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The Escape (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Escape (2018) movie poster

The Escape is a 2018 drama directed by Dominic Savage, starring Gemma Arterton as Tara, Laura Donoughue and Dominic Cooper. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $390,881 worldwide. Critics gave it 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Stream it on AMC Plus and AMC+, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
worldwide gross
$390.9K
Echo Score
75
Metascore
75
The Escape (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Director
Dominic Savage
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Escape About?

The premise of The Escape without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Tara feels trapped by the routine and obligations of her life in the London suburbs. Seeking a drastic change, she impulsively buys a one-way ticket to Paris, hoping to escape her husband's self-centeredness and find a new beginning. Leaving behind her current life, she’s forced to grapple with the challenges and emotional toll of abandoning everything she knows.

The Escape Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • the hire
  • clone
  • cloning
  • facility
  • raid
  • fbi raid
  • federal office
  • force
  • task
  • task force
  • elite
  • unit
+38 more
  • mercenary
  • hired gun
  • driver
  • chauffeur
  • bmw
  • fast car
  • heli
  • helicopter
  • biologist
  • genetic
  • gene
  • geneticist
  • human
  • human clone
  • human cloning
  • hi tech
  • high tech company
  • escape
  • flee
  • attack
  • aerial attack
  • speed
  • sedan
  • promotion
  • buyer
  • high tech
  • doctor
  • female doctor
  • life
  • specimen
  • human specimen
  • objective
  • automatic rifle
  • undisclosed location
  • fate
  • explosion
  • protection
  • fbi federal bureau of investigation
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Escape

Stream it on AMC Plus and AMC+, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Escape Cast & Characters

Gemma Arterton leads the cast as Tara, with Laura Donoughue as London Waitress and Dominic Cooper as Mark. Directed by Dominic Savage; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Escape

· 3 more
Ratings

The Escape Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Escape 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

75 /100

The Escape Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Escape delivers a potent emotional experience anchored by a commanding lead performance despite uneven pacing and a faltering final section. Reviews consistently highlight its incisive examination of marital disintegration and existential unrest, noting deliberate tempo and improvised settings that foster authenticity. However, some commentary points to a formulaic structure and a slow build that may dampen momentum. In sum, the film offers significant emotional resonance through its craft and central performance, even as its narrative drive remains uneven.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film establishes an authentic aesthetic through its use of real locations and minimal set dressing. Cinematography adopts a restrained color palette that aligns with the protagonist’s emotional state, and editing maintains a deliberate pace. Though the visual style occasionally feels utilitarian, the overall production design effectively underscores the story’s domestic intensity. The result is an understated yet coherent visual approach.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film is propelled by a profoundly natural central performance that conveys quiet desperation. The lead’s nuanced portrayal of internal conflict and the charged chemistry with the co-lead create palpable emotional stakes. While some viewers find the protagonists’ passivity distancing, the depth of feeling and moments of raw candor foster meaningful engagement. Overall, the character work remains the film’s most compelling asset.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative offers an incisive look at marital breakdown and personal awakening. The plot unfolds with measured pacing that enhances the sense of mounting tension, and thematic commentary on class and gender lends some originality. However, a familiar melodramatic structure and a perceived weakness in the final act undercut its overall momentum. Ultimately, the story is engaging in parts but hampered by an uneven narrative arc.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    With regard to sensory experience, the film’s visuals and sound establish an immersive domestic atmosphere. The restrained musical score complements the emotional register without overshadowing the drama, and ambient sound design heightens moments of quiet intensity. Cinematic framing emphasizes the protagonist’s internal world, resulting in a cohesive visual style. While not overtly stylized, the combined audiovisual elements sustain a consistently immersive tone throughout.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Concerning rewatch factor, the film’s atmospheric weight and slow-building tension may limit its appeal for repeated viewings. The immersive performances and thematic depth offer moments worthy of reconsideration, yet the oppressive mood and deliberate pacing could deter audiences seeking lighter or more dynamic experiences. Consequently, while the film’s emotional core may resonate on a second viewing, its heavy tone and measured tempo constrain its lasting replay value.

Plot

The Escape Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Escape from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Tara, Gemma Arterton, is a wife to Mark, Dominic Cooper, and a stay-at-home mother to two children, Teddy and Florrie. Her days begin with the quiet rhythm of family life, but underneath the surface there’s a growing ache she struggles to name. A visit to a nearby park opens the film with a sense of unease that lingers like a shadow, hinting at a fracture in the routine she normally keeps intact. Time passes in fragments, watching Tara drift between the responsibilities of motherhood and a private emotional tide that she cannot fully quiet or explain.

Full summary

The whole story of The Escape, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Escape Box Office

The Escape grossed $390,881 worldwide. $14,018 came from the US and Canada and $376,863 (96%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$390.9K

US & Canada
$14K
International
$376.9K
US & Canada 4% Rest of the world 96%
Videos

The Escape Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Escape.

The Escape Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips Indie
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Escape?

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

Which actress plays the lead role of Tara?

Cars

Cars in The Escape

24 cars on screen, including the 2016 BMW 320i GT F34 and the 2016 Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid.

All 24 cars
  • 2016 BMW 320i GT F34 in The Escape 2016 BMW 320i GT F34 Important role
  • 2016 Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid in The Escape 2016 Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid Important role
  • 2006 Nissan Note in The Escape 2006 Nissan Note Minor role
  • 2010 Nissan Qashqai in The Escape 2010 Nissan Qashqai Minor role
Details

The Escape Also Known As

11 alternative titles, including “디 이스케이프” and “Une Femme Heureuse”.

Also known as
  • 디 이스케이프
  • Une Femme Heureuse
  • Побег
  • Бягството
  • La búsqueda de la felicidad
  • Ucieczka
  • Um Bilhete Para Longe Daqui
  • 내 아내의 외출
  • Kaçış
  • Μια Ευτυχισμένη Γυναίκα
  • 逃亡, გაუჩინარება

Seen The Escape?

FAQ

The Escape FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Escape, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Escape?

The Escape runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was The Escape released?

The Escape was released on May 11, 2018.

Who directed The Escape?

The Escape was directed by Dominic Savage.

More films by Dominic Savage

Who is in the cast of The Escape?

The Escape stars Gemma Arterton as Tara, Laura Donoughue as London Waitress and Dominic Cooper as Mark, among 7 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Escape?

In the US, The Escape is streaming on AMC Plus, AMC+ and Kanopy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Escape make at the box office?

The Escape grossed $390,881 worldwide ($14,018 domestic, $376,863 international).

How is The Escape rated?

The Escape has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 75 on Metacritic, 55% on TMDB and 3.2/5 on Letterboxd.

Does The Escape have a post-credit scene?

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

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