Prison escape movies and TV shows

The list contains the best, new and most relevant prison escape movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out realistic, suspense, suspenseful, serious, exciting and rough films and TV shows about / with prison escape, prison, escape, prisoner, prison break, jail, murder, violence, confined and prison life plots mostly in Crime, Thriller and Drama genres shot in USA, UK, France and other countries.
prison escape
 1163
prison escape movies
TOP 10 movies tagged as prison escape: Escape at Dannemora (2018), Escape From Pretoria (2020), Escape Plan (2013), The Way Back (2010), Escape from Alcatraz (1979), The Next Three Days (2010), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Papillon (1973), Papillon (2017), The Escapist (2008).

List of prison escape movies

Type:
Year:
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Escape at Dannemora (2018)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 440 min.
TV show
Story: The stranger-than-fiction account of a prison break in upstate New York in the summer of 2015, which spawned a massive manhunt for two convicted murderers who were aided in their escape by a married female prison employee with whom they both became ...
Style: melancholic, captivating, atmospheric, anthology, historical drama ...
Plot: prison escape, prison life, prison, love triangle, true crime, deception, prisoner, love affair, twists and turns, travel, organized crime, jail ...
Time: 2010s
Is relevant ?
Escape From Pretoria (2020)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, Australia, USA, South Africa, Germany
Duration: 106 min.
Story: South Africa, 1978. Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two white political activists from the African National Congress imprisoned by the apartheid regime, put a plan in motion to escape from the infamous Pretoria Prison…
Style: political, suspense, tense, atmospheric, dramatic ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: prison escape, apartheid, prison, political activism, escape, political prisoner, prison break, human spirit, human rights, freedom, political activist, politics ...
Time: 70s, year 1979
Place: south africa, africa, cape town south africa, australia, south australia ...
Is relevant ?
 6.7
 256K
Escape Plan (2013)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story: Ray Breslin is the world's foremost authority on structural security. After analyzing every high security prison and learning a vast array of survival skills so he can design escape-proof prisons, his skills are put to the test. He's ...
Style: suspenseful, exciting, suspense, clever, entertaining ...
Audience: boys' night, chick flick, manly
Plot: prison, prison escape, survival, escape, prisoner, revenge, escape plan, lone hero, outsmarting, planning, ship, convict ...
Time: year 2013, 2010s, 21st century
Place: morocco, usa, colorado, florida, california ...
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 122K
The Way Back (2010)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: USA, United Arab Emirates, Poland, India
Duration: 133 min.
Story: Peter Weir's follow-up to Master & Commander (2003) is the stark & brilliant The Way Back, which takes on the theme of man's struggle for freedom. At the dawn of WWII, several men escape from a Russian gulag. The film ...
Style: epic, realistic, inspirational, road movie, rough ...
Plot: survival, escape, prison escape, wilderness, war, freedom, journey, world war two, desert, gulag, pow, convict ...
Time: 2010s, 1940s, 20th century
Place: himalaya, russia, soviet union, asia, mongolia ...
Is relevant ?
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Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Genre: Action, Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story: Escape from Alcatraz tells the story of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous maximum security prison at Alcatraz. In 29 years, the seemingly impenetrable federal penitentiary, which housed Al Capone and "Birdman" Robert ...
Style: suspense, atmospheric, suspenseful, realistic, exciting ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: prison, prison escape, alcatraz, escape, island, prison life, freedom, prison warden, harassment, jail, convict, prison guard ...
Time: 20th century, 60s, year 1979, year 1960, year 1962 ...
Place: san francisco, bay area, usa
Is relevant ?
The Next Three Days (2010)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 133 min.
Story: A married couple's life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder. Lara Brennan is arrested for murdering her boss with whom she had an argument. It seems she was seen leaving the scene of the crime and her fingerprints were on ...
Style: suspense, clever, suspenseful, romantic, serious ...
