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Escape from New York (1981)

7.0 IMDb 86% RT 76/100 MC
IMDb Trailer

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.

Best Release

Shout! Factory · 4K + Blu-ray

S-Tier

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Director

John Carpenter

Box Office

$25,244,626

Editor's Notes

Note

S-Tier from Shout Factory. There are multiple packaging options but the discs are identical across the standard edition, steelbook, and collector's edition. If you're new to this one and the black levels look crushed, that's normal. It was shot almost entirely at night on a low budget, and Carpenter himself has said that's just how it looks. The Eagle Pictures Italian release is a better-looking transfer for anyone willing to import. The steelbook art is a love-it-or-hate-it situation, some people think it looks more Mad Max than Snake Plissken.

noted Apr 7, 2026

Mentions

How many releases of Escape From New York are there? Which one is the best? 5 Escape from New York - black levels 10 COMING SOON - Escape From New York (4K UHD Steelbook) 53 Escape From New York 4K coming from Shout Factory 5/17 39 4K Guide: John Carpenter 34

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