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Escape From Alcatraz

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for Escape From Alcatraz PG 1979 1h 47m Mystery & Thriller Action History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood), a hardened con with a history of prison breaks, is sent to serve the rest of his life sentence at Alcatraz -- America's most infamously brutal and inescapable maximum security prison. Morris quickly realizes the prison's dehumanizing effects and clashes with its cruel warden (Patrick McGoohan). Fed up with life at Alcatraz, Morris and two convict brothers (Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau) meticulously plan the unthinkable: an escape from the island.

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Escape From Alcatraz

Escape From Alcatraz

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Critics Consensus

Escape from Alcatraz makes brilliant use of the tense claustrophobia of its infamous setting -- as well as its leading man's legendarily flinty resolve.

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Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 07/17/2019
Escape From Alcatraz is a nifty prison movie, among the best of that genre ever made. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
Escape from Alcatraz is relentless in establishing a mood and pace of unrelieved tension. Go to Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out 01/26/2006
It's an austere depiction of the tedious routines of prison life, and of the courage and strength of spirit needed in coping with unpleasant warders, tough fellow-inmates, and a life sentence. Go to Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage 04/26/2023
The film is dry and contained and has an almost kitsch charm, proper of the times... [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 03/27/2023
3/4
For an Eastwood vehicle, there’s very little action per se, but few will mind. Go to Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies 02/23/2023
4/5
Escape from Alcatraz remains a timeless thriller over 40 years after its release and makes great use of its setting. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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GotRizz237 @RT94619608 Apr 13 Escape from Alcatraz was a really great watch. Crazy their escape is still unsolved 'til this day! See more Aun M @AunMohammad Apr 9 Classic cult... legendary Eastwood best out of best escape movie See more Smyles A. @Smyles Mar 24 Personally I think they made it! An amazing film and educational at the same time See more Workmanscomp H @AuntieN Dec 29 Tense, real...another great Don Siegel /Clint Eastwood collaboration. Shows details of how Frank Morris got it done. Holds your interest from beginning to end. See more Ricardo s @RT18672390 Dec 1 a great old movie that tells that it is a real story See more Marce S @RT24248553 Sep 13 A good movie, better than Shawshank Redemption even though, or perhaps because of, it is much more dark and low key See more Read all reviews
Escape From Alcatraz

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Cast & Crew

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Don Siegel

Director

Clint Eastwood

Frank Morris

Patrick McGoohan

Warden

Jack Thibeau

Clarence Anglin

Roberts Blossom

Doc

Fred Ward

John Anglin

Movie Clips

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Escape From Alcatraz

Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Welding in a Prison Cell Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Welding in a Prison Cell 2:46 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Stopping a Prison Shanking Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Stopping a Prison Shanking 2:21 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Escaping Prison on a Homemade Raft Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Escaping Prison on a Homemade Raft 2:18 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Prison Shower Beatdown Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Prison Shower Beatdown 1:42 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Some Men Are Destined Never To Leave Alcatraz... Alive Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Some Men Are Destined Never To Leave Alcatraz... Alive 1:17 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - The Papier Mache Head Suspenseful Scene Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - The Papier Mache Head Suspenseful Scene 2:40 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Doc Hacks Off His Fingers Violent Scene Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Doc Hacks Off His Fingers Violent Scene 3:00 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Discovering the Escape Ending Scene Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Discovering the Escape Ending Scene 3:00 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Cutting Prison Bars Tense Scene Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Cutting Prison Bars Tense Scene 2:44 Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Morris vs. Wolf Prison Yard Fight Escape From Alcatraz: Official Clip - Morris vs. Wolf Prison Yard Fight 1:38 View more videos

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Escape From Alcatraz

Escape From Alcatraz: Trailer 1 Escape From Alcatraz: Trailer 1 2:01 View more videos
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Escape From Alcatraz

Escape From Alcatraz (1979) Escape From Alcatraz (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood), a hardened con with a history of prison breaks, is sent to serve the rest of his life sentence at Alcatraz -- America's most infamously brutal and inescapable maximum security prison. Morris quickly realizes the prison's dehumanizing effects and clashes with its cruel warden (Patrick McGoohan). Fed up with life at Alcatraz, Morris and two convict brothers (Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau) meticulously plan the unthinkable: an escape from the island.
Director
Don Siegel
Producer
Don Siegel
Screenwriter
Richard Tuggle
Production Co
Paramount, Paramount Pictures International
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Action, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 47m