X
- 1981
- R
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- 1 h 39 m
- 1981
- R
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- 1 h 39 m
Summary In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber (Kurt Russell) is sent in to rescue him.
Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Nick Castle, John Carpenter
- 1981
- R
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- 1 h 39 m
- 1981
- R
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- 1 h 39 m
Escape from New York
76
7.5
Where to Watch
Summary In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber (Kurt Russell) is sent in to rescue him.
Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Nick Castle, John Carpenter
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
76
75% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
25% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 12 Critic Reviews
76
75% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
25% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The pleasures are right in your face, beginning with the million-dollar idea of turning NYC into a walled-off prison where criminals run free. Even born-and-raised New Yorkers (of which Carpenter was decidedly not) could smile at that histrionic setup; it’s an outsider’s joke made funny by our willingness to be entertained.
It has got an intriguing premise, an effective cast, and it has been expertly mounted.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 92 User Ratings
7.5
73% Positive
67 Ratings
67 Ratings
25% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 92 User Ratings
7.5
73% Positive
67 Ratings
67 Ratings
25% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
This is my favourite movie of all time. It has incredible cinematography brought to us by Dean Cundey who also did Halloween, The Thing, Back to the Future, and Jurassic Park. This like most of Carpenters work has a somewhat simplistic story that somewhat takes a back seat to the amazing premise of crime has raised by 200% and now in 1997 New York City is a maximum security prison that once you go in you don't come out. The acting especially from Kurt Russel Lee Van Cleef and Donald Pleasence really sells this universe and the synth score from John Carpenter elevates the whole movie. This is a must watch.
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What, first review for this MASTERPIECE!!! The first time i saw that movie i was 12 and for me it was a blast! New York transform into a island-prison for the dirtiest of us!!! One of the most original and darkest scenario bring to life by master John Carpenter!!! The sound track signed by JC too is also one of the best rythm harmony that still echos in our heads, for 37 years now and still going on, just like Halloween!!! Sorry for those who have not seen that movie yet!!! 10/10 !!!
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Carpenter's grittily convincing New York-in-decay remains the film's best element. Never particularly suspenseful and hampered by a finale that almost literally steers the plot toward a dead end, Escape only intermittently finds Carpenter flexing his directorial muscles. But it may be his most visionary film: Escape allowed him to build a future out of scraps from the past.
A generally gripping actioner, the film can also be read as a percipient satire of a society irreparably split along lines of class and race.
Although execution doesn’t quite live up to the fabulous premise, Escape from New York is a solidly satisfying actioner.
Escape From New York gets more conventional as it goes along, settling for chases and narrow escapes when it could have had wild social satire as well. Carpenter has a deeply ingrained B-movie sensibility--which is both his strength and limitation. He does clean work, but settles for too little. [27 July 1981, p. 75]
For about half the film, Carpenter's narrative economy and explosive visual style (incorporating some marvellous model work of the new Manhattan skyline) promise wonders. The trouble is that his characters neither develop nor interact dynamically, so the plot gradually winds down into predictable though highly enjoyable histrionics.
Escape from New York is one of the best post-apocalyptic films. These are definitely the best years in the career of the still young Kurt Russell. The film is literally saturated with the history of the USA of the 70s. An excellent action movie, which at this level is almost not shot in our time. It's amazing to see the future of John Carpenter in 1981. I am surprised that with such a small budget I managed to make such a great film.
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All time wonderful galaxy brain concept, Loomis as the president was hilarious and terribly miscast. Unfortunately the lighting in half the movie is so dull that it became pretty frustrating.
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I enjoyed this serious film. It was not at all like the sequel which was really a campy version of this film but with a more detailed story. I absolutely loved the effects in this film. They were just these great real effects that had an ingenious design and a complete lack of fake computer aided effects. There weren't many interesting characters in this except the exciting Snake. It was a good fantasy action film but sadly lacking the intensity of a bigger budget which they had to make up with talking. It was a very entertaining film but I would have liked to see a touch more action.
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This is very much a 1980s film. It has the look and feel (plus the sound, I suppose) of a 1980s sci-fi film. I couldn't help but smile at some of the outdated technology shown in this film and I imagine for fans of it, there's quite a lot to be nostalgic about. I thought it was interesting that in the film, the main character goes into the World Trade Center to try and locate the president, having been involved in a crash nearby (thankfully the president wasn't killed in 9/11, obviously). I wonder how they managed to film it - large urban sets with a desolate backdrop. The sense of fear and distrust is fairly strong. It has quite an underworld type feel to it too. Yes its kind of cheesy but its an ok watch, especially/particularly if you like destruction and not full out explosive type destruction but things being smashed into other things type destruction. For me, this is ok but not an especially good film as such. I know its a bit of a cult hit - fair enough but I wouldn't outright recommend it as such, no.
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I was expecting some crossover between Madmax and Big Trouble in little China or even had hopes with glimpse of glory to the likes of Running Man. Had my popcorn and beer ready for some hell of a crazy 80s retro action flick ride.
However the story and execution of this movie were poorly lacking. Most of the time you don't know what is really going on. The humor was a bit off. And the oneliners didn't really matter much. The characters were flat and the different factions and gangs in the forsaken barren depiction of New York Manhattan City weren't explained and weren't fleshed out. You just didn't care much about them all. There weren't even that many of New York landmarks to make this movie a worthwhile watch, this movie could have been filmed anywhere else, it didn't made it feel like explicitly New York, which is a shame.
The actions were bland and lacked inspiration. And overall it was trying too hard to be something, but failed at it. Even for a B-movie this was badly executed and an abomination of a film. I would not even recommend this for nostalgia sake, it leaves a bitter after taste that can only be forgotten by washing down with some couple cans of more beer......
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Production Company
AVCO Embassy Pictures,
International Film Investors,
Goldcrest Films International,
City Films
Release Date Jul 10, 1981
Duration 1 h 39 m
Rating R
Tagline The world's greatest leader is a hostage in the most dangerous place on Earth. Now only the deadliest man alive can save him.
Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 4 Nominations
Jupiter Award
• 2 Nominations
