Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Against the Wall

      R 1994 1 hr. 50 min. Drama List
      Reviews 63% 500+ Ratings Audience Score In this film based on a true story, an idealistic young recruit, Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), begins working in Attica Penitentiary and quickly learns how awfully the inmates are being treated. Soon a prison riot breaks out, and Smith and the other guards are taken hostage. The prisoners, led by Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson), take control of the jail and demand better living conditions. Despite the tense environment, Smith finds sympathy for Jamaal, who is a political prisoner. Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      Against the Wall

      Max

      Watch Against the Wall with a subscription on Max.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (30) audience reviews
      Michael W This prison movie was great. Kyle MacLachlan, Samuel L. Jackson, Clarence Williams III, Harry Dean Stanton, Frederic Forrest, Anne Heche, Steve Harris, Philip Bosco, Carmen Argenziano, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. This true story about the uprising at Attica prison was dramatic and intense. It's about demanding better privileges for inmates and making it out alive. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/24 Full Review dan m I knew nothing about the Attica prison riot coming into this(other than Al Pacino's character screaming Attica! Attica! in Dog Day Afternoon). Samuel L. Jackson isn't really seen all that much in the first half of this movie, but he does well here in a sort of Malcolm X type role. Probably one of the better prison movies I've seen actually. This came out in '94 and it still goes to show you how truly messed up the US prison system is. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Takes forever to start. Instead of good cinematography they use a lot of close up views that have nothing to do with the movie or the plot. Who want to see a close up of dyed hair, locker or ugly guards. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/14/19 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic prison film, great cast, superb acting. Based on a true story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/18 Full Review delysid d Not bad. Cool prison riot film Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/26/17 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic film. Haven't seen it in years, but I remember being very fond of it. Leave it to HBO to come up with some of the most interesting work in the last 20 years or so. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Against the Wall photos

      Against the Wall

      Against the Wall (1994) Against the Wall (1994) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (2) Critics Reviews
      Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault A brutal, complex, tough-minded drama set inside Attica during the 1971 riot. Rated: B Aug 31, 2022 Full Review Dragan Antulov rec.arts.movies.reviews Rated: 5/10 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In this film based on a true story, an idealistic young recruit, Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan), begins working in Attica Penitentiary and quickly learns how awfully the inmates are being treated. Soon a prison riot breaks out, and Smith and the other guards are taken hostage. The prisoners, led by Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson), take control of the jail and demand better living conditions. Despite the tense environment, Smith finds sympathy for Jamaal, who is a political prisoner.
      Director
      John Frankenheimer
      Rating
      R, TV-MA
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Dec 6, 2017
      Most Popular at Home Now