Escape From New York

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Escape From New York

R

Released Jul 10, 1981

1h 39m

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

77%

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50,000+ Ratings

In 1997, a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is concluding, and the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a giant maximum security prison. When Air Force One is hijacked and crashes into the island, the president (Donald Pleasence) is taken hostage by a group of inmates. Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former Special Forces soldier turned criminal, is recruited to retrieve the president in exchange for his own freedom.

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Critics Consensus

Featuring an atmospherically grimy futuristic metropolis, Escape from New York is a strange, entertaining jumble of thrilling action and oddball weirdness.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

1997 is the year in which the film's events are set, but far from being a bright, progressive future, it is a hyperbolic deterioration of 1981's here and now

Nov 19, 2018

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

The film plays its social satire broad but strings it along a rail of self-awareness.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 25, 2018

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Arthur Knight

The Hollywood Reporter

It has got an intriguing premise, an effective cast, and it has been expertly mounted.

Jul 10, 2017

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Despite a marvellous night-time opening sequence, this slice of escapism never really delivers on the ingenuity of its premise.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 13, 2024

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Not my favorite classic Carpenter film, it still offers a scrappy look into the director’s political edge.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 5, 2023

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Phil Brown

That Shelf

The filmmaker’s cynical sense of humor and anti-authoritarian stance are all over the movie without overwhelming the suspense/entertainment focus.

Jul 8, 2023

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Jason

They don't make movies like these anymore. Thank you for bringing it back to the big screen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/24

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Joby

What a great way to see a classic Carpenter/Russell collaboration. I never saw it in the theater, but this limited released allowed me to take my son to see it on the big screen. Movie still hold up today. Amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

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S. Thomas

Kurt Russell's most iconic role ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

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03Cobra

An all-time classic. Never gets old. Carpenter in his prime ('76-'94).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

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George M

I saw this when it first came out, in the movies and have the same opinion now as then. A silly story that needed work. the lone thing this has going for it is Kurt Russell doing his best Clint Eastwood impersonation. Why hasn't an edition with the original opening been released? The NY sets are quite unimpressive and, as a New Yorker, aren't convincing. At least this is far better than the lame sequel.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

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William L

Fantastic!!! Directed by legendary director John Carpenter, brings you Escape from New York. A futuristic New York City that has been turned into a giant prison which no one can escape. Starring Kurt Russell as Snake Plisken, a former soldier and now criminal who’s tasked to save the president from inside the walls of New York in order to be freed. A perfectly crafted, paced, and highly effective film. A true classic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

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John Carpenter

Director

Kurt Russell

Snake Plissken

Ernest Borgnine

Cabbie

Adrienne Barbeau

Maggie

Lee Van Cleef

Bob Hauk

Donald Pleasence

President of the United States

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55%

39%

John Carpenter's Escape From L.A.

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Synopsis

In 1997, a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is concluding, and the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a giant maximum security prison. When Air Force One is hijacked and crashes into the island, the president (Donald Pleasence) is taken hostage by a group of inmates. Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former Special Forces soldier turned criminal, is recruited to retrieve the president in exchange for his own freedom.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Larry J. Franco, Debra Hill
Screenwriter: Nick Castle, John Carpenter
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Embassy Pictures, AVCO Embassy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: AVCO Embassy Pictures, Goldcrest Films International, International Film Investors
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround

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