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Escape from Alcatraz
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Escape from Alcatraz

1979
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 52m
A dramatization of the one possibly successful escape from the notorious prison. (imdb)
Directed by:
Don Siegel Don Siegel
Written by:
J. Campbell Bruce Richard Tuggle
+1 more
Starring:
Fred Ward Fred Ward Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood Larry Hankin Larry Hankin Patrick McGoohan Patrick McGoohan Jim Haynie Jim Haynie Paul Benjamin Paul Benjamin Roberts Blossom Roberts Blossom Jack Thibeau Bruce M. Fischer Frank Ronzio Bob Balhatchet David Cryer
More
Genres:
Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, History
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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Escape from Alcatraz

1979
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 52m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 62% from 2865 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

(2865)
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farzanFarzan
Rated 11 Feb 2008
85
83rd
Escape from Alcatraz is a cleverly crafted film, with a very smart and quite possible escape plan. Clint Eastwood shines in one of his better performance, and the lifelike prison atmosphere was well done. Definitely worth a look.
Rated 11 Feb 2008
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 05 Sep 2010
85
87th
Only 'A Man Escaped' is a better prison escape movie, and they do so many things alike it's no wonder they are the best. The lack of dialogue and the moody atmosphere really helps in keeping the audience feeling tense. Hell, we know they are going to get out, yet during the breakout scene we are on the edges of our seats.
Rated 05 Sep 2010
jebJeb
Rated 06 Mar 2009
81
66th
Escape From Alcatraz is worth a pleasurable viewing, and Eastwood's performance is remarkable. Daring, cunning and intelligent, it holds and captivates the viewer's attention with such ease. Very well done, although loose ends are strung towards the end. Still very good.
Rated 06 Mar 2009
muzak66muzak66
Rated 01 Jul 2008
95
96th
One of the best prison movies ever made.
Rated 01 Jul 2008
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 01 Jul 2013
66
79th
Clint Eastwood's Frank Morris is excellently portrayed, likable and distant in one swoop. And while the story may be straightforward, and it may not reach the emotional heights of, say, Shawshank, the moody, tense atmosphere that Siegel crafts with the help of his acting crew still makes this quite good.
Rated 01 Jul 2013
andreasthauAndreasThau
Rated 31 May 2010
60
42nd
MAN: "It's my 35th birthday to day. What a birthday! ... when is your birthday?" CLINT: "I don't know." MAN: "How come you don't know? What was your childhood like?" CLINT: "SHORT!" ... that's 60 for me right there.
Rated 31 May 2010
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
25th
I love escape flicks, but Patrick McGoohan (nice irony in that casting) plays the warden a bit too evil. Eastwood seems to phone in his leaden performance, and the other characters are either dull or cartoonish.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 30 Apr 2009
72
81st
good movie
Rated 30 Apr 2009
ytadelYtadel
Rated 06 Feb 2019
7
84th
Though it plays out in basically predictable fashion it is taut and entertaining enough and the real story it’s based on wild enough (goddamn papier-mâché heads to fool the guards, and it actually worked, just wild!) that it’s definitely worth the watch for fans of 70s thrillers.
Rated 06 Feb 2019
lady_moeLady Moe
Rated 20 Jan 2011
85
60th
Even the title is intriguing. Alcatraz Island is one of the most famous (or infamous) places in American history. It was a prison that had the reputation of being inescapable...until someone escaped. This film is about that person. Clint Eastwood stars in this intense and intriguing movie that draws you in with it's premise. Even though you know how it's going to end, you still feel accomplished when it happens.
Rated 20 Jan 2011
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
49th
Pretty good.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 28 Aug 2007
50
38th
This popular prison-break movie has neither the artistic merit of A Man Escaped, nor the feel-good lyricism of Shawshank Redemption, nor the well-dosed drama of Midnight Express, nor the gritty realism of Scum. Escape from Alcatraz is mildly compelling but flat, dry, unadventurous and not particularly believable. And to tell you the truth, post-Leone Eastwood is getting on my nerves - here his acting is sub-par for sure.
