Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  This is John Carpenter's low-budget cult classic that introduced the world to one of the coolest anti-heroes ever: Snake Plissken. Set in the then near distant future of 1997, the world has become a messy dystopia, and Manhattan island has become an isolated prison. When Air… More
  This is John Carpenter's low-budget cult classic that introduced the world to one of the coolest anti-heroes ever: Snake Plissken. Set in the then near distant future of 1997, the world has become a messy dystopia, and Manhattan island has become an isolated prison. When Air Force One crashes there, the President (and a valuable audio tape) are taken hostage by a ruthless gang leader, and the decision is made to have the rescue mission be conducted by Snake Plissken- a war hero turned criminal who is promised a full pardon if he can complete the task. To ensure he'll cooperate, Snake is implanted with an explosive device that will go off if not deactivated within 24 hours. What follows is a tense jaunt through a desolate wasteland populated by colorful character played by the likes of Ernest Borgnine, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, and Donald Pleasence. As Snake, Kurt Russell absolutely dominates, and this is easily one of his best and most iconic roles. As a Missourian, it makes me proud to see St. Louis used as a stand in for Manhattan a majority of the time. The cinematography and set design are great, and you really believe that this place has become a really dangerous world. The music is typical Carpenter, but fun, and the set pieces are decently executed. The film has aged a bit better than I figured, and, even though it's not glossy, it has a lot of charm due to the creativity employed to counteract the low-budget. All in all this is a great genre movie, and easily one of Carpenter's best. Strongly recommended.

• Phil H

  
  In the distant future of 1997 the world has dissolved into a dystopian hell. so much so that the Island of Manhattan has been turned into a huge prison. Enter the man with the coolest name since Clint Eastwood's character which was cool enough to not even have a name. 'call… More
  In the distant future of 1997 the world has dissolved into a dystopian hell. so much so that the Island of Manhattan has been turned into a huge prison. Enter the man with the coolest name since Clint Eastwood's character which was cool enough to not even have a name. 'call me Snake' Probably the roughest, toughest, coolest, badass since 'Bob Fett' and he has an eye patch. Not only is 'Snake' one cool son of a bitch but he is hired for the mission by another cool son of a bitch. Lee Van Cleef is 'Hauk', the guy in charge of this operation and is one hardass leather faced amigo...even at this ripe old age. The mission, we all know it, get into Manhattan, get the President and bounce back across the prison walls before anyone knows they were there, simple. 'the name's Plissken!' What can I say about this action thriller? its the best damn flick Carpenter made, its got everything you could need. For a start the cast in this film is truly epic, I mean look at it! some massive cult names there and this film was still a small budget affair!. Carpenter having made some already great small budget films continued to hammer out top class thrills whilst utilizing basic simple ideas and without the aid of top effects. The atmosphere of the film is electric all the way through, so dark, creepy and almost medieval in appearance as 'Plissken' wades through the criminal scum. Naturally the bad guys are your typical cliched 80's bunch of fantasy cyberpunk fetish gear wearing bikers that wouldn't look too outta place in the 'Mad Max' universe. Stereotypical now...twas how it was then. The visuals for the film are bleak and gloomy, plenty of shadow, not much is shown despite the sky high concept. Much is clever use of lighting, camera angles, models, matte work, sets and hard work. You really have to give it to Carpenter and his team for the way they managed to get this film looking so flippin good, at no point would you think your not on the grimy streets of NY. On top of that the film does have that near futuristic feel as though it could be accurate. Its not over the top with silly gadgets, weapons or robots etc...a reachable possible apocalyptic future which makes it more scary. 'When I get back, I'm going to kill you' To be honest this film is all about 'Plissken', the new sheriff in movie town at the time, the new 'Dirty Harry'. If it wasn't for this character the film would never have been as good, this character makes the film. Not only is he ice cool with deadly smartass verbal, he dresses uniquely (for the time), looks butch, plenty of stubble, doesn't give a shit and is a complete loose cannon. Cinematic history was made when this fellow stepped out from the shadows, the ultimate anti hero. Always amused me how Russell's costume kinda looked as if Carpenter and co simply threw it together at the last minute. Some military cargo pants, a vest and those odd silver shin pads...job done. Such a simple almost crappy look but its now iconic. Not only is the main character a legend the musical score is also probably Carpenter's best. Previous horror flick 'Halloween' set the bar for its spine tingling tunes, his next film 'The Fog' was also haunting but did seem too similar to 'Halloween'. Before all that 'Assault' had a great videogame-like score which in my opinion is more on track with 'Escapes' theme. For this film you still have the now classic electric tones but its much deeper than 'Assault', less of a videogame sense and more of a pending doom sense. Its pretty much 'Snakes's' theme tune really, his personal track as he swaggers slowly across this crumbling earth. 'The president of what?' Like all Carpenter films the plot is simple and straight forward, visuals are just enough but the cast make it work. The fact 'Plissken' is on a health related time limit really adds some tension to the whole plot and keeps you glued to the action. The fact you don't know who will survive, no guarantees for anyone, makes the film even more fun and original for the time. The action keeps going right to the bitter end and 'Snake' gets his sweet anarchic last word/gesture. The film almost corrupts you as you watch, 'Snake's' badassery is so infectious, you can't help but cheer as he strides away after fudging over the President and what he stands for. An almost anti-authoritarian vibe that runs right through this film which always works well in films. Ps. Not only is the film tops but the films poster is also excellent. 'No human compassion'

