IMDb > Escape from New York (1981)
Escape from New York
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Escape from New York (1981) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 6 NEW)
Escape from New York (1981) -- In 1998, when the US President crashes into Manhattan, now a giant max. security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in for a rescue.
Escape from New York (1981) -- In 1998, when the US President crashes into Manhattan, now a giant max. security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in for a rescue.
Escape from New York (1981) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
Escape from New York (1981) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)
Escape from New York (1981) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   31,074 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 51% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Carpenter
Writers:
John Carpenter (written by) and
Nick Castle (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Escape from New York on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 July 1981 (USA) more
Tagline:
The world's greatest leader is a hostage in the most dangerous place on Earth. Now only the deadliest man alive can save him. more
Plot:
In 1997, when the US President crashes into Manhattan, now a giant max. security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in for a rescue. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(38 articles)
Director Len Wiseman to End the World with Nocturne
 (From Collider.com. 10 November 2009, 12:30 AM, PST)

Retro Slave: All new Bronx Warriors trilogy box coming in December
 (From QuietEarth. 7 November 2009, 12:00 PM, PST)

User Comments:
One of the better action movies ever more (205 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
John Carpenter's Escape from New York (USA) (complete title)
Die Klapperschlange (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
New York 1997 (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
1997: Rescate en Nueva York (Spain) [es]
1997: fuga da New York (Italy) [it]
Apodrasi apo ti Nea Yorki (Greece) [el]
Bekstvo iz Njujorka (Serbia) [sr]
Escape de Nueva York (Venezuela) [es]
Flugtaktion New York (Denmark) [da]
Flykten från New York (Sweden) [sv]
Fuga de Nova York (Brazil) [pt]
Ha-Briha M'New-York (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Menekülés New Yorkból (Hungary) [hu]
New York 1997 (Norway) [no]
New York'tan kaçis (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Nova Iorque 1997 (Portugal) [pt]
Pako New Yorkista (Finland) [fi]
Ucieczka z Nowego Jorku (Poland) [pl]
more
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) (director's cut) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Germany:16 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (w) | Singapore:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Donald Pleasence came up with a backstory to explain how he became President with his British accent, but John Carpenter didn't use it. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the USPF initially go into New York immediately after Air Force One crashes, helicopter 3 is shown landing, and a large chunk of the sticky back black plastic used to create its USPF livery is peeling off and missing from the tail section, revealing the green US Army livery underneath. When it takes off again a few moments later, the tail is back to perfect black. more
Quotes:
Snake Plissken: Where's the President?
Cabbie: The Duke got him. Everybody knows the Duke's got him. You don't have to put a gun to my head. I'll tell you.
Snake Plissken: Who's the Duke?
Cabbie: The Duke? The Duke of New York, A-Number-1, the Big Man, that's who!
Snake Plissken: I wanna meet this Duke.
Cabbie: You can't meet the Duke! Are you crazy? Nobody gets to meet the Duke. You meet him once and then you're dead!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Kidney Car (#2.17)" (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Engulfed Cathedral more

FAQ

What is Plisskin's reasoning for the ending of the film?
What is on the tape that the President keeps in his briefcase?
more
19 out of 34 people found the following comment useful.
One of the better action movies ever, 16 August 2005
7/10
Author: Philip Van der Veken from Tessenderlo, Belgium

Normally I'm not too much a fan of action movies and John Carpenter has never been on my list of favorite directors. In my opinion he only made one good movie, except for this one of course, and that's "Halloween". But as I already said before, even though I'm normally not a fan of this kind of movies or of the man's work, I must say that I'm glad to make an exception when it comes to this movie. "Escape from New York" may well be seen as one of the better action movies of all times and even after 25 years it still gives me a good time when watching it.

Due to huge crime rates in 1997, the US government has changed New York into a maximum security prison where the toughest criminals are put away for life. All the bridges have been mined, a huge wall has been built around the city and a large police force army is stationed near the statue of liberty. Inside this prison it's the survival of the fittest. There are no rules or regulations, except for those made up by the prisoners themselves, making this one of the most dangerous places to be in. When Air Force One, with the President on board, is taken over by a terrorist and crashed into a building, the President is able to escape by ejecting in a pod. But he has landed in the middle of New York and someone needs to get him out of there soon. That's where Snake Plissken comes in. He's an ex-soldier and a new prisoner who is asked to save the President and to find a tape with some important information. In return his sentence will be canceled and Plissken will be a free man again. He agrees, but to make sure that he will return on time, they inject him with a small but powerful explosive that will only be destroyed if his mission is successful. So now he does not only have to take care of the President and try to stay alive in between all those criminals, he also has a lot of time pressure...

I must say that this movie reminded me a lot of the Australian "Mad Max"-movies, especially the second one. In case you are wondering if that is a good or a bad thing: I liked those movies and yes I like this one as well. Despite the fact that it was made in 1981, this movie still feels quite futuristic. OK, we know that 1997 wasn't like this, but that doesn't really matter this time. If they had set the date to 2097, this would still have been the same movie and then we wouldn't have know that this was impossible. And the fact that some details show the real age of the movie isn't a bad thing either. Take for instance the computers. They used a lot of flashing lights and stuff like that, but those are only some small details which shouldn't spoil your fun. The acting in this movie is OK as well. This may well have been one of Kurt Russell's best performances and I really loved Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie. I even appreciated Lee Van Cleef in this movie, despite the fact that I'm normally not a fan of the man. I guess I must say that all actors did a good job.

As a conclusion I would like to say that a good and still futuristic looking story, some good acting, several interesting action scenes,... make this movie more than just worth a watch. I really like it and that's why I give it a 7/10.

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