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Escape from L.A.
1996 101 min United States of America R 16+
★5.9
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Director: John Carpenter
Trailers
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EN
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Description
Into the 9.6-quaked Los Angeles of 2013 comes Snake Plissken. His job: wade through L.A.'s ruined landmarks to retrieve a doomsday device.
Budget:
$50M
US Gross:
$25.48M
Worldwide:
$42.28M
Starring
Kurt Russell
Actor
Steve Buscemi
Actor
Stacy Keach
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1997
— Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn Awards 1997
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
Escape from L.A. is a highly divisive sequel that many critics and viewers perceive as a redundant, derivative, and technically uneven retread of the original film. While some appreciate its satirical edge, fast-paced action, and Kurt Russell's committed performance, others find the shift toward camp and low-quality CGI to be a significant step down from the grit of Escape from New York.
| Acting | Kurt Russell provides a charismatic and iconic anchor for the film, effectively reprising his role as the weary, cynical Snake Plissken. | |
| Originality | The film leans heavily on the plot structure and motifs of the original, leading to widespread accusations of a derivative and unoriginal screenplay. | |
| Production | The special effects and CGI are frequently criticized for looking cheap, artificial, and poorly executed despite the film's substantial budget. | |
| Humor | The tone is sharply contested: supporters interpret the film as an intentionally absurd, satirical action fairy-tale, while critics feel the shift to campy humor makes the film feel like a clownish, incoherent parody. | |
| Pacing | Views on the film's pacing are split; some enjoy the increased frequency of action sequences and set pieces, while others find the film boring, repetitive, and lacking the atmospheric tension of its predecessor. |