Fresh
The movie proudly wears its affection for crusty Sergio Leone archetypes and countdown-clock suspense sequences; Carpenter was Tarantino long before Tarantino was.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
Escape from New York
1997. New York City is a walled, maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.
1981 · 1h 39m · R
Action, Science Fiction
Directed by
John Carpenter
Overview
In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.
Director and cast
- John Carpenter Director
- Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken
- Lee Van Cleef as Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
- Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie
- Donald Pleasence as President of the United States
- Isaac Hayes as The Duke of New York
- Season Hubley as Girl in Chock Full O'Nuts
- Harry Dean Stanton as Harold 'Brain' Helman
- Adrienne Barbeau as Maggie
- Tom Atkins as Rehme
- Charles Cyphers as Secretary of State
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
86%
Tomatometer
Rotten
It's a rare film that has so many ideas and yet fails so consistently to make use of them.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
A solidly satisfying actioner.
Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh
It's a toughly told, very tall tale, one of the best escape (and escapist) movies of the season.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Rotten
When the final credits roll, you can be forgiven a vague sense of dissatisfaction, because the creativity that went into formulating the premise was never extended to the script writing stage.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
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