|
Escape from New York (1981) 7.2
In 1997, when the US President crashes into Manhattan, now a giant max. security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in for a rescue. Director:John Carpenter |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Escape from New York (1981)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Predator 2
(1990)
Action
|
Sci-Fi
|
Thriller
Director:
Stephen Hopkins
Stars:
Kevin Peter Hall,
Danny Glover,
Gary Busey
The Warriors
(1979)
Action
|
Thriller
Director:
Walter Hill
Stars:
Michael Beck,
James Remar,
Dorsey Wright
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
(1981)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Thriller
Director:
George Miller
Stars:
Mel Gibson,
Bruce Spence,
Michael Preston
Mad Max
(1979)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Thriller
Director:
George Miller
Stars:
Mel Gibson,
Joanne Samuel,
Hugh Keays-Byrne
Darkman
(1990)
Action
|
Comedy
|
Crime
Director:
Sam Raimi
Stars:
Liam Neeson,
Frances McDormand,
Colin Friels
Action
|
Adventure
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Nicholas Meyer
Stars:
William Shatner,
Leonard Nimoy,
DeForest Kelley
Predator
(1987)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
John McTiernan
Stars:
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Carl Weathers,
Elpidia Carrillo
Outland
(1981)
Action
|
Crime
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Peter Hyams
Stars:
Sean Connery,
Peter Boyle,
Frances Sternhagen
Starship Troopers
(1997)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Paul Verhoeven
Stars:
Casper Van Dien,
Dina Meyer,
Denise Richards
You Only Live Twice
(1967)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Crime
Director:
Lewis Gilbert
Stars:
Sean Connery,
Akiko Wakabayashi,
Mie Hama
Total Recall
(1990)
Action
|
Adventure
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Paul Verhoeven
Stars:
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Rachel Ticotin,
Sharon Stone
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kurt Russell | ... | ||
| Lee Van Cleef | ... | ||
| Ernest Borgnine | ... | ||
| Donald Pleasence | ... | ||
| Isaac Hayes | ... | ||
| Season Hubley | ... |
Girl in Chock Full O'Nuts
|
|
| Harry Dean Stanton | ... | ||
| Adrienne Barbeau | ... | ||
| Tom Atkins | ... | ||
| Charles Cyphers | ... | ||
| Joe Unger | ... |
Taylor
(scenes deleted)
|
|
 |
Frank Doubleday | ... | |
|
|
John Strobel | ... | |
| John Cothran Jr. | ... |
Gypsy #1
|
|
|
|
Garrett Bergfeld | ... |
Gypsy #2
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
In the future, crime is out of control and New York City is a maximum security prison. Grabbing a bargaining chip right out of the air, convicts bring down the President's plane in bad old Gotham. Gruff Snake Plissken, a one-eyed lone warrior new to prison life, is coerced into bringing the President, and his cargo, out of this land of undesirables. Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
Taglines:
The world's greatest leader is a hostage in the most dangerous place on Earth. Now only the deadliest man alive can save him. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 July 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
John Carpenter's Escape from New York See more »Box Office
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$25,244,700 (USA)Company Credits
Production Co:
AVCO Embassy Pictures, International Film Investors, Goldcrest Films International See more »
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Narrator: In 1988, the crime rate in the United States rises four hundred percent. The once great city of New York becomes the one maximum security prison for the entire country. A fifty-foot containment wall is erected along the New Jersey shoreline, across the Harlem River, and down along the Brooklyn shoreline. It completely surrounds Manhattan Island. All bridges and waterways are mined. The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped around the island. There are no guards ...
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The skeletal weapons being carried by the police in the beginning of the movie are M16A1 rifles with the ventilated hand-guards and gas tubes removed. In reality, though the rifles can fire without the handguards, they are unable to fire with the gas tube removed. Cocking manually, the M16 can fire single shots even with the gas tube removed, but not in semi-automatic, full automatic or three-shot burst modes. See more »Goofs
While briefing Hauk about "David 14," Rehme says the jet is "Seven miles out and closing." Even at a leisurely 300mph (the cruising speed of the Convair 580 aircraft the Air Force One model was based on), the plane would have reached them in under a minute and a half. Yet they have plenty of time to get to the control center and ID the aircraft before it even crosses the river. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Narrator: In 1988, the crime rate in the United States rises four hundred percent. The once great city of New York becomes the one maximum security prison for the entire country. A fifty-foot containment wall is erected along the New Jersey shoreline, across the Harlem River, and down along the Brooklyn shoreline. It completely surrounds Manhattan Island. All bridges and waterways are mined. The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped around the island. There are no guards ...
See more »
Normally I'm not too much a fan of action movies and John Carpenter has never been on my list of favorite directors. In my opinion he only made one good movie, except for this one of course, and that's "Halloween". But as I already said before, even though I'm normally not a fan of this kind of movies or of the man's work, I must say that I'm glad to make an exception when it comes to this movie. "Escape from New York" may well be seen as one of the better action movies of all times and even after 25 years it still gives me a good time when watching it.
Due to huge crime rates in 1997, the US government has changed New York into a maximum security prison where the toughest criminals are put away for life. All the bridges have been mined, a huge wall has been built around the city and a large police force army is stationed near the statue of liberty. Inside this prison it's the survival of the fittest. There are no rules or regulations, except for those made up by the prisoners themselves, making this one of the most dangerous places to be in. When Air Force One, with the President on board, is taken over by a terrorist and crashed into a building, the President is able to escape by ejecting in a pod. But he has landed in the middle of New York and someone needs to get him out of there soon. That's where Snake Plissken comes in. He's an ex-soldier and a new prisoner who is asked to save the President and to find a tape with some important information. In return his sentence will be canceled and Plissken will be a free man again. He agrees, but to make sure that he will return on time, they inject him with a small but powerful explosive that will only be destroyed if his mission is successful. So now he does not only have to take care of the President and try to stay alive in between all those criminals, he also has a lot of time pressure...
I must say that this movie reminded me a lot of the Australian "Mad Max"-movies, especially the second one. In case you are wondering if that is a good or a bad thing: I liked those movies and yes I like this one as well. Despite the fact that it was made in 1981, this movie still feels quite futuristic. OK, we know that 1997 wasn't like this, but that doesn't really matter this time. If they had set the date to 2097, this would still have been the same movie and then we wouldn't have know that this was impossible. And the fact that some details show the real age of the movie isn't a bad thing either. Take for instance the computers. They used a lot of flashing lights and stuff like that, but those are only some small details which shouldn't spoil your fun. The acting in this movie is OK as well. This may well have been one of Kurt Russell's best performances and I really loved Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie. I even appreciated Lee Van Cleef in this movie, despite the fact that I'm normally not a fan of the man. I guess I must say that all actors did a good job.
As a conclusion I would like to say that a good and still futuristic looking story, some good acting, several interesting action scenes,... make this movie more than just worth a watch. I really like it and that's why I give it a 7/10.