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Escape to Victory
1981 116 min Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America PG-13 16+
★6.6
Drama, War
Director: John Huston
🎭 Based on
«Two Half Times in Hell»
Trailers
Description
A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.
Budget:
$10M
US Gross:
$10.85M
Worldwide:
$27.45M
Starring
Michael Caine
Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Actor
Pelé
Actor
Awards
Moscow International Film Festival 1981
— Golden Prize
Key opinion
Escape to Victory is widely regarded as a light, watchable sports entertainment piece that successfully leverages the presence of legendary football stars. However, critics are divided on its dramatic depth, with many finding the narrative and character development insufficient compared to its historical premise.
| Originality | The inclusion of iconic professional footballers brings authentic skill and credibility to the film's match sequences. | |
| Emotion | The film functions well as undemanding, lighthearted entertainment for sports fans, though it lacks the weight of a serious war drama. | |
| Adaptation | The narrative significantly distorts historical events and opts for a sanitized, Hollywood-style happy ending rather than exploring the tragedy of the real-life source material. | |
| Screenplay | Character development is thin, resulting in cardboard portrayals that fail to provide compelling motives or emotional stakes. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the lead performances are divided: some appreciate the presence of Caine and Stallone, while others find their acting uninspired or disconnected from the material. |