Escape from New York
“1997. New York City is a walled, maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane.”
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.
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Part of Escape From ... Collection
2 films
Cast
45 people
Kurt Russell
Snake Plissken
Known for
The Hateful Eight
The Thing
Lee Van Cleef
Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
Known for
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
For a Few Dollars More
Ernest Borgnine
Cabbie
Known for
Jesus of Nazareth
Airwolf
Donald Pleasence
President of the United States
Known for
Halloween
Prince of Darkness
Isaac Hayes
The Duke of New York
Known for
South Park
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Season Hubley
Girl in Chock Full O'Nuts
Known for
Hardcore
Vice Squad
Harry Dean Stanton
Harold 'Brain' Helman
Known for
Alien
Paris, Texas
Adrienne Barbeau
Maggie
Known for
The Fog
Carnivàle
Tom Atkins
Rehme
Known for
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
The Fog
Charles Cyphers
Secretary of State
Known for
Halloween
Assault on Precinct 13
Frank Doubleday
Romero
Known for
Assault on Precinct 13
Nomads
John Strobel
Cronenberg
Also in
The Fog
John Carpenter Director · Nick Castle Screenplay Alan Howarth Composer
Worldwide gross $50M · Budget $6M · United States release June 26, 1981
Box office
Budget
$6,000,000
Worldwide gross
$50,244,700
Gross vs. budget
8.4×
Production
AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production
Goldcrest Films International
Production
International Film Investors
Production
City Films
Production
Taurus Film
Production
United Kingdom · Germany · United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · April 1, 1981
Premiere · USA Film Festival
United States · June 26, 1981
Theatrical · St. Louis, Missouri
United States · November 21, 2000
Physical · DVD
United States
July 10, 1981 · Theatrical
Australia
October 1, 1981 · Theatrical
Brazil
May 20, 1982 · Theatrical
Finland
November 26, 1981 · Theatrical
December 11, 2020 · Theatrical · Re-release
France
June 24, 1981 · Theatrical
February 8, 1999 · Physical · DVD
October 23, 2008 · Physical · Blu-Ray
December 5, 2018 · Physical · 4K UHD
July 3, 2026 · TV · RTL9
Germany
September 3, 1981 · Theatrical · West Germany
July 22, 2002 · Physical · DvD
Greece
December 4, 1981 · Theatrical
Hungary
July 10, 1988 · Theatrical
Ireland
September 25, 1981 · Theatrical
Italy
November 6, 1981 · Theatrical
Japan
May 23, 1981 · Theatrical
Netherlands
August 13, 1981 · Theatrical
March 16, 2002 · TV · V8
December 6, 2007 · Physical · Bluray
August 4, 2008 · Physical · DVD
Portugal
September 18, 1981 · Theatrical
Romania
May 23, 1981 · Theatrical
Russia
August 26, 2021 · Theatrical
Spain
September 15, 1981 · Theatrical
Sweden
July 27, 1981 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
September 24, 1981 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.