Riot in Cell Block 11

Released Feb 18, 1954

1h 20m

Action

List

100%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Inmates and the warden (Emile Meyer) face off in a hostage crisis, with the media watching.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent Riot in Cell Block 11 on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

TIME Magazine

Riot in Cell Block 11 is the best prison movie produced in years.

Sep 19, 2014

Full Review

Keith Phipps

The Dissolve

[Director Don] Siegel later referred to Riot In Cell Block 11 as his breakthrough film, and it's easy to see why. Shooting fast and loose, he gives the film a documentary immediacy [...]

Rated: 4/5

Apr 21, 2014

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Riot in Cell Block 11 is a hard-hitting, suspenseful prison thriller.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

It's an uncompromising example of the law abiding citizens being censured for their neglect and abuse, treating criminals not only as humans but also victors.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 4, 2020

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

Don Siegel emerged as more than just a Hollywood journeyman director with this hard-hitting, realistic prison picture, which presents a credible account of both the riot and the conditions that caused it.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 19, 2014

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

The film sketches in the set-up with a beautifully delineated terseness -- one-shot character introductions, a rookie guard cold-cocked, the prison corridor erupting as the cons pour out.

Sep 19, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Released in 1954, Riot in Cell Block 11 is an homage to liberal theories of humane treatment of prisoners as opposed to punitive treatment - an approach dating back to reformer Dorothea Dix in the mid-19th century. Prison Ward Reynolds is a proponent of humane treatment but is squashed and scorned by the state prison bureaucracy. Sure enough, a riot breaks out and he is vindicated. The movies incorporates actual prisoners in the riot scenes which gives it grit it might not otherwise have. Kudos to the filmmakers for this move.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

delysid d

Badass Oldies Movies that takes into the world of 50s prison riots!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/09/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Dated prison drama must have seemed raw and fresh back in 1954.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

kevin w

Some inmates in a prison facility feel mistreated and so stage a benevolent coup in the hopes of alleviating their unhappy conditions. We jump pretty much right into the action and, while the work sports that patented 1950's "just the facts, m'am" style that always threatens to reduce everything to bland sermonizing, the film stays fresh with the portrayals of the convict leaders and their attempts to control a riot to a positive outcome ... While not killing each other in the process.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not bad for a confined space flick, but outside of that, its kind of iffy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most ambitious--and rewarding--prison riot films in cinematic history, with no grit spared.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Don Siegel

Director

Neville Brand

James V. Dunn

Emile Meyer

Warden Reynolds

Frank Faylen

Commissioner Haskell

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

43%

33%

Sign of the Pagan

100%

93%

A Man Escaped

100%

97%

Seven Samurai

TRAILER

for Seven Samurai

30%

25%

The Pride and the Passion

69%

70%

Moonfleet

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Inmates and the warden (Emile Meyer) face off in a hostage crisis, with the media watching.

Director: Don Siegel
Production Co: Walter Wanger Productions, Inc.
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1954, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 20m

Most Popular at Home Now