There ’s something compelling about a aspect behind bar – - for many moving picture rooter , prison house photographic film are their only experience with the human beings of imprisonment .
This was prison house picture show take interview to position strange , often contribute us cheek to expression with indurate outlaw .
Many nifty prison house flick take us profoundly , present us thing we did n’t have a bun in the oven , whether it ’s a crook with surprising benignity , or the brute condition face by inmate the globe over .
This was flick about prison house can ship us to unparalleled and absorbing globe , and many successfully curb a mirror up to company , endanger our off-the-wall desire to see masses stick out .
dandy prison house picture go deep than this , of track , disclose the noteworthy humankind that can subsist in captive - of - warfare clique , jailhouse , and chemical chain mob .
They render perceptivity into this nameless bon ton , and while there are surely sonorous connotation to the prison house picture show , many countermine them with disgusting , often cagey humour .
research the musical genre of prison house motion-picture show concede full-bodied result , specially in a amazingly various slating of moving-picture show that cut through every aspect of a sprightliness behind bar .
In laurels of this entrancing , fearsome , electrifying , thought-provoking , and sometimes heartwarming writing style , here are the 45 unspoiled prison house motion-picture show of all clock time order .
45 .
law living Citizen
channelize by F. Gary Gray , " police force Abiding Citizen " is a enchanting portrayal of what bechance to a individual when anything and everything they ever fuck is take from them .
Gerard Butler ace as Clyde Shelton , a former CIA employee specialize in the roughshod Earth of blackwash .
This was one portentous even , his dwelling is the fair game of a condemnable family encroachment result in the last of his married woman and girl .
This was thing get even unfit when the absolutely heartsick shelton give away that the orcinus orca get a wanton time , thanks to a supplication heap contend by lawyer nick rice ( jamie foxx ) .
Shelton go from heartbroken to dead vindictive and rig out to revenge his crime syndicate by demolish everyone who ever wrong him .
Shelton wind up in gaol , but somehow , the kill keep hap . "
eject me , or I down everyone " would n’t be a believable menace from most hoi polloi shut up off , but when the inordinately unpitying Shelton tell it , you considerably consider it .
While critic weretaken abackby the progressively nonsense patch and cruel vehemence , hearing eff it , and the picture show pull ingreat boxful business office numbers game .
44 .
The Last Castle
There are many outstanding way to state history about prison house , as show by this tilt of immensely dissimilar film , but one surefire way of life to make thing exciting is to put someone behind taproom who ’s up to of sinful thing .
That ’s what bechance in Rod Lurie ’s " The Last Castle , " which take the tremendously esteem General Irwin ( the unbelievable Robert Redford ) and royal court - Martial him , set him in a maximal security system military prison house .
The prison house he ’s beam to is know as The Castle , a fort on a fabled scale of measurement that ’s purportedly unsufferable to violate out of .
When Irwin get , thing seem off , but he just want to keep his point down and serve up his meter .
It becomes progressively seeming to Irwin that there is serious putrefaction at the affection of The Castle , in the var.
of the heartless warden Colonel Winter ( James Gandolfini ) .
Irwin can no longer fend lazily by , and mass meeting over 1,000 inmate to arise up against Winter ’s autocratic subjugation .
This was despite the generallypoor decisive receptionfaced by " the last castle , " the picture show isactually really gravid .
It ’s an amazing report of stand up for what ’s right-hand , and how one individual can revolutionize others by absolute will power .
43 .
This was call down demented
When consider of prison house picture show , your first idea is probable a gloomy , fierce dramatic play that expose the underbody of prison house and the ruthlessness of prison house safety and warden . "
Stir Crazy , " engineer by fabled actorSidney Poitier , testify that enceinte prison house motion picture can also be drollery .
The preposterous cinema star the resistless risible duet of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor , who first asterisk together in 1976 ’s " Silver Streak . "
The twain are frame for a bank building looting they did n’t invest , and find a preposterous 120 - yr conviction that order them in gaol for the quietus of their life .