• Mark W

  
  During my childhood, I enjoyed many movies from director John Carpenter but it's been a long time since I've revisited any of them. If truth be told, I kind of avoided them incase they didn't hold up on reflection and quite frankly, I didn't want my memory of them… More
  During my childhood, I enjoyed many movies from director John Carpenter but it's been a long time since I've revisited any of them. If truth be told, I kind of avoided them incase they didn't hold up on reflection and quite frankly, I didn't want my memory of them to be tarnished. In this case, I'm glad I revisited this cult classic from my younger years as it still holds many memorable moments. In the year 1997, the entire city of New York has become a maximum security prison, holding all of society's criminals. All the bridges leading into the city are cut off, a large wall is built along the shoreline and a large police force is based there to stop any attempted escapees. Things take a turn for the worse though, when the President's (Donald Pleasance) plane is shot down and he has to eject. Unfortunately for everyone he lands in New York forcing a rescue mission. It's here that prisoner and ex-soldier Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is sent into the decaying city. If he manages to rescue the president then he'll win his own life and freedom in return. Straight from the off-set, this film sets the tone with Carpenter's own foreboding music score, luring you into an anarchy ridden, post-apocalyptic New York. Like all of Carpenter's works during the 70's and 80's, the concept is sheer brilliance. There are very few directors these days that have the vision or originality that this man had. Unfortunately, Carpenter can't seem to hit the same heights these days but he was way ahead of his game around this time and this film stands as one of his most recognised and has a fervent cult following. Like a lot of cult movies though, it has it's flaws; the settings are basic and it has the old flashing computers with an abundance of lightbulbs on show but it's testament to Carpenter's vision that his concept overrides these dated faults and the film still manages to remain suitably futuristic. Granted, in some cases it can come across as amateurish - even self-conscious - but good sci-fi primarily works on it's idea's and Carpenter certainly applies the idea well here. This is a film that confidently relies on it's premise and it works an absolute treat. It is also helps that it doesn't take itself too seriously and has it's tongue stuck firmly in it's cheek. That's thanks-in-large to Kurt Russell, who delivers a string of great one-liners in a memorable and iconic central performance as Snake Plissken - one of cinema's finest anti-heroes. Unfortunately, the film does succumb to some formulaic action material but it's credit to Carpenter's pacing and Russell's wisecracks for keeping the films head above ground. Despite it's style and substance becoming a casualty to the action, it's still a lot of fun, regardless of it's occasional wandering. A great sci-fi cautionary tale that a contemporary audience can still identify with. It can also proudly take it's place amongst the great B-movies and cult classics of our time and lasting proof, that John Carpenter was one of the finest directors working during the 1970's & 80's.