Rated 28 Aug 2007
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 02 Jan 2013
80
77th
Eastwood walks into this prison swinging his dick around and nothing gets in his way.
Rated 02 Jan 2013
terrymacterrymac
Rated 12 Feb 2017
78
79th
A very likeable and well-made prison caper. The nicely-assembled cast works well with the effective script, and the plot is controlled and nicely-paced; it eschews melodrama in favour of interesting encounters between the inmates. Eastwood is great as usual, and Don Siegel really knows what he's doing. And it has the guy who played Mr Heckles in Friends; he always had a face full of character. Definitely worth seeing.
Rated 12 Feb 2017
eastondEastonD
Rated 24 Apr 2011
76
59th
Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood = goodness.
Rated 24 Apr 2011
spleenspleen
Rated 17 Feb 2013
79
65th
I've always wanted to vacation on Alcatraz. The cool ocean breeze wafting in as the fog gently caresses the rocky California shores and the lively scent of Fisherman's Wharf drifting across the Golden Gate bridge almost as if it were beckoning newcomers to revel in the distinct flavors of the Pacific. The downside, of course, being you have to shower with a lot of overweight men and possibly get knifed in the yard. Boy, was I wrong. Later remade (but not credited) as "The Shawshank Redemption".
Rated 17 Feb 2013
joelwatchesmoviesjoelwatchesmovies
Rated 05 Nov 2015
8
80th
A prison-break thriller perfectly paced by a slowly-but-surely story that moves methodically from subtle setting and character set-ups (including the plot-motivating depressing Alcatraz and its antagonizing warden) to the suspenseful escape plan and execution. Eastwood's calm and cool Morris heads a superb screenplay devoid of superfluous dialogue or action that uses its simple cinematography and understated turns from the whole cast to drive home a straight-forward plot and a consistent mood.
Rated 05 Nov 2015
tsvetetsvete
Rated 22 Feb 2020
96
78th
1
Rated 22 Feb 2020
mirconannimirco.nanni
Rated 08 Apr 2018
80
68th
A classic of prison escapes, dry and focused on the plot (no side love stories, no innocent-looking main character), emotions conveyed through glances rather than long speeches, as you might from a Eastwood's performance. Maybe more slow-paced and less graphics than what modern reinterpretations made us used too, but definitely worth watching.
Rated 08 Apr 2018
sopachuco13sopachuco13
Rated 06 Sep 2017
80
62nd
Escape From Alcatraz does a great job of conveying a story without much overhead. There isn't really that much music and the cast is pretty subdued besides Eastwood. The story tells a great caper story of some criminals who go up against the "strongest" prison of their time and escape without consequence. Escape From Alcatraz shows the plight of the criminal who only wants freedom. No matter what crime a person does weather it be a simple or heinous crime every man wants to be free.
Rated 06 Sep 2017
johnsandwichJohnSandwich
Rated 09 Feb 2012
85
90th
great
Rated 09 Feb 2012
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 13 Sep 2018
75
69th
hapishaneler bir alt tür oluşturacak kadar nasıl böyle sinematografikmiş gibi gözüküyor anlamak güç olsa da siegel o türün yapı taşlarından birini oluşturmuş orası net. temposu, performansları, yakalamak istediği ruh ile klasik bir seyirlik.
Rated 13 Sep 2018
salomaordsalomaord
Rated 02 Jan 2015
50
0th
Don Siegel #3
Rated 02 Jan 2015
seeker0003SEEKER0003
Rated 08 Oct 2022
70
28th
Una fascinante película llena de tensión y una justa dosis de drama.
Rated 08 Oct 2022
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 16 Jan 2018
85
59th
Viewed January 15, 2018.
