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Escape from New York Movie Poster
Plot, Details & Awards

Escape from New York

(1981)
R In Theaters 07/10/1981 , 99min.
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Plot & Details

The year is 1997. Manhattan Island is now a heavily guarded maximum-security prison, where the scum of the earth have converged. When Air Force One crash-lands in Manhattan, the president (Donald Pleasence) is held hostage by its denizens. One-eyed mercenary Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is strong-armed into rescuing the chief executive. He is aided, not always willingly, by a tough gal (Adrienne Barbeau) and a manic cab driver (Ernest Borgnine). Escape from New York was followed by a sequel of sorts in 1996, Escape From L.A., again starring Kurt Russell.
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • Genre(s): Action,Crime and Mystery,Thriller
  • Run Time: 99min.
  • Theatrical Release Date: 07/10/1981
  • DVD Release Date: 11/21/2000
  • Distributor(s): AVCO Embassy Picture
  • Director(s): John Carpenter
  • Starring: Kurt Russell , Lee Van Cleef , Ernest Borgnine , Donald Pleasence , Isaac Hayes
  • Themes: Future Barbarians,Race Against Time,Daring Rescues,Hostage Situations,Heroic Mission,Lone Wolves
  • Tone: Grim,Menacing,Rousing,Visceral
  • Keywords: President,anti-hero,captive,escape,mercenary,mission [quest],prison,rescue
  • Language: English