• Jeff "

  
  I've always enjoyed Dystopian, futuresque films such as V for Vendetta, Blade Runner, THX 1138 among countless others. Escape from New York is for me, a new favorite in such a genre of film. Escape from New York is an excellent sci-fi action film with a brilliant cast. I… More
  I've always enjoyed Dystopian, futuresque films such as V for Vendetta, Blade Runner, THX 1138 among countless others. Escape from New York is for me, a new favorite in such a genre of film. Escape from New York is an excellent sci-fi action film with a brilliant cast. I personally think that this one of the best cult action films since The Warriors and Mad Max. Escape from New York is a top-notch action film that is a riveting, thrilling film. One thing I've always admired about John Carpenter (and it's why he's one of my favorite directors), is because he always crafts a solid film using quite a simple concept for its plot. Though not very elaborate, the plot to Escape from New York is nonetheless exciting and exhilarating. Carpenter always knew how to develop a simple idea into an exciting, thrilling film. Kurt Russell delivers one of his strongest performances here as Snake Plissken. Russell is simply bad assed in this film and is one of cinema's most memorable heroes. Escape from New York is a well crafted film that has a dark, gritty and raw atmosphere. Escape from New York is a must see Carpenter classic. This is a brilliant action film with a great cast of talented actors. The idea of its plot may be simple, but that doesn't stop Escape from New York being a thrilling and memorable action film that every John Carpenter fan should check out. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and is definitely among John Carpenter's strongest efforts. A stunning dystopian sci-fi action film that is guaranteed to thrill you. Escape from New York is a classic action film. This is a dark, atmospheric film that adds so much power to the film and is a solid actioner that every action film fan should check out. One of John Carpenter's best non horror films. A brilliant piece of cinema.

• Mike S

  
  Set in a very dark and anarchy-laden New York City, trouble brews to its maximum, as a plane carrying the U.S president crashes into Manhattan, which has now been transformed into a gigantic prison. Panic ensues, and it's up to former war hero Snake Plissken (immortalized by a… More
  Set in a very dark and anarchy-laden New York City, trouble brews to its maximum, as a plane carrying the U.S president crashes into Manhattan, which has now been transformed into a gigantic prison. Panic ensues, and it's up to former war hero Snake Plissken (immortalized by a very cool Kurt Russell), to untangle the seemingly hopeless mess. Metal Gear Solid fans may wanna pay extra attention to this film, as it obviously served as a great source of inspiration for said game series. I bet Hideo Kojima watched this a lot in his younger years, before creating his first masterpiece - MGS1. And I can understand why one would be inspired by such an awesome character and equally memorable movie. Because whenever that man is locked and loaded, excitement is bound to follow. Perhaps not always in the most intelligent ways, but the haunting score and absorbing storyline, gives it just enough edge to be worthy of its cult status. Great direction as well by the legendary John Carpenter. So be sure to load up with a big bowl of popcorn. Because you definitely don't wanna escape from this post-apocalyptic action gem.

• Graham J

  
  John Carpenter's fantastic 1980's sci-fi masterpiece features great performances from Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, Kurt Russell and Harry Dean Stanton.

• Taylor R

  
  Greatly enjoyable action yarn. Its preposterousness is played so straight that halfway through, you'll wonder why other movies aren't so brazenly creative. Kurt Russell is, for lack of a better word, awesome as Snake Plissken; most other characters only exist for him to look… More
  Greatly enjoyable action yarn. Its preposterousness is played so straight that halfway through, you'll wonder why other movies aren't so brazenly creative. Kurt Russell is, for lack of a better word, awesome as Snake Plissken; most other characters only exist for him to look tough next to. So much care went into the set design and cinematography that you'll never notice (honest) the shoestring budget. I wish more movies had as much chutzpah as this one.

• Universal D

  
  You were right. Given half a chance and all that high fallutin' filth in the cities will show itself for the criminal scum you knew it always was ... and that eerily is the fantasy appealed to here in Carpenter's Reagan era escapist cult classic. Russell essentially spoofs… More
  You were right. Given half a chance and all that high fallutin' filth in the cities will show itself for the criminal scum you knew it always was ... and that eerily is the fantasy appealed to here in Carpenter's Reagan era escapist cult classic. Russell essentially spoofs Eastwood's iconic stranger, the anti-lawman, and Plesance is good as the President.