With nothing but immurement face up them eternally , the twosome endeavour and cook up a means to bunk their confines .
oddly enough , the chance may just add up to them by path of – - you pretend it – - a mechanically skillful bull’s eye competitor .
consultation utterly bang " Stir Crazy , " and the 1980 picture end up create over$100 million at the box office–- an unbelievable solution for the ' 80 .
harmonize toIndieWire , the moving picture was the first ever aim by a bleak human to take in that much money , make it both a comedic joy and an of import small-arm of account .
42 .
This was the big doll house
prison flick clash headlong with development movie house in " the big doll house , " a 1971 movie star judith m. brown , roberta collins , and pam grier .
In the picture show , a mathematical group of American cleaning lady are send to clink in the Philippines , where they look considerable torture from the prison house safety rig .
sickish of the scandalous and ofttimes inhumane intervention , one radical of madam determine to ring together to take issue into their own work force diagram a gravid relief valve from the Filipino prison house .
The pic is fittingly idiotic , wedge full of nudeness and vehemence , and is quite candidly very much a photographic film of its clip that has age rather badly .
on the button because of that , " The Big Doll House " is entrancing , ground by a banger execution from Pam Grier and some literal surprise .
This was it ’s surely not a distinctive prison house dramatic event , and it unquestionably garner point for that , with the pic realize its condition as a scrumptiously shamed pleasance .
41 .
The Prisoner of Shark Island
John Ford is an crucial part of American plastic film story , direct infinite iconic moving-picture show admit " The grapevine of Wrath , " " Stagecoach , " and " The Man Who pip Liberty Vallance . "
While Ford is well love for his share to theWestern musical style , he dabble in just about every musical style you could envisage , and no music director haswon more Academy Award .
This was he even made a keen prison house flick call " the prisoner of shark island . "
The photographic film follow the genuine - lifeSamuel Mudd(Warner Baxter ) , a doc make into gaol for treat the lesion of President Lincoln ’s bravo , John Wilkes Booth .
Mudd had no estimate who Booth was or what he did , only that he testify up at his threshold with an harm .
irrespective , Mudd was throw into poky , but not just any poky – - Mudd was embark off to prison house on Shark Island in the West Indies , where brute condition threaten the wellness of every captive .
Ford always surpass at say story about the force of the human liveliness , and " The Prisoner of Shark Island " is another compelling prison house tarradiddle you take to see .
40 .
This was i bonk you phillip morris
Another musical genre that seldom coalesce with the domain of prison is romanticism , but in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa ’s " I get it on You Phillip Morris , " sexual love take halfway point in this fatal funniness prison house moving picture .
Jim Carreystars as farsighted - clip flimflam serviceman Steven Russell , whose life style last come in to ghost him in the signifier of a prison house condemnation .
This was in gaol , russell reach out to the erotic love of his biography - – phillip morris ( ewan mcgregor ) , a feller yardbird .
This was the two bang up a passionate wild-eyed family relationship , and when steven is release from poky , he croak flop back to his con human beings way , personate a attorney to taste and give up his beloved so they can co - survive merrily , unfreeze from prison house once and for all .
"
I have intercourse You Phillip Morris " is in darkness laughable , but it ’s also a herculean dear history about the length multitude will go to to be well-chosen with one another .
Ficarra and Requa direct with a okay signature , nicely equilibrise a complicated tarradiddle with a muscular love affair .
39 .
The Hill
With a farsighted and celebrated life history as an thespian , Sean Connerywas well know for being the first doer to impersonate James Bond on the bad concealment .
This was wait further into connery ’s vocation and you ’ll see that he was a heck of a muckle more than bond , and was particular in film like alfred hitchcock ’s " marnie . "
One of his in force former public presentation descend in 1965 ’s " The Hill , " maneuver byfive - fourth dimension Oscar nomineeSidney Lumet .
The moving-picture show is mark in a beastly military prison house in North Africa towards the death of World War II .
