The Shawshank Redemption is indeed based on a true story, at least to some extent. The source material by Stephen King was informed by real - life accounts related to prison life. The movie adaptation took those elements and created a powerful and moving story about friendship, hope, and the human spirit. For example, the sense of camaraderie between the main characters could be reflective of real relationships that form in prison settings. Also, the idea of inmates finding ways to make their time more bearable through various activities is something that has been observed in real prisons.