John Carpenter’s ‘Escape from New York’
1997. New York City Is Now a Maximum Security Prison. Breaking Out is Impossible. Breaking In is Insane.
John Carpenter‘s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, the epic 1981 action film featuring his 80’s-era “muse” Kurt Russell as the iconic eye-patch-wearing hero Snake Plissken (which was restored in 2018) is headed to the Rio Theatre’s screen as a Friday Late Night Movie on August 21.
Set in a dystopic 1997 in which a major war between the United States and the Soviet Union is concluding, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a giant maximum security prison. When Air Force One is hijacked and crashes into the island, the president (Donald Pleasence) is taken hostage by a group of inmates where Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier turned criminal, is recruited to retrieve him in exchange for his own freedom. Also starring Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Isaac Hayes, Harry Dean Stanton, and Adrienne Barbeau.
“The movie proudly wears its affection for crusty Sergio Leone archetypes and countdown-clock suspense sequences; Carpenter was Tarantino long before Tarantino was.” (Time Out New York)
“Carpenter’s vision, presented in a beautiful 4K remaster, still impresses with its sense of time, place and attitude.” (WeAreCult.Rocks)
Friday, August 21
Doors 10:30 pm | Movie 11:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (John Carpenter, 1981 / 99 mins / PG) In 1997, the island of Manhattan has been walled off and turned into a giant maximum security prison within which the country’s worst criminals are left to form their own anarchic society. However, when the President of the United States crash lands on the island, the authorities turn to a former soldier and current convict, Snake Plissken, to rescue him.
*Minors OK. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film only. Please redeem at the door.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the Rio Theatre’s Box Office prior to showtime (subject to availability).
*Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. Please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.
*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. No refunds or exchanges.
In the future, 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, a one-eyed lone warrior new to prison life, is coerced into bringing the President, and his cargo, out of this land of undesirables.
- Budget$6,000,000
- Revenue$50,244,700
- Website
- IMDB