Audience: chick flick, teens, date night
Plot: prison escape, life turned upside down, innocent, false accusation, injustice, husband wife relationship, danger, love, lawyer, couples, family relations, investigation ...
Time: year 2010, 2010s, 2000s, 21st century
Place: pennsylvania, venezuela, usa, haiti, canada ...
Is relevant ?
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 142 min.
Story: Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, ...
Style: clever, inspirational, touching, sentimental, twist ending ...
Audience: date night, kids, chick flick, teens, family friendly ...
Plot: prison, prison escape, freedom, human spirit, hopes, stephen king, life, friendship between men, friendship, plot twist, life philosophy, adaptation ...
Time: 1940s, 90s, 1950s, 2010s, year 1994 ...
Place: usa, america, iran, persia, pacific ocean ...
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 138K
Papillon (1973)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: France, USA
Duration: 151 min.
Story: A man befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence on a dreadful prison island, which inspires the man to plot his escape.
Style: inspirational, psychological, grim, realistic, depressing ...
Plot: prison escape, prison, escape, life philosophy, runaway, human spirit, prisoner, escape attempt, brutality, prison break, prison life, criminal heroes ...
Time: year 1973, 1940s, 20th century, 1930s
Place: persia, latin america, atlantic ocean
Is relevant ?
 7.2
 85K
Papillon (2017)
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA, Czech Republic, Spain
Duration: 133 min.
Story: Henri "Papillon" Charrière is convicted in Paris for a murder he did not commit. Sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, he becomes obsessed with escaping. After planning and executing a series of treacherous ...
Style: suspense, factual, psychological, art house, homoerotic ...
Audience: adult
Plot: prison, prison escape, island prison, friendship, life sentence, escape, thief, solitary, survival, wrongful conviction, human spirit, jungle ...
Time: year 2017, year 1931, 1930s, year 1969, year 1970 ...
Place: south america, colombia, france, venezuela, paris france
Is relevant ?
 6.7
 17K
The Escapist (2008)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 102 min.
Story: Frank Perry is an institutionalized convict twelve years into a life sentence without parole. When his estranged daughter falls ill, he is determined to make peace with her before it's too late. He develops an ingenious escape plan, and ...
Style: tense, harsh, suspenseful, rough, atmospheric ...
Plot: prison, prison escape, twists and turns, prison rape, escape, tragedy, brutality, survival, existentialism, loneliness, prison life, fugitives ...
Time: y2k, 2000s
Place: london, england, europe
Is relevant ?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Music
Country: UK, France, USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story: In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them. On their journey they come across many comical characters and incredible situations. Based upon Homer's ...
Style: road movie, funny, dark comedy, slapstick comedy, surreal ...
Audience: date night, teens
Plot: prison escape, blues, on the run, treasure hunt, small town, music, great depression, obsessive quest, country music, on the road, runaway, dark humor ...
Time: 1930s, year 2000, 20th century, y2k, 2000s ...
Place: mississippi, ancient greece, america, greece, persia ...
Is relevant ?
 3.8
 147
Escape (2010)
Genre: Crime
Country: Russia
TV show
Style: suspense, ambiguous ending, suspenseful, thought provoking, surprise ending
Plot: prison escape, prison, brother brother relationship, gangster, state affairs, law enforcement, death sentence, friendship, chase, danger, investigation, murder ...
Is relevant ?
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Jailbreak Pact (2020)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Chile
Duration: 135 min.
Story: During the last years of Pinochet's military regime, a group of militants from the "Manuel RodrĂ­guez Patriotic Front" plan a prison break of political prisoners, through a tunnel that will take them 18 months to dig.
Style: tense, disturbing, suspenseful, unusual plot structure, suspense
Plot: convict, prison break, danger, death, murder, pursuit, peril, fugitives, conspiracy, escapades, prison, fighting the system ...
Time: 90s
Place: chile
Is relevant ?
The Last Castle (2001)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story: A Court Martialed general rallies together 1200 inmates to rise against the system that put him away.
Style: intense, exciting, tense, rough, inspirational ...
