6 Best Prison Break Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · June 2, 2026

The desperate, ingenious pursuit of freedom from behind bars has powered some of cinema’s most gripping dramas and thrillers. In The Shawshank Redemption (1994): A wrongly convicted banker forms an enduring friendship while quietly plotting his escape from a brutal prison. Another standout is Papillon (1973): A wrongly convicted man endures brutal conditions in a penal colony while relentlessly plotting his escape.

Escape Plan (2013)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A security expert who tests prisons for weaknesses finds himself trapped in the very facility he cannot crack.

Directed by Mikael Håfström · 1h 55m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, AMC, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Con Air (1997)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A newly paroled ex-convict finds himself trapped aboard a prison transport plane hijacked by dangerous criminals.

Directed by Simon West · 1h 56m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

IMDb ★ 9.3 RT 89% Metacritic 82

A wrongly convicted banker forms an enduring friendship while quietly plotting his escape from a brutal prison.

Directed by Frank Darabont · 2h 22m · Rated R

Nominated for 7 Oscars21 wins & 43 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A hardened convict plans a meticulous escape from the supposedly inescapable island prison.

Directed by Don Siegel · 1h 53m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Papillon (1973)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A wrongly convicted man endures brutal conditions in a penal colony while relentlessly plotting his escape.

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner · 2h 31m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Great Escape (1963)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 94% Metacritic 86

Allied prisoners of war orchestrate an elaborate mass escape from a heavily guarded German POW camp.

Directed by John Sturges · 2h 53m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar3 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Prison Break Movies of All Time

Escape Plan (2013)

Con Air (1997)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Papillon (1973)

The Great Escape (1963)

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