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Biographical thriller

Escape from Alcatraz (1979): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Escape from Alcatraz (1979) movie poster

Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 biographical thriller starring Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan and Frank Ronzio. It is partly based on Escape from Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $43 million worldwide. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
worldwide gross
$43M
Metascore
76
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Escape from Alcatraz (1979) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 52m (112 min)
Genres
Biography , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Escape from Alcatraz About?

The premise of Escape from Alcatraz without spoilers, adapted from Escape from Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Frank Morris, a cunning criminal, is sent to Alcatraz, a notorious and inescapable prison. Confronted with the harsh realities of life within the fortress and the oppressive rule of the warden, he resolves to attempt the impossible: escape. He cautiously forms an alliance with other inmates, meticulously planning a daring and elaborate scheme to breach the seemingly impenetrable security of America’s most infamous maximum-security prison.

Escape from Alcatraz Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • 1960s
  • prison
  • group shower
  • man in a shower
  • alcatraz
  • island
  • pet mouse
  • prison warden
  • prison cell
  • suspense
  • based on true story
  • based on novel
+38 more
  • male rear nudity
  • solitary confinement
  • incarceration
  • prison yard
  • african american
  • harassment
  • death threat
  • nervous breakdown
  • escape
  • prison island
  • place name in title
  • nail clippers
  • nude fight
  • digging
  • fistfight
  • fight
  • prison guard
  • prison fight
  • convict
  • shower
  • prison library
  • metal detector
  • painter
  • what happened to epilogue
  • escape from prison
  • prisoner
  • sadistic warden
  • three word title
  • interracial friendship
  • library
  • male nudity
  • shower room
  • ambiguous ending
  • flower
  • planning escape
  • brief male full frontal nudity
  • prison visit
  • death
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Cast & crew

Escape from Alcatraz Cast

Clint Eastwood leads the cast, with Patrick McGoohan and Frank Ronzio.

Ratings

Escape from Alcatraz Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Escape from Alcatraz 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

Plot

Escape from Alcatraz Plot Summary

What happens in Escape from Alcatraz from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On the night of January 18, 1960, Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) arrives at the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, an isolated fortress nestled in San Francisco Bay, California. After undergoing a strip search and donning a somber blue prison uniform, Frank is led, stark naked, to his cell, where a guard mockingly greets him with, > “Welcome to Alcatraz.” Shortly after, Frank meets with the warden (Patrick McGoohan), who emphasizes that Alcatraz is unlike any other U.S. prison due to its unparalleled security. Though his file reveals that Frank possesses a remarkable I.Q. and has previously escaped from other facilities, the warden grimly informs him that no inmate has ever broken free from Alcatraz. Unbeknownst to the warden, Frank discreetly pilfers a nail clipper from his desk.

Full summary

The whole story of Escape from Alcatraz, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Escape from Alcatraz Box Office

Escape from Alcatraz grossed $43 million worldwide. $43 million came from the US and Canada and $5,351 (0%) from the rest of the world.

1979 box office

Worldwide gross

$43M

US & Canada
$43M
International
$5.4K
US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%
Videos

Escape from Alcatraz Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Escape from Alcatraz.

Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Original Trailer [HD]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Escape from Alcatraz?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What significant date marks Frank Morris's arrival at Alcatraz?

Cars

Cars in Escape from Alcatraz

1 car on screen: the International Harvester Metro.

  • International Harvester Metro in Escape from Alcatraz International Harvester Metro Important role
Details

Escape from Alcatraz Also Known As

36 alternative titles, including “Pabėgimas iš Alkatraso” and “Flukten fra Alcatraz”.

Also known as
  • Pabėgimas iš Alkatraso
  • Flukten fra Alcatraz
  • Evadare din Alcatraz
  • Fuga de Alcatraz
  • 逃出亞卡拉
  • La fuga de Alcatraz
  • Flucht von Alcatraz
  • L'Évadé d'Alcatraz
  • Fuga da Alcatraz
  • Pako Alcatrazista
  • Os Fugitivos de Alcatraz
  • Flykten från Alcatraz
+24 more
  • Flugten fra Alcatraz
  • Побег из Алькатраса
  • Útěk z Alcatrazu
  • Szökés Alcatrazból
  • Alcatraz'dan Kaçış
  • Απόδραση από το Αλκατράζ
  • Ucieczka z Alcatraz
  • Evadarea din Alcatraz
  • 逃出亚卡拉
  • הבריחה מאלקטרז
  • Alcatraz: Fuga Impossível
  • Бягство от Алкатраз
  • Alcatraz: fuga imposible
  • 알카트라즈 탈출
  • Втеча з Алькатраса
  • アルカトラズからの脱出
  • 亞特蘭翠大逃亡
  • Útek z Alcatrazu
  • Põgenemine Alcatrazist
  • Bijeg iz Alcatraza
  • ฉีกคุกอัลคาทราซ
  • فرار از آلکاتراز
  • Vượt Ngục Alcatraz
  • Pabėgimas iš Alkatrazo

Seen Escape from Alcatraz?

FAQ

Escape from Alcatraz FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Escape from Alcatraz, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Escape from Alcatraz?

Escape from Alcatraz runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).

When was Escape from Alcatraz released?

Escape from Alcatraz was released on June 22, 1979.

Who is in the cast of Escape from Alcatraz?

Escape from Alcatraz stars Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan and Frank Ronzio, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Escape from Alcatraz make at the box office?

Escape from Alcatraz grossed $43 million worldwide ($43 million domestic, $5,351 international).

How is Escape from Alcatraz rated?

Escape from Alcatraz has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Is Escape from Alcatraz based on a book?

Yes. Escape from Alcatraz is partly adapted from Escape from Alcatraz by J. Campbell Bruce.

Does Escape from Alcatraz have a post-credit scene?

No. Escape from Alcatraz has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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