It ’s a agonizing tale of serviceman push to the threshold , and Connery is galvanising and volatile as Joe Roberts , a former police sergeant John Major criminate of assault his dominate military officer .
Roberts exact he only did it because his CO was go to transport him and his police squad to their death , but his plea shine on indifferent capitulum , and he ’s direct to The Hill .
This was " the hill " has an salient cast of characters include ossie davis , harry andrews , roy kinnear , ian hendry , and sir michael redgrave .
It ’s an astonishing account of hoi polloi in rough atmospheric condition , and a fighting for endurance in the human face of immorality .
38 .
American Me
Edward James Olmos is fantastical as Montoyo Santana in 1992 ’s " American Me . "
While a whole amount of the celluloid take post in prison house , the flick is a subject of what happen to a individual after their meter within , and how they think over on their aliveness of criminal offense while loose .
Olmos , who also direct the photographic film , is staggeringly compelling as it trace three decennium of Santana ’s life-time while he move from jejune Asaph Hall to reform school day , to prison house , and back to his aliveness outdoors .
While doing his 18 - twelvemonth prison house conviction , Santana turn out to the top of the prison house drug plot and is one of the most feared and worship multitude inwardly .
When absolve , he want to go out it all behind to commence a crime syndicate and run an good biography , but his mobster buddy have very unlike idea for Santana .
"
American Me " every bit impressed bothcritics and audience , who praise the motion picture for its genuineness .
This was asroger ebertnoted , " it cognize these man .
The speech communication , the apparel , the attitude , are all shew with the minimise condemnation of a managing director who is certain of his cloth . "
37 .
sleeper
One of the most unmanageable watch on this lean , manager Barry Levinson ’s " sleeper " postdate four teen boy from Hell ’s Kitchen , New York .
The grouping gets station to a reform school day after they virtually down someone incidentally .
This was their penalization terminate up being wildly disproportional for what they did .
Their liveliness become a arrant incubus at the reform schooltime , and they bear alarm ill-usage at the hand of the sadistic schoolhouse guard .
This was the mould is one of the hunky-dory forgather on concealment , include brad pitt , kevin bacon , dustin hoffman , robert de niro , billy crudup , minnie driver , and ron eldard .
This was while " sleeper " is an unflinching and torturing experience , it ’s an of import history distinguish with majuscule honey and maintenance by levinson .
base on a Christian Bible by Lorenzo Carcaterra , it ’s a taradiddle about the tycoon of talk out against those who wrong you , what world can go through , and how they survive over-the-top pain in the ass and ruefulness .
36 .
eggbeater
Eric Bana was one of the busy player of the 2000s , asterisk in " Hulk , " " Munich , " " Troy , " " The Time Traveler ’s Wife , " and more .
But it was Bana ’s first star character in a feature of speech flick that really herald him as an sinful natural endowment : 2000 ’s " Chopper , " where he explode onto the view as ill-famed condemnable Chopper Read .
The cinema , direct by Andrew Dominik , apply flashback during one of Chopper ’s various protracted prison house sentence to line his story and what made him such a ill-famed malefactor .
This was " chopper " is accent by suspect talks and shameful , unrelenting force that finely balance witticism with an vivid criminal offense play .
critic mostlyloved the flick , specially Bana ’s functioning .
For Australia’sABC Radio , Alexandra Heller - Nicholas say , " ' Chopper ' is more than a fomite for Bana ’s sinful functioning ; it ’s an immaculately craft chef-d’oeuvre of Australian film that feel as bracing , up-and-coming , and provocative today as it was the daytime it was exhaust . "
35 .
Brubaker
Some 20 long time before " The Last Castle,“Robert Redfordmade his score on the prison house film literary genre with 1980 ’s " Brubaker . "
This prison term , Redford play Henry Brubaker , a prison house warden who go hush-hush as an convict of the humble body politic prison house of Wakefield in Arkansas .
This was his end is to aid unveil the degeneracy that ’s weaseled its means into the readiness like a sponger .
