Escape from New York (1981)
A hardened war hero has one day to rescue the president from a lawless, island-sized maximum-security prison.
In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.
How intense is Escape from New York?
Escape from New York is mildly scary, with light gore and strong violence. Emotionally it carries some weight. The pace is brisk, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated R.
What Escape from New York feels like
- Tone
- grittypulpysuspenseful
- Pace
- Brisk
- Best for
- Full attention
Where to stream Escape from New York
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 14, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Escape from New York for you?
Is Escape from New York scary?
Only a little. Escape from New York has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Escape from New York gory or violent?
Light gore (1 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3).
Is Escape from New York sad or heavy?
A little. There is some emotional weight (1 of 3), but it is not a heavy watch.
Is Escape from New York OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 1, violence 2, each out of 3.
How long is Escape from New York?
Escape from New York runs 1h 39m.
Where can I stream Escape from New York?
Escape from New York is streaming on Prime Video, Criterion, Kanopy and The Roku Channel.
Does Escape from New York have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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