contestants, including alliances and rivalries, are central to the unfolding tension and drama during the contest.

Walkers must maintain a minimum walking speed of three miles per hour (some sources mention four miles per hour) and receive warnings if they fall below this threshold. Accumulating three warnings within an hour results in execution, which drives the suspense and stakes for each character.

Mrs. Garraty (Judy Greer) and Mr. Garraty (Josh Hamilton) are depicted as the family of Raymond Garraty. Their presence provides a personal and emotional backdrop to Raymond's participation in the contest, highlighting the human cost and impact of the dystopian event.

The 2025 movie The Long Walk is rated R and is not family friendly. It contains strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references that may be upsetting for children or sensitive viewers. The film involves a dystopian contest where teenage boys must keep walking at a certain speed or face being shot, which implies intense and potentially disturbing scenes involving death and violence.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Graphic and strong bloody violence
• Grisly and intense imagery
• Depictions or references to suicide
• Frequent strong language
• Sexual references

Because of these elements, the film is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for children or those sensitive to violence and disturbing content.

In the 2025 movie The Long Walk, the participants must maintain a walking speed of at least three miles per hour continuously, or they risk being shot. The contest continues until only one walker remains alive, but the exact total distance they have to walk is not explicitly stated in the film's premise. The key rule is to keep moving without falling below the speed threshold, rather than reaching a fixed distance.

The story is based on Stephen King's 1979 novel, where the challenge is endurance and survival rather than a set mileage. The film depicts fifty teenage boys competing in this brutal walking contest under a totalitarian regime.

Regarding the production, the actors reportedly walked around 300 miles during filming to maintain continuity and realism, but this reflects the filming process rather than the contest's in-story distance.

In summary, the walkers must keep walking at a minimum speed of three miles per hour until only one remains, but the total distance is not defined as a fixed number in the movie.

In the book "The Long Walk" by Stephen King, the character who gets second place is Stebbins. He is the last competitor remaining besides the winner, Garraty, but he dies just before the end, leaving Garraty as the unchallenged winner.