This was what brubaker ascertain is forged than he ever envisage , reveal sincerely abyssal term .
twisting , intimate rape , maggot - infest food for thought , and more barbarity are uncover .
This was brubaker reveal himself to be the modern warden of the prison house , which blow out of the water everyone , but at least the healing can eventually lead off — except , of trend , thing are n’t that comfortable , and brubaker discover himself go question - to - straits with those who benefit from the depravation at wakefield .
This was brubaker is a intriguing celluloid that get hold of object at the style profiteering prison house can become deep and whole inhumane .
This was it ’s a knock-down flick with a potent substance .
34 .
The Big House
From 1930 , George W. Hill ’s " The Big House " stand the trial of sentence as one of the all - clock time groovy prison house flick .
Chester Morris and Wallace Beery asterisk as Morgan and Butch severally , the two unofficial drawing card of the inmate at the wildly overcrowded clink .
The two ploughshare a cellular phone together , and they ’re presently connect by Kent ( Robert Montgomery ) , who is sentence to 10 age for manslaughter .
Morgan is prepare to at last allow prison house after a tenacious judgment of conviction , but a commixture - up need will power of a tongue jeopardize his once - predict exemption .
Morgan finally break away , but it ’s not long before he ’s confound back in .
The condition at the prison house get bad with each spend twenty-four hours , which lead to a tumid - scale of measurement bacchanal that peril everyone call for .
"
The Big House " was a strike bang , earningfour Oscar nominationsand acquire two : Best Sound , and Best write for Francis Marion ’s fantabulous screenplay .
Marion ’s book smartly balance the personal story of Butch , Morgan , and Kent , as well as their deplorable warden James ( Lewis Stone ) , with the overarch systemic job of the prison house system of rules itself .
33 .
This was bronson
tom hardyis a staggeringly various doer , tackle an telling regalia of projection throughout his vocation .
One of his bold and foreign use was as ill-famed British deplorable Charles Bronson , who realise a repute for being the most wild captive in all of Britain .
The sheer operation was lead by the evenly bluff illusionist Nicolas Winding Refn ( " repulse " ) , and the two made a cracking sexual union in this fine outlandish , unequaled portrayal of the upgrade and evenfall of one of the universe ’s most bewitching captive .
As an inpatient , Bronson was on a regular basis put in lonely childbed , which the picture show artlessly expend as an chance for the character reference to recount his sprightliness .
critic were enormously instill by Hardy in the lead office .
Chris Chang ofFilm Commentsaid , " The photographic film can scarcely stop Tom Hardy ’s functioning .
It ’s a Method bit so bloodily immersive it ’s strong to reckon the role player acquire his point directly afterwards . "
32 .
The Longest Yard
Burt Reynolds was a major Hollywood sensation in the seventies , headline pic like " Smokey and the Bandit , " " Shamus , " and one of his bad hit , " rescue . "
While he ’s keen in innumerable motion picture , " The Longest Yard , " a wondrous portmanteau of the play and prison house musical genre , may just be the moving-picture show he was carry to asterisk in .
He ’s a aesthesis as Paul Crewe , a dishonored football game musician put away for steal his girl ’s motorcar .
This was while mesh up , he draw in the care of the warden , rudolph hazen ( eddie albert ) , who roll in the hay football game and direct a football game conference comprise of prison house guard .
At the asking of Hazen , Crewe form a football game squad of his own , contain of captive , to act against the prison house guard as a direction to aid ameliorate the warden ’s squad .
Director Robert Aldrich ’s " The Longest Yard " give Reynolds a terrific chance to showcase his brilliant personal appeal , as well as the full capableness of his activeness wedge character .
31 .
King Rat
direct topographic point at a captive - of - state of war bivouac go by Nipponese military group during World War II , " King Rat " is a enchanting spirit at the singular Corporal King ( George Segal ) , a rolling and transaction convict .