Plot: prison, fighting the system, military prison, convict, prison life, military, prison escape, murder, prison riot, manipulation, power struggle, rebellion ...
Time: year 2001, 2000s, 21st century
Place: iraq
Is relevant ?
 6.4
 46K
Lock Up (1989)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story: Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by ...
Style: suspense, intense, realistic, serious, rough ...
Plot: prison, prison escape, prison warden, corruption, prisoner, prison life, revenge, torture, tough guy, self sacrifice, electric chair, life is a bitch ...
Time: 80s
Place: new jersey
Is relevant ?
Prison Break: The Final Break (2009)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story: The movie covers the events which occurred in between the downfall of The Company and the finale of the series. It details the arrest and incarceration of Sara Tancredi, the final escape plan which Michael devises for Sara. It also reveals the ...
Style: suspenseful, suspense, clever, intense, exciting ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: prison, fugitives, self sacrifice, woman in danger, prison escape, twists and turns, resilience, murder mystery, vengeance, survival, redemption, depression ...
Time: 2000s, 21st century
Place: florida
Is relevant ?
Escape from Hell (1980)
Genre: Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Country: Spain, Italy
Duration: 93 min.
Story: A women's prison camp is located deep in the tropical rain forest. Sadistic guards and a warden from hell make life almost unbearable for the inmates, and any infraction of the rules is dealt with swiftly and savagely. The camp doctor is ...
Style: disturbing, suspenseful, captivating, rough, grindhouse ...
Audience: adult
Plot: jungle, prison, women in prison, female whipping, punishment, exploitation, murder, death, brutality, captivity, prison life, life is a bitch ...
Time: 70s
Is relevant ?
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story: The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee who becomes his trusted protégé. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance ...
Style: atmospheric, stylized, surreal, witty, offbeat ...
Audience: family friendly, teens, adult
Plot: hotel, prison escape, art theft, mentor protege relationship, murder, luxury hotel, escapades, painting, gunfight, greed, fictional country, mentor ...
Time: 1930s, year 2014, 2010s, 20th century, 60s ...
Place: eastern europe, alps, europe, america, persia ...
Is relevant ?
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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: China, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story: Jack Reacher must uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear his name. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.
Style: intense, exciting, action adventure, action packed, saga ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: vigilante, chase, assassination, fight, hitman, military, tough girl, tough guy, corruption, lone hero, military police, female soldier ...
Time: 2010s, year 2016
Place: new orleans, alabama, afghanistan, washington d.c.
Is relevant ?
Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman (2021)
Genre: Crime
Country: USA
TV show
Story: Morgan Freeman explores real-life prison breaks that have captured the attention of the public, showcasing an up close and personal view of what the prisoners are faced with in executing their break outs.
Style: suspense, captivating, tense
Plot: prison escape, jail, jail cell, prison, running from police, escape, escape from custody, escape attempt, escape plan, prisoner, prison life, escaped prisoner ...
Is relevant ?
The Girl Who Got Away (2021)
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story: Massena, New York, 1998. A decade of terror comes to a close with the capture of Elizabeth Caulfield, a woman who kidnapped five young girls and pretended they were her own. Only one girl, Christina Bowden, managed to get away with her life, the ...
Style: suspense, suspenseful, disturbing, psychological, captivating ...
Plot: serial killer, prison escape, homicidal maniac, maniac, female vigilante, murder mystery, serial murder, murder, female assassin, vengeance, killing spree, killings ...
Is relevant ?
 7.3
 110K
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Genre: Adventure, Biography, War
Country: USA, Luxembourg
Duration: 125 min.
Story: A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.
Style: suspenseful, bleak, tense, harsh, rough ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: vietnam war, survival, pow, soldier, jungle, prison escape, camp, wilderness, prison, violence, military, prisoner ...
Time: 20th century, year 2006, 60s, year 1965, year 1966
Place: vietnam, iraq, laos, asia
Is relevant ?
