Parents' Guide to

Escape from Alcatraz

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Quiet, tense prison-break drama has violence, profanity.

Movie PG 1979 112 minutes
Escape from Alcatraz Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 16+

Excellent Movie

Good movie its violent has profanity and has a glimpse of nudity.

This title has:

Too much violence
age 16+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (3):

ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ is a low-key but suspenseful prison-escape story. The almost-eerie quiet is established right from the start, with an extended opening sequence showing Morris' ferry ride to the island and intake process with only three or four terse spoken lines. That quiet eventually escalates the tension and suspense of watching the escape plans come to fruition to an almost unbearable level, but it also effectively underscores the isolation and desperation that would drive someone to try such a dangerous escape.

No one does quiet-but-tough like Clint Eastwood, and fans will enjoy this mid-career performance. But teens old enough to handle the brief nudity, gore, and strong language may find the slow pace and quiet tone don't hold their interest. Those who are curious about the history of Alcatraz -- maybe they remember the book Al Capone Does My Shirts or Mythbusters episode -- will find a lot of food for thought in this retelling.

Movie Details

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