Rated 16 Jan 2018
milkacowmilkacow
Rated 03 Jul 2019
70
11th
This movie was way too slow.
Rated 03 Jul 2019
bzymusbzymus
Rated 25 Feb 2023
70
39th
audiovisual 82 acting 58 overall feeling 70 avg 70
Rated 25 Feb 2023
lapierre520lapierre520
Rated 30 Aug 2007
70
31st
Very well done, and as usual CLint Eastwood is excellent.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
shalevshalev
Rated 17 Dec 2018
81
56th
Very straight forward jail break, with very few words spoken.
Rated 17 Dec 2018
kavuKavu
Rated 29 Sep 2010
81
73rd
Another succesful Siegel-Eastwood collaboration where both do a terrific job. Moves quite slowly, but Siegel keeps the tension alive the whole time.
Rated 29 Sep 2010
teeceeteecee
Rated 22 Sep 2008
54
79th
Klassisk gammeldags
Rated 22 Sep 2008
cclzaCCLZA
Rated 10 Jul 2010
75
63rd
Every prison-escape film that came after ripped off this one, because it is done to perfection.
Rated 10 Jul 2010
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 24 Feb 2023
43
41st
This is the most archetypical prison break movie imaginable with nothing to make it stand out. Despite making absurd dramatizations to add flavor to the narrative; somehow, it stills lacks much personality and the chemistry between characters are non-existent. It comes across like it neither wants to say anything about prison life nor explore any sort of characterization. It mostly tries to nail down the idea that prison life is brutal and what the escape plan is, but both are boring.
Rated 24 Feb 2023
tedted
Rated 31 May 2009
90
90th
Superb. Very atmospheric. I love how the story is told mostly through visuals; dialogue is sparse.
Rated 31 May 2009
braddad68braddad68
Rated 04 May 2020
96
91st
Well done and interesting to see how they escaped.
Rated 04 May 2020
w00dyW00DY
Rated 10 Jul 2012
69
56th
There are some decent scenes but I feel the script should have focused more on consuming the audience with a sense of prison life on Alcatraz. Also, until the final escape scene, the moments of suspense were not quite tense enough. Eastwood delivers here but all the other characters are forgettable. 'Escape...' comes so close to greatness that I felt slightly dissappointed that it doesn't push it through.
Rated 10 Jul 2012
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 09 Mar 2010
87
75th
Excellent direction by Don Siegel. The pace is deliberate, the shocks and surprises arise naturally, and the denouement is tense and absorbing. Good work by Eastwood and McGoohan. Features a fine performance by Paul Benjaimin as "English".
Rated 09 Mar 2010
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 04 Aug 2019
88
67th
A-
Rated 04 Aug 2019
ruloaasruloaas
Rated 30 Jun 2008
70
56th
Clint Eastwood holds the screen with ease
Rated 30 Jun 2008
faveryfavery
Rated 29 May 2022
50
42nd
Just Clint Eastwood escaping from Alcatraz with a concerning lack of difficulty and nothing more.
Rated 29 May 2022
agentsnipeAgentSnipe
Rated 03 Nov 2017
84
84th
Alcatraz is only a landmark now, but in the days of its operation it was the most secure prison in the country. So obviously there's a lot of narrative strength in entertaining the fantasy that just maybe there really was once a successful escape attempt.
Rated 03 Nov 2017
greygwardargreygwardar
Rated 18 Apr 2024
80
72nd
stflyst_fly
Rated 25 Aug 2007
84
83rd
Very Good
Rated 25 Aug 2007
philamentalphilamental
Rated 23 Jan 2023
60
36th
I was a bit surprised at the deliberate slow pace and lack of the usual levels of drama you'd expect from a prison flick but this was explained to me by the acknowledgement that this was based on a true story in the closing credits. I probably would have viewed things a little differently had I known that beforehand but this is still a solid effort.
