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Escape from New York
1981 99 min United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America R 16+
★7.3
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Director: John Carpenter
Trailers
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Description
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.
Budget:
$6M
US Gross:
$25.24M
Worldwide:
$50.24M
Starring
Kurt Russell
Actor
Lee Van Cleef
Actor
Ernest Borgnine
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1982
— Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn Awards 1982
— Best Director
Saturn Awards 1982
— Best Costume Design
Saturn Awards 1982
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
John Carpenter's 'Escape from New York' is widely regarded as an influential cult classic that defined the dystopian action aesthetic of the 1980s. While some modern viewers find its pacing clunky and its premise dated, the film is consistently praised for its atmospheric world-building, minimalist score, and the iconic performance of Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken.
| Acting | Kurt Russell's portrayal of the gritty, minimalist anti-hero Snake Plissken anchors the film's identity. | |
| Score | Carpenter’s minimalist, self-composed electronic score effectively amplifies the film's tension and atmosphere. | |
| Production | The production design successfully creates an immersive, gritty dystopian world despite the film's constrained budget. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some appreciate the tight, iconic narrative structure, while others dismiss the plot as simplistic or cliché-ridden. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing; enthusiasts value the slow-burn, atmospheric tension, whereas newcomers may find the tempo dated and sluggish. |