Escape From New York

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Escape From New York

R

1981

1h 39m

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

71 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

11/19/2018

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

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

10/25/2018

4/5

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

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Arthur Knight

The Hollywood Reporter

07/10/2017

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

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 7

The film suffers from its almost unrelieved gloom.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

09/13/2024

3/5

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

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

08/05/2023

2.5/4

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

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Jason

02/08/2024

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

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Joby

02/05/2024

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

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S. Thomas

02/05/2024

Kurt Russell's most iconic role ever

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03Cobra

02/05/2024

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

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Romas M

@Romas Mar 5

Greetings from Lithuania. "Escape from New York" (1981) is a pure genre classic. I watched the movie when i was a kid quite often, and i really liked it. It features great acting by Kurt Russell, great directing by a legendary John Carpenter and stunning set design. Supporting actors are first rate character actors. Music is terrific throughout the film. The first half of the film that plays like a horror movie sorts of - very moody, dark and atmospheric. If the movie did aged by this time (2026) it's not because of the sets, that is for sure. The plot is simple yet effective. Overall, "Escape from New York" is a great flick from the 80's - its written all over it. I actually loved the second movie as well. They do not make heroes like Snake anymore.

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Justin D

@RadOldDad Feb 23

Truly an amazing movie from start to finish. Its dark, gritty, futuristic setting is great and puts you right into that world. The short, fast paced run time gives you no time to leave that world, fully engrossed in Snakes plight for survival. Kurt Russel IS Snake Plisskin and his superb rough, gravely portrayal could have been done by no other. John Carpenter is at the height of his game here, showcasing his top notch skills to put the viewer into this strange but also familiar world and carry them through a fun story filled with great, highly memorable characters just trying to survive in this hellish landscape. A must see...

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John Carpenter

Director

Kurt Russell

Snake Plissken

Ernest Borgnine

Cabbie

Adrienne Barbeau

Maggie

Lee Van Cleef

Bob Hauk

Donald Pleasence

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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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