Rated 23 Jan 2023
ronin167Ronin167
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
93rd
Probably my favourite prison movie. It's extremely tense, and Eastwood is awesome.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
naurunauru
Rated 09 Dec 2010
70
77th
Good prison break movie. Very tense. My only gripe is that there were some jump cuts which skipped over how certain things were actually accomplished. Well done overall.
Rated 09 Dec 2010
jimmynmujimmynmu
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
79th
One of Eastwood's better peformances.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
rodney_jRodney J.
Rated 09 Jul 2021
92
73rd
DVD-worthy
Rated 09 Jul 2021
theescapistTheEscapist
Rated 16 Apr 2013
71
53rd
Well made film with some interesting characters and a nice slow pace that unfortunately at times is a bit too slow for my liking.
Rated 16 Apr 2013
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 05 Dec 2010
75
74th
Great movie which has you biting your nails all the way to the end. Probably one of the first and certainly best of it's kind (escaping from prison movies). If you know and are a fan of the 'new' series Prison Break, you'll recognise a lot has been copied from this movie. Superb acting by Clint Eastwood!
Rated 05 Dec 2010
ddrudgesd_drudges
Rated 27 Sep 2020
50
56th
I haven't read the book but this does seem like a really bare-bones and straightforward rendition, with the soul having already escaped and left a rigid, lifeless husk much like the emptied Alcatraz of today. Clint Eastwood's trademark wooden performance only serves to accentuate this. There are some scenes with nice composition, but that's about it for this one.
Rated 27 Sep 2020
troothTrooth
Rated 06 Jan 2013
55
23rd
Kind of reminded me of A Man Escaped, but I somehow felt even less emotionally invested in this movie. It's similar in that it's almost entirely about the escape plot, and not a lot of distractions, but this felt less tense, since the prisoners had a lot more resources available to them, never really had to go through any setbacks, and their surroundings always felt less threatening than a Nazi prison camp.
Rated 06 Jan 2013
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 13 Feb 2011
69
36th
Hapishane, kacis (biraz agir ama fena degil)
Rated 13 Feb 2011
bigboy2121bigboy2121
Rated 04 Jan 2014
83
62nd
Classic break out of jail movie
Rated 04 Jan 2014
ehk2ehk2
Rated 18 May 2020
43
59th
it turns out that in the seemingly most secure prison of the US, prisoners had access to all hardware they could imagine. meh.
Rated 18 May 2020
green_goblinGreen Goblin
Rated 15 Jan 2009
45
35th
Boring film. Should not have been based on a true story, really. Oh, btw, that Charley Butt guy was so ugly. Where did they get him from???
Rated 15 Jan 2009
offlineozofflineoz
Rated 17 May 2020
65
51st
Under Quarantine Film Reviews #89: For all the talk in the film about how it was impossible to break out of Alcatraz, they broke out pretty easily. Although it was well directed and hosted a bunch of great characters, the severe lack of suspense was its downfall.
Rated 17 May 2020
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
78
80th
A good watch. Clint is classy!
Rated 01 Aug 2009
schizotoastschizotoast
Rated 12 Sep 2011
80
66th
Have not seen in forever.
Rated 12 Sep 2011
dardandardan
Rated 25 Dec 2015
58
53rd
Shawshank owes this film bigtime.
Rated 25 Dec 2015
kasperlKasperL
Rated 17 Mar 2014
80
86th
A very solid prison drama. Clint was a cool mofo, no doubt about it.
Rated 17 Mar 2014
jordanchasejordanchase
Rated 01 Jan 2021
85
85th
01.01.2021 Kartal
Rated 01 Jan 2021
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 01 Dec 2006
8
82nd
Classic prison film that I've seen way too many times. I'm a sucker for a solid prison drama though and Clint is pretty awesome in the lead.
Rated 01 Dec 2006
moviecinemaMovieCinema
Rated 10 Jul 2022
77
84th
I sure hate prison and how they systematically abuse people because they don’t want to reform them, I knew the second they showed Wolf on screen that he was gonna be “the creepy gay rapist” and seeing a really clever person do something really clever is cool
Rated 10 Jul 2022
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 25 Nov 2008
76
76th
Watchable, if a little flat.
Rated 25 Nov 2008
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 21 Dec 2011
78
71st
This was a good movie. There were a few slow spots. Clint was great in the lead role. The supporting cast also did a good job.
Rated 21 Dec 2011
pumpernikielPumpernikiel
Rated 20 Jun 2013
78
73rd
Watch Le Trou (1960).
Rated 20 Jun 2013
mandymandy
Rated 19 Sep 2019
6
44th
An interesting story but I found this a little dull in places.
Rated 19 Sep 2019
glmglm
Rated 07 Jan 2011
84
77th
83.500
Rated 07 Jan 2011
doyler29doyler29
Rated 19 May 2022
80
68th
Based on the true story of the one seemingly successful escape from Alcatraz, this film is a quiet masterclass in one of the things Don Siegel did so well. He tells a story with very little exposition and very little dialogue. We learn the rhythms of life in Alcatraz by watching Eastwood live out his days there, and once he has figured out how to get out, we watch him and his compatriots (Larry Hankin, Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau) execute the plan.
Rated 19 May 2022
the_pirateThe Pirate
Rated 26 May 2013
82
67th
Really interesting escape from prison flick.
Rated 26 May 2013
jgirl2688Jgirl2688
Rated 30 Jun 2009
68
32nd
This is really unbelievable, but cool to watch since it is based on a true story. Eastwood's character was too perfect, always one step ahead of the warden and guards, you'd think at one point he'd make one mistake, but he never did. Overall, it's an interesting story, but the movie was visually bland .
Rated 30 Jun 2009
vv238vv238
Rated 23 Nov 2018
78
83rd
A fine film about the legend of the three men who may or may not have escaped from the most famous prison in America. Clint Eastwood is great and it has all of the wrinkles you might expect from a prison-escape story but in a way that nearly mirrors what the real-world techniques the inmates used to try their own escape. I also appreciate that this uses atmosphere to build tension rather than some cheap tricks.
Rated 23 Nov 2018
thmertensth_mertens
Rated 05 Jun 2009
79
79th
As gritty, dark and claustrophobic as an Alcatrez cell.
Rated 05 Jun 2009
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 24 Dec 2010
71
50th
One of the better prison films. Eastwood is ideal in this type of role, and McGoohan is equally forceful as the tough warden.
Rated 24 Dec 2010
frederikaFrederikA
Rated 12 Oct 2009
75
77th
Wonderfully straightforward escape film. By focusing on the metrics of the plan, it quietly manages to build and hold tension without any need for fanfare.
Rated 12 Oct 2009
john_lockeJohn Locke
Rated 04 Mar 2008
80
24th
I love escapes.
Rated 04 Mar 2008
emre_eEmre E.
Rated 21 Jan 2020
80
60th
Gerçek bir olaya dayanan bu filmde, ABD tarihinin en meşhur ve en güvenlikli hapishanelerinden olan Alcatraz’dan üç kişinin kaçış hikayesi konu edinmektedir.Clint Eastwood’un mükemmel oyunculuğu ve Don Siegel’in harika rejisi filmi oldukça yukarı çıkartan etkenler.
Rated 21 Jan 2020
brightpointbrightpoint
Rated 15 Feb 2010
73
66th
Nice movie based on the true story of 3 prisoners who managed to successfully escape from the heavily guarded fortress that is Alcatraz... or did they? Clint Eastwood stars as the switched on Frank Morris who leads the team in the clandestine caper.Mindboggling,however is the blatant way they talk loudly with reckless abandon about their imminent departure with such obliviousness to the guards nearby them or prisoners that might have other things to say.
Rated 15 Feb 2010

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