The Best Prison Movies Of All Time, From ‘Toy Story 3’ To ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
Unsurprisingly, prison is one of the most terrifying environments the average person could dream about, coming equipped with an unending array of sobering aspects that affect daily life in incarceration.
Whether facing off against hostile guards, authoritarian wardens, or the sudden loss of your freedom and independence, there’s something about the idea of serving out a lengthy prison sentence that both haunts and captivates almost every ordinary member of the audience.
As an extension of this, many films over the years have portrayed the disquieting reality of life behind bars. From iconic drama films to family-friendly Pixar comedies, here are some of the greatest prison movies we’ve seen yet, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. The Green Mile (1999)
The other prison movie based on a pre-existing story from Stephen King, The Green Mile might not exactly measure up to the critical heights of The Shawshank Redemption before it. But even then, the film succeeds as a miraculous study of freedom, duty, personal redemption, and the burden of life in prison for both the guards and inmates in their care. Dialing the clocks back to 1930s Louisiana, Shawshank director Frank Darabont provides a devastating portrayal of King’s 1996 novel, ushering in a magical realist drama sure to leave viewers doubled over in tears.
6. Rescue Dawn (2006)
A decade after presenting his subject’s story with 1997’s Little Dieter Needs to Fly, legendary director Werner Herzog returned to fighter pilot Dieter Dengler’s wartime experiences for 2006’s Rescue Dawn. A vivid yet highly factual dramatization of Dengler’s imprisonment in a Vietnam War-era POW camp, Rescue Dawn underscores the inhumane treatment captured troops faced amidst the tumultuous historical conflict. Battling rampant hunger, cruel guards, nightmarish cells, and harsh jungle surroundings, Herzog zeroes in on the sheer horror that characterizes life in most POW camps, as well as the tremendous effort it takes to survive in the face of such intense pain and suffering.
5. Chicken Run (2000)
The very first feature-length film from Aardman Studios, Chicken Run also succeeds as a first-rate British comedy unlike any other. Weaving together a plot reminiscent of prison escape movies like The Great Escape, Escape from Alcatraz, and The Shawshank Redemption, Chicken Run is that rare children’s movie capable of entertaining every prospective member of the audience. With crisp stop-motion animation and a splendidly simple main storyline, Chicken Run is the laugh-out-loud animated comedy ideal for everyone’s next family movie night.
4. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Rising to leading man status by the 1960s, Paul Newman remains the epitome of calm, cool, and collected in 1967’s all-time classic, Cool Hand Luke. A rebellious drama film that effectively captures the spirit of the ‘60s counterculture, Cool Hand Luke emphasizes the idea of standing up to injustice whenever it presents itself. Forging a lasting bond with his fellow inmates and earning their undying respect with his never-say-die attitude, Newman’s titular prisoner achieves his own sense of freedom and purpose, even as he’s worn down by his gradually worsening treatment at the hands of the demonic Captain.
3. Toy Story 3 (2010)
A serious argument can be made listing any one of Pixar’s Toy Story films as the best entry in the series, but there’s something eminently special about 2010’s Toy Story 3. Flashing ahead roughly 11 years after the events of Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 finds its foremost protagonists struggling to prepare for Andy’s college departure. As they learn about the uncomfortable reality of the seemingly idyllic Sunnyside Daycare, the toys also grapple with their steadily diminishing importance in Andy’s life. A gut-wrenching comedy with an even more tear-jerking ending, it’s among the finest films from Pixar Studios to date.
2. The Great Escape (1963)
Over 60 years since its release, few prison movies have come close to matching the esteem and iconic reputation of 1963’s The Great Escape. Loosely based on an actual historical incident and incorporating a massive international cast (including the likes of Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, and James Coburn), The Great Escape has only continued to age like a fine wine over each subsequent decade, maintaining audiences’ avid interest just as it had in the summer of ‘63.
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
It’s ironic to think that one of the best Stephen King adaptations viewers have seen yet also has nothing to do with King’s signature basis in horror. Set over the course of 20 years in a grueling New England state prison, The Shawshank Redemption succeeds as a thorough exploration of life in the harshest environments imaginable. Though faced with vicious fellow prisoners, sadistic guards, and a warden as morally corrupt as the inmates under his thumb, The Shawshank Redemption illustrates the profound importance of maintaining hope in the most dire of circumstances, allowing us to look to the horizon and dream of better days ahead. Hope springs eternal, indeed.
