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Season 1 – Prison Break

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Prison Break 2005 Drama Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Michael Scofield is a desperate man in a desperate situation. His brother, Lincoln Burrows, was convicted of a crime he didn't commit and put on Death Row. Michael holds up a bank to get himself incarcerated alongside his brother in Fox River State Penitentiary, then sets in motion a series of elaborate plans to break Lincoln out and prove his innocence. Once out of jail, their perils aren't over -- the brothers must flee to escape recapture and battle an intricate political conspiracy that puts everyone's life at risk.
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Prison Break — Season 1

Prison Break — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Prison Break is confident pulp with a crackerjack premise that spreads thinly enough to smooth over the show's more lunkheaded flourishes.

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Critics Reviews

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Nancy Banks-Smith Guardian It is like being on an escalator. You wouldn't call it a lively ride but, once on, it's surprisingly hard to get off. Feb 26, 2020 Full Review Heather Havrilesky Salon.com The best thing about Prison Break is that we've never seen anything like it before. Sure, the sadistic and quirky criminals are more than a little familiar, but the plot is completely new. Sep 26, 2018 Full Review Lucy Mangan Guardian It is the kind of programme that makes you long for ad breaks and a little respite from the terrible, terrible strain of being so thoroughly entertained. Sep 25, 2018 Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com It's all completely preposterous, of course. But as long as you can suspend your disbelief, it's also a fun, first-rate thriller with a strong cast. Rated: 3/4 Jan 7, 2022 Full Review Elliot Panek Common Sense Media The show's appeal lies in watching someone try to break out of prison by using brains rather than brawn. Rated: 3/5 Sep 26, 2018 Full Review Tom Gliatto People Magazine This is an entertaining, big-narrative concept. Victor Hugo certainly would have thought twice before using it to line his parakeet cage. Sep 26, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kas A Addictive, entertaining and unexpected at every second. This has everything to offer. Some of the best tv I have ever seen so far. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Leo M "Prison Break" is a fantastically written and riveting drama series with an original premise. Its structure will keep the engrossed audience left wondering: "what will happen in the next episode?" Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/05/25 Full Review Giorgio S Greatest season of a show of all time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/25 Full Review Nitsan F Really good television. Suspenseful but with actual story that progresses. Great cast, great script and filmed in a real prison that shut down a few years earlier. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Jan Z the whole show is a masterpiece, i have never seen something like this Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review Audience Member Really enjoyed this. I like the cast and a lot of the situations that arise. I don't love how it can drag in some episodes. But that is not all bad. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Prison Break — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Wentworth Miller

Michael Scofield

Dominic Purcell

Lincoln Burrows

Wade Williams

Capt. Brad Bellick

Amaury Nolasco

Fernando Sucre

Peter Stormare

John Abruzzi

Robin Tunney

Veronica Donovan

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 29, 2005 Pilot The brother of death-row inmate Lincoln Burrows intentionally gets himself incarcerated, then plans to use his skills as a structural engineer to free him. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 29, 2005 Allen Michael seeks the help of his fellow prison inhabitants to execute his escape plan. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 5, 2005 Cell Test Pressed for time, Michael tries to enlist the help of his cell mate, who asks for a transfer when he realizes what Michael is planning to do. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 12, 2005 Cute Poison Michael must delay his plan to escape when Haywire develops a fascination with his tattoo. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 19, 2005 English Fitz or Percy Kellerman and Hale pay a visit to Warden Pope; Michael learns that he may be getting out of Fox River sooner than he expected. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 26, 2005 Riots, Drills and the Devil Michael turns up the heat to break through to the other side of his cell wall. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 3, 2005 Riots, Drills and the Devil As the riot escalates, Michael faces a difficult decision regarding the life of Dr. Sara; Abruzzi and Sucre team up to break the devil's back. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 24, 2005 The Old Head Michael is unsure how to continue when he learns that an old storage shed crucial to the escape plan has been turned into the guard's break room. Details Episode 9 Aired Oct 31, 2005 Tweener Abruzzi's demotion puts the entire escape-plan at risk; if Michael protects the new inmate, T-Bag threatens to expose the plan to the guards. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 7, 2005 Sleight of Hand Michael sacrifices Fibonnaci to Philly in order to restore Abruzzi as commander of the prison's work detail and put the escape plan back on track. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 14, 2005 And Then There Were 7 Everyone -- particularly Sara -- is shocked by Michael's conjugal visitor. Details Episode 12 Aired Nov 21, 2005 Odd Man Out The tables are turned when one of the group's relentless pursuers becomes the pursued. Details Episode 13 Aired Nov 28, 2005 End of the Tunnel With Lincoln's execution just minutes away, the team makes a break for it. Details Episode 14 Aired Mar 20, 2006 The Rat The inmates must make their way back to their cells without being detected; Michael devises a plan to keep Lincoln alive. Details Episode 15 Aired Mar 27, 2006 By the Skin and the Teeth A face from the past haunts Lincoln on his execution day; Veronica raises the dead to prove Lincoln's innocence. Details Episode 16 Aired Apr 3, 2006 Brother's Keeper Flashbacks unveil how Lincoln, Sucre, T-Bag, C-Note and Dr. Sara ended up in prison and what drove Michael to plan his brother's escape. Details Episode 17 Aired Apr 10, 2006 J Cat As Michael struggles to remember missing pieces of the prison schematics, guards place him in solitary for refusing to name names. Details Episode 18 Aired Apr 17, 2006 Bluff Michael tries to clear Haywire's head and jog his memory of the missing piece of the blueprint tattoo; Bellick wants to auction off Michael's cell. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 24, 2006 The Key The mystery man reveals himself to Lincoln; Michael realizes that Sara holds the key to the escape plan. Details Episode 20 Aired May 1, 2006 Tonight Michael must move up the breakout timetable; Michael looks to Sarah for help; Veronica finds her life in jeopardy from an unlikely character. Details Episode 21 Aired May 8, 2006 Go Sara considers whether she should help Michael with his plan, Michael betrays Warden Pope, and Veronica finds evidence that points her to Montana, but realizes that her closest ally may actually be her greatest enemy. Details Episode 22 Aired May 15, 2006 Flight Michael, Lincoln and their fellow inmates run for their lives and their freedom, with Bellick in pursuit; Veronica races to Montana. Details

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Prison Break — Season 1

Prison Break Prison Break Prison Break Prison Break View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Paul Scheuring, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse, Matt Olmstead, Brett Ratner
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (L|D|V)
Genre
Drama, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 29, 2005
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