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Escape from New York

  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
149K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,024
128
Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, and Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.
Play trailer1:20
5 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.

  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • John Carpenter
    • Nick Castle
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Lee Van Cleef
    • Ernest Borgnine
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    149K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,024
    128
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • John Carpenter
      • Nick Castle
    • Stars
      • Kurt Russell
      • Lee Van Cleef
      • Ernest Borgnine
    • 408User reviews
    • 271Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:20
    Watch Official Trailer
    Escape From New York
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch Escape From New York
    Escape From New York
    Trailer 1:21
    Watch Escape From New York
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Watch Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 37
    Video 28:48
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 37

    Photos224

    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, and Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Isaac Hayes in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell and Harry Dean Stanton in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Isaac Hayes in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell at an event for Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Adrienne Barbeau, Donald Pleasence, and Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)
    Kurt Russell in Escape from New York (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Russell
    Kurt Russell
    • Snake Plissken
    Lee Van Cleef
    Lee Van Cleef
    • Hauk
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • Cabbie
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • President
    Isaac Hayes
    Isaac Hayes
    • The Duke
    Season Hubley
    Season Hubley
    • Girl in Chock Full O'Nuts
    Harry Dean Stanton
    Harry Dean Stanton
    • Harold 'Brain' Hellman
    Adrienne Barbeau
    Adrienne Barbeau
    • Maggie
    Tom Atkins
    Tom Atkins
    • Rehme
    Charles Cyphers
    Charles Cyphers
    • Secretary of State
    Joe Unger
    Joe Unger
    • Taylor
    • (scenes deleted)
    Frank Doubleday
    Frank Doubleday
    • Romero
    John Strobel
    John Strobel
    • Cronenberg
    John Cothran
    John Cothran
    • Gypsy #1
    • (as John Cothran Jr.)
    Garrett Bergfeld
    • Gypsy #2
    Richard Cosentino
    • Gypsy Guard
    Robert John Metcalf
    • Gypsy #3
    Joel Bennett
    Joel Bennett
    • Gypsy #4
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • John Carpenter
      • Nick Castle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kurt Russell has stated that this is his favorite of all his films, and Snake Plissken is his favorite of his characters.
    • Goofs
      During the sequence where Snake is being chased by the Crazies (and is about to shoot an oval pattern in a wall so he can break through), his eye patch shifts enough to reveal a perfectly good eye. This is commonly regarded as a mistake, but it is not; the novelization of the movie explains that Snake still has his left eye, but he wears the patch due to a paralyzed iris, making it extremely sensitive to light.
    • Quotes

      Bob Hauk: You going to kill me, Snake?

      Snake Plissken: Not now, I'm too tired.

      [pause]

      Snake Plissken: Maybe later.

    • Crazy credits
      The Avco Embassy logo does not appear in this movie.
    • Alternate versions
      Collector's edition laserdisc (during director commentary) shows cut scenes of high-tech bank robbery which led to Snake's conviction and eventual prison sentencing to New York.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Needle (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Bandstand Boogie
      Music by Charles Albertine

      Courtesy of Cherio Corporation

    User reviews408

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    " Hi Snake, . . . I heard you were dead!"
    Many fans of Kurt Russell were extremely surprised he emerged from his years as a child actor to evolve into a believable, hard hitting, action hero. True, he was traditionally recognized to many for his whimsical, good-looks and high school persona. Thus when movie-goers saw him in this film, many stood aghast at his mature tenor. This futuristic story begins with the President's plane being high-jacked by rebel extremists and flown into the island city of New York which has been transformed into a maximum prison. The plane with the president (Donald Pleasence) on board crashes into the prison and it falls to the warden/Police Commissioner, one, Bob Hauk, (Lee Van Cleef) to rescue the chief executive. His plan? To send in a new convict, an experienced ex-soldier and special ops veteran, named, Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) with the promise of a presidential pardon if he can return him alive. To insure the clever criminal does not take the opportunity to escape, he is given a lethal injection which can only be removed by the commissioner's medical staff. Thus, begins a timely drama which means life or death for the hero, the president and ultimately the world. The success of this film owes much to the film's other characters like the talkative Cabbie (Ernest Borgnine, terrific acting), Harold ' Brain' Helman (Harry Dean Stanton), his 'squeeze' Maggie (Adrienne Barbeau) and Isaac Hayes, who plays the heavy, The Duke of New York. This a groundbreaking film for Russell and as expected, he carries it to it's rave conclusion with action to spare. ****
    helpful•27
    5
    • thinker1691
    • Jun 30, 2007

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    FAQ4

    • What is on the tape that the President keeps in his briefcase?
    • Is there going to be a third Snake Plissken-movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Escape from New York City
    • Filming locations
      • Fox Theater - 527 N. Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, USA(Broadway theatre relics)
    • Production companies
      • AVCO Embassy Pictures
      • International Film Investors
      • Goldcrest Films International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,244,626
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,274,965
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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