• Jens S

  
  This movie does not exactly shine with great dilagogues or deep characters, but is still one of the true action classics of the 80s. Starting out with one of the coolest ideas ever (Manhattan turned into one big prison and Air Force One crashing into it) and carried by Carpenters… More
  This movie does not exactly shine with great dilagogues or deep characters, but is still one of the true action classics of the 80s. Starting out with one of the coolest ideas ever (Manhattan turned into one big prison and Air Force One crashing into it) and carried by Carpenters eerie score, its gloomy atmosphere makes for a very exciting and distopian ride. Kurt Russel is the king of cool in this. Enthralling, dark and with a nice end twist.

• Martin S

  
  Thumbs down for this. This movie has not stood the test of time. I was not entertained. Just not good.

• Daniel M

  
  After the production problems on The Fog, John Carpenter sought to re-assert himself as a creative force with Escape from New York. Based upon a script he had written around the time of Dark Star, it promised to be a post-apocalyptic action movie with all the subversive subtext of his… More
  After the production problems on The Fog, John Carpenter sought to re-assert himself as a creative force with Escape from New York. Based upon a script he had written around the time of Dark Star, it promised to be a post-apocalyptic action movie with all the subversive subtext of his earlier work. But whether by flaws in its execution or by the passage of the time, the film doesn't hold up as anything more than an efficient and enjoyable disappointment. Almost by definition, post-apocalypse films don't date very well. Those that do still hold up - Mad Max, The Road, even The Bed-Sitting Room - succeed by being 'universal' in the ideas they examine but crucially vague about when or even how we got to this point in time. Most films about the end of the world are actually about the problems in present society, which can make even the best-made films dated in a matter of years. It doesn't take long to realise for instance that, if the Daleks did invade in 2150, we wouldn't still be driving Bedford vans and eating Sugar Puffs. Carpenter's original script was written at the time of the Watergate scandal, when the idea of a criminal rescuing a president would have carried a great deal of satirical bite. Had he got the money to make it when Nixon resigned, he could have had a hit on his hands which packed as big a political punch as All The President's Men. Telling that story during the Reagan years may still work on some level; turning Manhattan Island into a prison seems every bit as outlandish as the Star Wars programme. But whatever else the original script had simply doesn't gel, turning the film into something far more straightforwardly heroic, if not overtly patriotic. Like They Live a few years after it, Escape from New York is an action movie with large overtones of the western genre. Both John Nada and Snake Plissken are Carpenter's own takes on The Man with No Name, and Kurt Russell's performance is on one level a pretty good impression of Clint Eastwood. The film is built around the classic 'one last job' scenario, in which Plissken is offered his freedom to do the one thing he really doesn't want to do. There is great potential in this character, as a classic anti-hero who eschews authority and is only convinced to obey when threatened with a slow and painful death. Even considering its low budget (around $6m), Escape from New York does look like a film that was made in a hurry. To film some of the key scenes, including the aftermath of the plane crash, the crew had to sneak onto empty streets without permits at 3am, in some cases dumping truckloads of junk onto the roads to create the feeling of chaos. Even from the start the story is being hurried along, with the first 15 minutes doing whatever is necessary to get Snake into the city, and from thereon in the film wastes no time in getting him out. This is not a Chinatown-like mystery, with brooding detectives slowly uncovering a hideous truth; it is a simple, straightforward story and a race against time, and as a piece of efficient filmmaking, it delivers. This rapid approach to shooting does create some obvious continuity errors: in one scene, it's sunrise on one side of the island while still midnight on the other. But the first problem with the film is that it's so quick-fire and so efficient that you begin to wonder whether there's anything actually going on in the pauses. Although