Punishment Park
7.7
“One of the most controversial films ever made.”
In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim.
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Cast
58 people
Patrick Boland
Tribunal Defendant
Carmen Argenziano
Jay Kaufman (Tribunal Defendant)
Known for
Identity
Angels & Demons
Kent Foreman
Lee Robert Brown (Tribunal Defendant)
No other roles listed
Luke Johnson
William Luke Valerio (Tribunal Defendant)
Katherine Quittner
Nancy Jane Smith (Tribunal Defendant)
No other roles listed
Scott Turner
James Arthur Kohler (Tribunal Defendant)
Also in
Mairi
Stan Armsted
Charles Robbins (Tribunal Defendant)
No other roles listed
Mary Ellen Kleinhall
Allison Mitchner (Tribunal Defendant)
No other roles listed
Mark Keats
William C. Hoeger (Tribunal Chairman)
Gladys Golden
Mary Jurgens (Tribunal Member)
No other roles listed
Sanford Golden
Senator Harris (Tribunal Member)
George Gregory
Mr. Keagan (Tribunal Member)
Peter Watkins Director · Joan Churchill Cinematographer Terry Hodel Editor
Budget $95K · United States release October 29, 1971 · Produced in United States
Box office
Budget
$95,000
Production
Churchill Films
Production
Françoise Films
Production
Chartwell
Production
Francoise
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Australia · June 18, 1971
Premiere · Melbourne Film Festival
United States · October 29, 1971
Limited theatrical
United States
June 20, 1971 · Premiere · Atlanta
Canada
October 1, 1971 · Limited theatrical
France
October 31, 1973 · Theatrical · Visa CNC 41008
October 30, 2026 · TV · Ciné+ Classic
Germany
March 13, 1975 · Theatrical
Netherlands
January 20, 2012 · Physical · Blu ray
Sweden
March 13, 1972 · Theatrical
Taiwan
October 15, 2011 · Premiere · Jeux interdits
May 2, 2026 · Premiere · Taiwan International Documentary Festival
Ukraine
October 23, 2020 · Premiere · Kyiv Critics' Week
United Kingdom
February 10, 1972 · Theatrical · Originally X
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