 7.0
 161K
Logan Lucky (2017)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA, China
Duration: 118 min.
Story: Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Style: suspense, exciting, tense, funny, captivating ...
Audience: family friendly, date night
Plot: prison, heist, prison escape, prison riot, robbery, caper, bartender, father daughter relationship, auto racing, money problems, ex husband ex wife relationship, brother brother relationship ...
Time: year 2017, 2010s
Place: west virginia, north carolina
Is relevant ?
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 6.4
 113K
Tango & Cash (1989)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story: Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash are narcotics detectives who, while both being extremely successful, can't stand each other. Crime Lord Yves Perret, furious at the loss of income that Tango and Cash have caused him, frames the two for murder. Caught ...
Style: intense, action comedy, detective, realistic, rough ...
Audience: manly, boys' night
Plot: buddies, police detective, reluctant partners, prison, prison escape, prisoner, buddy, buddy cop, police, law enforcement, organized crime, gunfight ...
Time: 80s, 20th century
Place: los angeles, usa, california
Is relevant ?
Escape from New York (1981)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story: In 1997, the island of Manhattan has been walled off and turned into a giant maximum security prison within which the country's worst criminals are left to form their own anarchic society. However, when the President of the United States crash ...
Style: apocalyptic, exciting, futuristic, grindhouse, serious ...
Audience: manly, teens, boys' night
Plot: dystopia, cyberpunk, prison, race against time, escape, post apocalypse, hostage, dystopian future, end of the world, rescue, distopia, darkness ...
Time: future, near future, 80s, year 1981, distant future ...
Place: new york, manhattan new york city, new jersey, usa, brooklyn new york city ...
Is relevant ?
 6.1
 21K
In Hell (2003)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story: A man must survive a prison where hardened criminals battle to the death for the warden's entertainment.
Style: harsh, stylized, brutal, emotional, intense ...
Plot: martial arts, revenge, prison, prison violence, murder, vengeance, redemption, prison escape, prison life, corruption, violence, warden ...
Time: year 2003
Place: russia
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 83K
Felon (2008)
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story: A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system.
Style: brutal, realistic, tense, emotional, serious ...
Audience: date night, boys' night
Plot: prison, fighting the system, prison life, prison riot, life is a bitch, prison escape, prison gang, organized crime, life turned upside down, rivalry, murder, brutality ...
Time: year 2008, 21st century
Place: usa
Is relevant ?
The Great Escape (1963)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Thriller, War
Country: USA
Duration: 172 min.
Story: The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocates them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners ...
Style: epic, suspenseful, suspense, clever, breathtaking ...
Audience: boys' night, family friendly, family outing, manly, kids ...
Plot: world war two, prison, nazi, prison escape, motorcycle, pow, freedom, army, war, military, soldier, chase ...
Time: 1940s, year 1963, 20th century, 1900s
Place: germany, america, europe, switzerland, alps
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 356K
The Rock (1996)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 136 min.
Story: FBI chemical warfare expert Stanley Goodspeed is sent on an urgent mission with a former British spy, John Patrick Mason, to stop Gen. Francis X. Hummel from launching chemical weapons on Alcatraz Island into San Francisco. Gen. Hummel demands $100 ...
Style: suspense, tense, exciting, action packed, entertaining ...
Audience: boys' night, manly
Plot: terrorism, hostage, prison, alcatraz, twists and turns, military, mercenary, car chase, prison escape, gunfight, chemical weapon, swat team ...
Time: 90s, 20th century
Place: san francisco, usa, california, bay area
Is relevant ?
 7.1
 19K
Brubaker (1980)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min.
Story: The new warden of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.
Style: realistic, factual, suspense, harsh, serious ...
Audience: family friendly
Plot: prison, corruption, prison warden, prison escape, abuse of power, undercover, brutality, fighting the system, abuse, justice, liberal, murder ...
Time: 20th century, 80s, 60s
Place: louisiana, arkansas, southern usa
Is relevant ?
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