US-Bundesstaat Georgia, Anfang der dreißiger Jahre: Der umsichtige Oberaufseher Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) leitet seit vielen Jahren den berüchtigten Block E - den Todestrakt - des Staatsgefängnisses Cold Mountain. Als der hünenhafte Häftling John Coffey, der wegen Mordes an zwei kleinen Mädchen verurteilt wurde, überstellt wird, beschleichen Edgecomb zum ersten Mal Zweifel an seinem Beruf. Den verängstigen Riesen umweht nicht nur eine geheimnisvolle Aura, der sich schon bald im Block E niemand entziehen kann, er kann Edgecomb auch von seiner Unschuld überzeugen...
Nach seiner letzten Stephen King-Verfilmung ("Die Verurteilten") ist Regisseur Frank Darabont mit "The Green Mile" ein weiteres Meisterwerk gelungen - 1999 wurde der Film für 4 Oscars®, darunter "Bester Film", nominiert.
| Tom Hanks | Paul Edgecomb |
| Michael Clarke Duncan | John Coffey |
| David Morse | Brutus 'Brutal' Howell |
| Bonnie Hunt | Jan Edgecomb |
| Michael Duncan | John Coffey |
| James Cromwell | Warden Hal Moores |
| Michael Jeter | Eduard Delacroix |
| Graham Greene | Arlen Bitterbuck |
| Doug Hutchison | Percy Wetmore |
| Sam Rockwell | 'Wild Bill' Wharton |
| Barry Pepper | Dean Stanton |
| Jeffrey DeMunn | Harry Terwilliger |
| Patricia Clarkson | Melinda Moores |
| Harry Stanton | Toot-Toot |
| Harry Dean Stanton | Toot-Toot |
| Dabbs Greer | Old Paul Edgecomb |
| Eve Brent | Elaine Connelly |
| William Sadler | Klaus Detterick |
| Mack C. Miles | Orderly Hector |
| Mack Miles | Orderly Hector |
| Rai Tasco | Man in Nursing Home |
| Edrie Warner | Lady in Nursing Home |
| Paula Malcomson | Marjorie Detterick |
| Christopher Joel Ives | Howie Detterick |
| Christopher Ives | Howie Detterick |
| Evanne Drucker | Kathe Detterick |
| Bailey Drucker | Cora Detterick |
| Brian Libby | Sheriff McGee |
| Brent Briscoe | Bill Dodge |
| Bill McKinney | Jack Van Hay |
| Gary Sinise | Burt Hammersmith |
| Rachel Singer | Cynthia Hammersmith |
| Scotty Leavenworth | Hammersmith's Son |
| Katelyn Leavenworth | Hammersmith's Daughter |
| Bill Gratton | Earl the Plumber |
| Dee Croxton | Woman at Del's Execution |
| Rebecca Klingler | Wife at Del's Execution |
| Bill Craddock | Inmate (uncredited) |
| Gary Imhoff | Husband at Del's Execution |
| Van Epperson | Police Officer |
| Reverend David Browning | Reverend at Funeral |
| Dono Langley | Posse Member (uncredited) |
| David E. Browning | Reverend at Funeral |
| Reverend David E. Browning | Reverend at Funeral |
| Tommy Barnes | Tower Guard |
| Gower Mills | Inmate (uncredited) |
| Garth Shaw | Inmate (uncredited) |
| David Tattersall | Director of Photography |
| Jade Herrera | |
| Richard Francis-Bruce | Film Editor |
| Toy Spears | Banker Posse Member (uncredited) |
| Christopher Greenwood | Prison Guard |
| Phil Hawn | Police Photographer |
| Judy Herrera | Bitterbuck's Daughter |
| Thomas Newman | Composer |
| Willie D. Burton | production sound mixer |
| Ted Hollis | Coffee Execution Witness |
| Robert Malone | Tower Guard |
| Mark Mangini | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Tim Smith | Member of the Posse |
| Dora Tate | Mourner |
| Robert J. Litt | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Todd Thompson | Prison Guard |
| James Marshall Wolchok | Prison Guard |
| Elliot Tyson | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Samual Tate | Mourner |
| Michael Herbick | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Eric Lindeman | Sound Designer |
| Stephen King | Original Material By |
| Howell Gibbons | Sound Editor |
| Dave Stone | Sound Editor |
| David Valdes | Producer |
| Terence Marsh | Production Designer |
| Frank Darabont | Producer |
| Karyn Wagner | Costume Designer |
| Charles Gibson | Visual Effects |
| William Cruse | Art Director |
| Willie Burton | production sound mixer |
| Lois Burwell | Make-Up Artist |
| Deborah LaMia Denaver | Make-Up Artist |
| Robert Litt | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Daniel C. Striepeke | Make-Up Artist |
| Paula Kaatz | Costume Designer |
| Corey Pritchett | Visual Effects |
| Eric Lindemann | Sound Designer |
| Ellen Poon | Visual Effects |
| David Sosalla | Visual Effects |
| Craig Barron | Visual Effects |