it's lost the Watergate backdrop, there is still the potential to explore a number of interesting ideas, if not enough to fill a whole series of films. The set-up of the film, with a whole city being walled off and turned into a prison, hints at the tendency of civilised societies to isolate and shun its criminals rather than deal with them upfront and try to understand them, something which Carpenter tackled previously in Assault on Precinct 13. The unveiling of a criminal society, presided over by the Duke of New York, puts forward the notion of criminals being every bit as civilised and cunning as either their captors or the protagonist, something reflected throughout the work of Michael Mann. And the conflicts over power, with Harry Dean Stanton's character controlling the city's only source of oil, taps into the very same territory as the first Mad Max film. But as things evolve, it becomes clear that the film isn't really interested in any of these ideas. The film is like a land speed record attempt in which the driver is wearing blinkers; the object is to get from A to B as quickly as possible, and there is no chance to look around or think about anything else. Whenever Carpenter does attempt to tackle deeper issues, it's done in a half-hearted manner using imagery which is surprisingly unoriginal. Huge sections of the film owe a big debt to Mad Max in a way which really demonstrates all that was spot on about George Miller's debut effort. The criminal gang in Escape from New York don't get enough time to establish themselves, and for all Isaac Hayes' best efforts, he's not as intimidating as the Toe-Cutter. The various street gangs (which reference George A. Romero by calling themselves 'The Crazies') dress every bit as extremely as the bikers, right down to Isaac Hayes' right hand man who looks unnervingly like Keith Flint from The Prodigy. And then there is the fight scene, in which Kurt Russell takes on a wrestler with a huge beard. It may predate the Thunderdome fight in Mad Max 3 by about four years, but there is a tonal similarity to the series in the combination of camp humour and realistic violence. This brings us on to problems with the characters. Escape from New York has more than its fair share of them, from Snake himself to Ernest Borgnine's chirpy Cabby, and from the Duke of New York to the odd couple of Maggie and Brain. But Carpenter sets up so many of these potentially interesting and quirky characters that he can't quite decide who to focus on and ends up having to kill them off in quick succession so that just Snake and the President survive. In the bridge sequence, where Cabby's taxi gets destroyed by several mines, he is incredibly cavalier about who cops it and when. This jumpy approach carries over into the performances themselves. Harry Dean Stanton is an enjoyable screen presence, and he plays Brain very well - so well that you wish he had more screen time. Adrienne Barbeau, on the other hand, seems to spend most of her time either firing a gun or walking into wide shots that show off her cleavage. Ernest Borgnine is annoyingly over-the-top, as if he were trying to cut in on every shot, and Lee van Cleef is reduced to largely scowling behind a desk. Only Kurt Russell gets the screen time he deserves, filling the empty streets of New York with his one-eyed swagger and growling whispers. There are a number of enjoyable moments in Escape from New York which make it at least partially memorable. The set-pieces involving the cars, both on the bridge and breaking through the barricade, are well-choreographed and have good sound design, so that every explosion and crunch of metal is appropriately amplified. Isaac Hayes' entrance will raise a chuckle, as he drives through the wreckage of New York in a limo with chandeliers mounted on the bonnet (eat your heart out, Pimp My Ride!). Some of the humorous exchanges do work well, such as Hayes taunting Donald Pleasance with a gun and then the latter getting his revenge at the end. And the final scene, where the crucial tape has been replaced, is quite funny. But in all, Escape from New York is little more than an enjoyable disappointment. It's a perfectly functional, efficiently made sci-fi actioner, but is nothing like as witty or subversive or thrilling as you would expect from John Carpenter. Like Mad Max 3 a few years later, there are individual scenes that work well but these are counterpointed by longer, more underwhelming sections. Carpenter completists will enjoy it, but everyone else should probably look elsewhere.

