Escape from Alcatraz

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

  • 94% of critics liked it
    (17 reviews)

  • 79% of users liked it
    (61,224 ratings)

No one can escape from Alcatraz, right? Try telling that to lifer Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood). This Donald Siegel-directed nailbiter is a reenactment of Frank Morris' 1962 attempt to bust himself and two other cons out of The Rock. Eastwood, as Morris, tilts with nasty warden Patrick McGoohan for… More

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PG, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By
Don Siegel
Written By
J. Campbell Bruce, Richard Tuggle
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
In Theaters
Jun 22, 1979 Wide
On DVD
Mar 9, 1999
Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    One of the better prison break films.

  • Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

    Siegel stages it all like a collection of haikus, all grilled corners and hard camera pans, not a single wasted frame

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    Escape from Alcatraz was the last of five films that Don Siegel directed with Clint Eastwood, and it's the end of an impeccable track record.

  • Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

    Eastwood adds a lot of grit to this entertaining prison flick.

  • Tony Medley, Tolucan Times

    Eastwood and McGoohan make this work.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Mike S


    Sharply written and elaborately conceived, <i>Escape from Alcatraz</i> has a well-earned spot among the great classics of its era. A predecessor to films like <i>The Shawshank Redemption</i> (the similiarites between which are quite striking by the way), it… More

  • AJ V


    Although it's based on a true story, that doesn't mean it'll make a good movie. You know how it will end from the beginning. There are some good scenes, and the actors are good, but other than that it's not a great movie.

  • danny d


    a truly exceptional prison break film. there is something mysterious about alcatraz that makes films like this even more engaging, and the real time breakout sequence was masterfully shot. siegel shows his skill taking a simple premise and making it interesting for two hours.

  • Conner R


    An escape movie without all the glitz and glamor, perfect in every way. It's suspenseful, smart and unbelievably true. Clint Eastwood does a great job and plays a great character that doesn't need to be all that nice to have you rooting for him. I'm glad they… More

  • Anthony L


    Good but not great. Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood have done better, this is an all round good film but nothing more.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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