Escape from New York: New York November

Break in and break out with John Carpenter's 1981 classic, Escape from New York, as part of our New York November series.

In the distant future of 1997, crime is out of control and New York City's Manhattan is a maximum security prison. Grabbing a bargaining chip right out of the air, convicts bring down the President's plane in bad old Gotham. Gruff Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a one-eyed lone warrior new to prison life, is coerced into bringing the President, and his cargo, out of this land of undesirables.

Conceived in reaction to the Watergate scandal, Escape from New York is gritty sci-fi action with a sharp political anger.

• Rating R
• Running time 99
• Genre Action