• Conner R

  
  I'm gonna go ahead and classify Escape From New York as the coolest movie ever made, period. Nothing comes close to bringing shear awesomeness to the screen, especially when it's done with such grace. The plot: Sectioning off Manhattan to create the ultimate futuristic… More
  I'm gonna go ahead and classify Escape From New York as the coolest movie ever made, period. Nothing comes close to bringing shear awesomeness to the screen, especially when it's done with such grace. The plot: Sectioning off Manhattan to create the ultimate futuristic prison and having your main character venture inside to rescue the president. The Hero: Snake Plissken, a man who just flat out doesn't give a shit about anything but himself. Kurt Russell just fits the role way too perfectly and makes such an iconic film character out of it. We still love Snake because he has the ability to make a simple lighting of a cigarette look like a one handed back flip across burning coals. His attire just tops everything off, Urban camo, Sleeveless vest, and an eye patch; genius. The visual style of this movie is simply unmatched. It's one thing to say Manhattan has become a prison, it's another thing to bring it to life. With a B-movie budget, John Carpenter brings a scale like no other. The low key lighting is so effective in turning the city into a nightmarish maze full of freaks. The music is always a key element to any John Carpenter movie and this is certainly one of the most memorable ones. There's really nothing lacking in this at all, it doesn't even feel as if there was one particular audience they were going for. Anyone who likes movies will undoubtedly love this, it's just got so much to love.

• Tony G

  
  One of my childhood faves; Russell is bad ass as Snake Plissken and game supporting turns by Barbeau and Borgnine make this a must for low-budget, sci-fi, action flicks.

• Luke B

  
  John Carpenter's 80's classic is still pretty damn superb. It gives us an awesome antihero, one that's cool without trying too hard. The plot is also well paced and delicately set out. The film is certainly lacking in character development as absolutely know one is… More
  John Carpenter's 80's classic is still pretty damn superb. It gives us an awesome antihero, one that's cool without trying too hard. The plot is also well paced and delicately set out. The film is certainly lacking in character development as absolutely know one is developed. This is a story about the situation presented to us. This does help the film avoid schmaltzy melodrama, or misguided politics. It's a shooterific action piece with enough ideas to keep you interested.

• xGary X

  
  An infamous mercenary is coerced into rescuing the president from a Manhattan island that has been turned into a lawless prison colony of the near future. Because of this cult action sci-fi from John Carpenter, Snake Plissken became one of the iconic action heroes of the 1980s;… More
  An infamous mercenary is coerced into rescuing the president from a Manhattan island that has been turned into a lawless prison colony of the near future. Because of this cult action sci-fi from John Carpenter, Snake Plissken became one of the iconic action heroes of the 1980s; showing nothing but contempt for authority and hissing his lines like Dirty Harry with PMS, Kurt Russell becomes the embodiment of rebellious 80s machismo. To be honest, Carpenter's static camera work never lent itself particularly well to action, but a ridiculous yet insanely cool premise, Russell's charisma and an inspired supporting cast more than make up for the rather sluggish set pieces. The post apocalyptic representation of New York is brilliantly recreated, the whole of Manhattan eerily shrouded in darkness, made all the more haunting by the presence of the desolate twin towers looming overhead. The rest of the cast are also great fun, including Donald Pleasance as the weasely president, blaxploitation star Isaac Hayes as the uber-mack daddy Duke of New York and Harry Dean Stanton as Snake's spineless and double-crossing "partner". It has dated, but in a nostalgic "kitsch" kind of way and it's still a bit of a B-movie classic. A-number one!

• Anthony L

  
  John Carpenter was deservedly given a bigger budget and the outcome was awesome. This is a superior action film to anything that's been released since. An absolute original, quintessential Carpenter.

• Arash X

  
  Not as great as I expected it to be but still a lot of fun

• Cassandra M

  
  Although not as fast-paced or well-lit as its sequel, Escape from LA, this movie works on the level that it is futuristic, without being TOO futuristic, and the main character is likeable, while being tough at the same time. Whether you like Kurt Russell or not, it seems that he was… More
  Although not as fast-paced or well-lit as its sequel, Escape from LA, this movie works on the level that it is futuristic, without being TOO futuristic, and the main character is likeable, while being tough at the same time. Whether you like Kurt Russell or not, it seems that he was made for the part of Snake Plissken. One of its highest points is its theme song. It really gets your adrenaline going, and that is one of the most important factors of movies. Available on DVD. Sequel, Escape from LA, filmed 15 years after the original also available on DVD.

• Lanning :

  
  As funkily dated as this movie seems -- and I think it seemed that way even when it came out -- it's still a very good action movie. Snake Plissken is an anti-hero for the 70s and for all time. Up the system!

• Dean !

  
  A great cult film as Kurt Russell must save the president from New York which is now a maximum security prison area.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings