Movies About Prison Breaks

From Frank Darabont, starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
Rated R

The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The film follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. During his time at the prison, he befriends a fellow inmate, Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), and finds himself protected by the guards after the warden begins using him in his money-laundering operation. Andy ultimately seeks a way to escape Shawshank and prove his innocence. With Red's help, he formulates an escape plan and a way to smuggle the evidence of his innocence out of the prison. After a long and grueling journey, Andy is eventually able to escape his prison sentence and reunite with Red. The film ends with Red being released from Shawshank and the two men meeting up in Mexico.

From Roberto Benigni, starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano
Rated PG-13

Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian romantic comedy-drama directed by Roberto Benigni. Set in 1930s Italy, the film tells the story of a Jewish bookshop owner, Guido, and his son, Giosué. At the start of the movie, Guido is separated from his family and sent to a concentration camp. In order to protect Giosué from the horrors of the camp, Guido tells him that they are playing a game, and if Giosué can complete certain tasks, he will win a tank. Guido also uses his wit and humor to protect Giosué from the sadness and violence of the camp. Despite facing tragedy and death, Guido remains optimistic throughout and his love for Giosué keeps them both alive. Ultimately, Guido and Giosué find a way to reunite with the rest of their family and escape the camp, with the help of a German soldier. Life Is Beautiful is a heartwarming and uplifting story of the power of love and optimism amidst adversity.

From Frank Darabont, starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt
Rated R

The Green Mile is a 1999 film directed by Frank Darabont that is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. The story follows the life of Paul Edgecomb, a prison officer working on death row in the 1930s. Edgecomb meets John Coffey, a mysterious inmate who has the power to heal people. Edgecomb and the other guards become increasingly protective of Coffey, despite the fact that he is due to be executed for the murder of two young girls. Throughout the film, Edgecomb and the other characters experience both the harsh realities of life in a prison and the power of Coffey's unique gifts. In the end, Coffey is executed, but Edgecomb and the other guards are changed by their experience with him. The film is an emotional testament to the power of compassion, redemption and the human capacity for kindness.

From John Sturges, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson
Rated Approved

The Great Escape (1963) is a World War II classic directed by John Sturges. It is based on the true story of an audacious escape by Allied prisoners of war from a German POW camp. Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn, the film follows a group of prisoners led by the cool-headed Commander Hilts (McQueen) as they engineer a complex plan for a mass escape. After months of hard work and ingenuity, the prisoners finally manage to break out of the camp, sparking a massive manhunt. With the Nazi forces in hot pursuit, the escapees must make their way to freedom in an exciting and thrilling finale.

From David Lean, starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Rated PG

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 war movie directed by David Lean and based on the novel by Pierre Boulle. The story follows a group of World War II prisoners of war, led by British colonel Nicholson, as they are forced to construct a railway bridge over the river Kwai by their Japanese captors. As the bridge is completed, the British military plans to blow it up in order to disrupt the Japanese supply line. Nicholson, however, is determined to complete the bridge and refuses to cooperate with the British plan. In the end, Nicholson is forced to make a dramatic last-minute decision that results in the destruction of the bridge. The Bridge on the River Kwai is a classic story of courage, endurance, and heroism in the face of adversity.

From Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Alison Crosbie, Philip King
Rated R

In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical drama film starring Daniel Day-Lewis and directed by Jim Sheridan. Based on the true story of the Guildford Four, the film tells the story of Gerry Conlon, an Irishman who was wrongfully convicted of the Guildford pub bombing in 1974, and the struggles he and his father (played by Pete Postlethwaite) face while trying to prove their innocence. The film also follows their fight to clear their names while dealing with the harsh reality of life in prison. Through Gerry's journey, the film reveals the power of love, family, and justice in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

From Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Strother Martin, J.D. Cannon
Rated GP

Cool Hand Luke is a 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Paul Newman as the title character. The film tells the story of Lucas Jackson, a prisoner in a Florida prison camp who refuses to submit to the authority of the warden. Believing he can escape, Jackson is continuously thwarted by the guards. The film is centred around themes of individuality, rebellion and authority. Jackson's rebellious attitude leads him to acquire a heroic status amongst the inmates, although this only serves to make him a target of the guards. Ultimately, he fails in his escape attempts, and is killed in a shootout with the police. The film has become a classic of American cinema, with its quotes and scenes being widely referenced in popular culture.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Victor Jory, Don Gordon
Rated R

Papillon is a 1973 prison drama directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. The film follows the story of Henri "Papillon" Charrière (McQueen), a petty criminal from Paris who is wrongly convicted of murder and sent to the notorious penal colony of French Guiana. With the help of his prison mate, Louis Dega (Hoffman), Papillon embarks on a daring escape plan. After several failed attempts and harrowing hardships, Papillon eventually manages to make his way back to freedom. Through his incredible courage and determination, the film celebrates the power of the human spirit in the face of daunting odds.

From Billy Wilder, starring William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss
Rated Not Rated

Stalag 17 tells the story of a group of American airmen imprisoned in a German World War II POW camp. The prisoners are suspicious that one of their own is a traitor who is informing the Germans of their escape plans. After many attempts to escape, they eventually discover the identity of the traitor, who is then dealt with accordingly. The film is a comedy-drama that highlights the challenges of being in a POW camp and the complexities of human nature. It was Billy Wilder's most commercially successful film, and won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay.

From Taylor Hackford, starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Enrique Castillo
Rated R

Blood In, Blood Out is a 1993 crime drama directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, and Enrique Castillo. The film follows three Mexican-American cousins, Miklo Velka, Paco Aguilar, and Cruz Candelaria, as they become entangled in the world of drugs and crime. While Miklo (Chapa) embraces a life of crime, Paco (Borrego) and Cruz (Bratt) remain on the straight and narrow, until their lives are thrown off course by a series of violent events. As their fates become intertwined, they must confront violence, betrayal, and their own inner demons in order to come to terms with their pasts and move forward.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Alfred Lynch
Rated Approved

The Hill is a 1965 British drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ossie Davis, Ian Hendry, Alfred Lynch, Roy Kinnear and Wilfred Lawson. The screenplay was written by Ray Rigby, based on his own play of the same name. The Hill follows the story of six British Army prisoners being held in a military prison in North Africa during World War II. The prisoners, all convicted of minor offenses, face harsh punishments and hard labor as they try to survive in an oppressive and hostile environment. The commandant of the prison, a cruel and callous man, tries to break the will of the men and force them to obey his orders. However, the men eventually find strength in numbers and learn to stand up to their oppressors, thus earning the respect of their fellow inmates. In the end, the prisoners overcome their differences and the harsh conditions of their confinement to emerge stronger and more unified than ever before.

From John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand
Rated Not Rated

Birdman of Alcatraz is a 1962 biopic directed by John Frankenheimer, about the life of Robert Stroud, a convicted murderer and self-taught ornithologist. The film follows Stroud's life from his early years in Alaska, through his time in prison, and eventually to his release. The film begins with Stroud as a young man in Alaska, where he is charged with the manslaughter of a man he was defending his friend from. He is sent to Leavenworth prison, where he is kept in solitary confinement for two years. While in prison, Stroud develops a passion for ornithology and begins to study birds, eventually becoming an expert on the subject. He also attempts to fight the prison system, writing letters to government officials in an attempt to gain better conditions for prisoners. Eventually, Stroud is transferred to Alcatraz and is kept in solitary confinement again. He continues to study birds despite his harsh conditions, and eventually develops a relationship with a woman named Marie. With her help, Stroud is able to secure a parole and is released from prison. After his release, Stroud is celebrated for his work on birds and is eventually awarded a prize from the American Ornithologists' Union

From Jacques Audiard, starring Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb
Rated R

A Prophet is a French crime drama directed by Jacques Audiard which follows the story of nineteen-year-old Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a young Arab man who is sent to prison. Malik is a small-time criminal and has no connections or influence inside prison. He becomes the target of both the Corsican mafia and the Muslim inmates. With the help of the Corsicans, Malik trades favors and information for protection and eventually rises to become an influential figure in the criminal underworld. He faces difficult decisions as he navigates between loyalty to the Corsicans and the Muslim inmates. Along the way, he discovers the strength of his own character, while also learning to read and write. In the end, Malik's decisions have far reaching consequences that will affect him and those around him for the rest of his life.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers
Rated PG

Empire of the Sun is a 1987 Academy Award-winning film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel of the same name. Set in Shanghai in World War II, the film follows a young, privileged British boy named Jim (Christian Bale) who is separated from his parents in the chaos of war. He is eventually taken in by an American ex-patriot, Basie (John Malkovich), who teaches him to survive in prison camps and on the streets of Shanghai. Through their unlikely friendship, Jim gradually matures and finds hope and solace during the war. The film ultimately celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel, Oliver Stokowski, Wotan Wilke Möhring
Rated R

The Experiment is a 2001 German psychological thriller film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and starring Moritz Bleibtreu and Oliver Stokowski. It is based on Mario Giordano's novel, Black Box. The story follows twenty men who are chosen to take part in a psychological experiment. The men are split into two groups, prisoners and guards, and placed in an environment that mimics a prison. Over the course of the experiment, the power dynamics between the two groups become more and more extreme, leading to a tragic outcome. The Experiment is a cautionary tale about the dangers of power and the consequences of human behavior when unchecked. It examines the potential for violence and chaos when we put authority in the hands of the wrong people. The film is a powerful reminder of the capacity for cruelty and violence when morality and justice are ignored.

From Mark Herman, starring Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, Zac Mattoon O'Brien
Rated PG-13

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a 2008 British-American historical drama film set in World War II, based on John Boyne's 2006 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Bruno, an eight-year-old German boy, whose family moves from Berlin to a house near a Nazi concentration camp. Bruno befriends a Jewish boy, Shmuel, who is held prisoner there, and the two boys develop a powerful friendship that transcends the realities of their lives. Through their conversations, Bruno learns of the Holocaust and the horror of Shmuel's situation. In the end, they both pay a terrible price as a result of the events of the war. The film is a powerful exploration of innocence and morality, highlighting the tragedy of the Holocaust and conveying a powerful message of understanding and tolerance.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman
Rated PG-13

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 comedy-adventure film starring George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson. The movie follows three escaped convicts as they embark on a journey to reclaim buried treasure. Along the way, they find themselves in a variety of wild and comedic situations while they try to evade the law and the Ku Klux Klan. Along the way, the trio also encounter a variety of colorful characters, such as a blind prophet, a one-eyed Bible salesman, and a beautiful siren. Through it all, they learn the importance of family, friendship, and loyalty as they attempt to find the treasure and freedom they seek.

From Jim Jarmusch, starring Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi
Rated R

Down by Law is a 1986 American black-and-white independent film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni as three unlikely acquaintances who escape from a Louisiana prison and traverse the state in search of freedom. As they travel, they come across various characters and learn valuable lessons about life. Along the way, they form a strong bond of friendship that helps them get through their struggles. Ultimately, they find the strength to accept the consequences of their actions, and the power of genuine friendship.

From Kevin Reynolds, starring Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Christopher Adamson, JB Blanc
Rated PG-13

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is a 2002 film directed by Kevin Reynolds. The film stars Jim Caviezel as the titular character, Edmond Dantes, who is falsely accused of treason and sent to a remote island prison. After escaping with the help of a fellow inmate, he discovers a hidden fortune and uses it to exact revenge on the three men who wrongfully convicted him. With the help of his new friend, the Abbe Faria, Edmond infiltrates high society and begins to turn the tables on his former enemies as he attempts to reclaim his lost honor and exact justice. Along the way, he falls in love with the beautiful daughter of one of the men responsible for his imprisonment and struggles to find a balance between his thirst for vengeance and his desire to be reunited with his true love.

From Jules Dassin, starring Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickford, Yvonne De Carlo
Rated Passed

Brute Force is a 1947 prison film noir directed by Jules Dassin and starring Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickford, and Yvonne De Carlo. The film follows the prisoners of a strict and brutal prison, where the warden (Cronyn) rules with an iron fist. The prisoners, led by the courageous Joe Collins (Lancaster), plan an escape from their living hell, and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Along the way, they face off against the cruel guards and a sadistic, power-hungry warden, all while searching for a way to freedom. The film is a powerful and gripping look at the harsh realities of prison life and the lengths people will go to survive.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Charles McGraw
Rated Approved

The Defiant Ones (1958) is a powerful drama directed by Stanley Kramer that tells the story of two escaped convicts – one white (Tony Curtis) and one black (Sidney Poitier) – who are shackled together and must rely on each other in order to survive. Despite their differences, the two men form a bond that transcends race, as they make their way across the American South in search of freedom. Along the way, the two are met with hostility and violence, but ultimately find a way to break free from their shackles and make it to freedom. The film is a powerful statement on racism and human resilience in the face of adversity.

From Don Siegel, starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau
Rated PG

Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 crime drama film directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) is a convicted bank robber serving a long sentence in the notorious Alcatraz prison. After months of meticulous planning, Morris and two other inmates, Clarence Anglin (Jack Thibeau) and John Anglin (Fred Ward), manage to escape from the island prison. The three men undertake a dangerous journey across the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay in their attempt to reach the mainland, pursued by the prison authorities. With the odds stacked against them, the trio fights for their freedom and survival as the authorities relentlessly search for them.

From Alan Parker, starring Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli
Rated R

Midnight Express is a 1978 American-British prison drama film directed by Alan Parker and starring Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paul L. Smith, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weisser, Peter Jeffrey, and John Hurt. The film is based on Billy Hayes' 1977 non-fiction book Midnight Express and was adapted into the screenplay by Oliver Stone. It is about Billy Hayes, an American college student who is caught smuggling hashish out of Turkey and thrown into prison. The film follows Hayes' struggles with the harsh prison conditions, his attempt to escape, his relationship with his girlfriend, and his eventual release. It depicts the extreme cruelty of the Turkish prison system in a very realistic and graphic way. The film was a huge success, winning two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes, and it has since become a cult classic.

From Jean-François Richet, starring Vincent Cassel, Cécile de France, Gérard Depardieu, Gilles Lellouche
Rated R

Mesrine: Killer Instinct is a 2008 French biographical crime film directed by Jean-François Richet. It is a two-part film which tells the story of Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel), a French criminal who became a notorious public enemy in the 1970s. Part one of the film follows Mesrine’s rise to notoriety, showing him as a petty criminal who eventually puts together a gang and carries out a series of daring and violent robberies. Part two details his eventual capture and trial, as well as his growing fame as a folk hero. The film also focuses on Mesrine’s relationships with his family, his lover Sylvia (Ludivine Sagnier), and other criminals. Mesrine: Killer Instinct is a gripping, suspenseful, and intense exploration of a criminal mind.

From Hector Babenco, starring Enrique Diaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Rated R

Carandiru is a 2003 Brazilian drama film directed by Hector Babenco and starring Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos as Doctor Drauzio Varella. The film is based on the book Estação Carandiru by Dr. Drauzio Varella, which chronicles his experiences as a doctor at the Carandiru State Penitentiary in São Paulo, the largest prison in Latin America. The film depicts the day-to-day lives of the inmates and the harsh realities of prison life, as well as their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for a better future. The film culminates in the 1992 Carandiru massacre, in which 111 prisoners were killed by the police in an effort to quell an internal prison riot. The film depicts the tragedy and its aftermath, showing the futility of violence and its devastating consequences.