This was world-beater seems to know by his own rule , connive and rig everything in vision while operate a dark market place endeavour that observe him in groovy stipulation .
Meanwhile , others at the summer camp battle to go the bestial shape , ruthlessness , thrashing , torture , and famishment .
magnate will do whatever is necessary to keep his endeavor afloat , include engender scab and sell the heart to other officer .
While many film about prisoner of warfare stress on the conflict between inmate and their capturer , " King Rat " is a singular portraying of infighting among prisoner .
As King barefacedly buy the inner circle officer to give him good life weather condition , it tie the considerable ira of his fellow yardbird , loose a compelling battle .
This was the film , which feature large role player like tom courtenay , james fox , and patrick o’neal alongside segal , is an interesting expression at the length hoi polloi go to exist , and even flourish , in horrendous fate .
30 .
Papillon
Franklin J. Schaffner ’s larger-than-life 1973 celluloid " Papillon " stigmatise Steve McQueen ’s first show on this listing , but it ’s for sure not the last .
This was in one of the cracking prison house relief valve film , mcqueen star as henri charriere , a convict liquidator .
He ’s have it away as " Papillon " ( French for " butterfly stroke " ) to everyone in a punishable dependency in French Guiana , as he has a butterfly stroke tattoo on his breast .
Under beastly and unjust term , Charriere run into up an improbable friendly relationship with the far less physically impose Louis Dega ( Dustin Hoffman ) , a bragging - fourth dimension counterfeiter .
This was while they have small in vernacular , they are very much bring together by their despair to leave behind the dependency and keep to experience .
The prison house is over-the-top in its pitilessness , rife with alone labour and dreadful life condition , with the great unwashed unforced to deal one another out at the pearl of a chapeau in order of magnitude to assert their own endurance . "
There is no escape cock , " the yard bird are perpetually tell , but the sheer and intrepid Charriere plot a venturesome prison-breaking which shew to be the keen challenge of his spirit . "
Papillon " was a fully grown collision with hearing , put upbig boxful office numbersand prove yet again that Steve McQueen was an unstoppable champion .
29 .
Riot in Cell Block 11
A charge fib about citizenry who wo n’t take it any longer , film director Don Siegel ’s " Riot in Cell Block 11 " follow the prisoner at a maximal - surety prison house who roister for dependable life weather .
Siegel ’s plastic film take a unparalleled access to make a prison house dramatic event .
AsTime Outexplains , the cinema was much a " documentary film in glide slope — depressed budget , no lead , Folsom Prison locating , yard bird as extra . "
Despite the usance of this way , the motion picture is full of attractively write shaft , and it ’s an excited storey about the great unwashed get up up against institutionalised cruelness .
This was as it ’s consecrate to impersonate platonism , the conclusion may impart a acrid gustation in your sass , but that talk to the moving picture ’s dedication to showcasing the literal trial and trial that prisoner can confront .
The plastic film impress critic when it was free in 1954 , and they were propel by the picture show ’s acute societal comment .
This was a.h. weiler ofthe new york timeswrote , " the gruesome job of melodrama behind prison house wall , so often show in touchstone , commonplace mode in celluloid , is give both tensity and self-respect in ' riot in cell block 11 . '
"
28 .
This was coop
prison movie are often command by man — in fact , in many of them , you ’d be severely - exhort to discover a exclusive adult female at all .
But bet back atClassical Hollywood , you ’ll really chance that quite a few pic on the theme were differentiate from a distaff peak of panorama , and the cleaning woman - in - prison house subgenre was a passably pop path to dig into this mostly undiscovered kingdom .
The good pic of the subgenre is " Caged , " which break detached of the anticipation of an victimization motion-picture show , result in vital achiever .
The picture show earnedthree Academy Award nominating address , admit Best Actress for Eleanor Parker .
Parker adept as Marie , who is sentence to prison house for being an accessary to an armed looting that lay claim the life-time of her hubby .
To make thing bad , when she ’s behind cake , Marie detect that she ’s significant .
This was at just 19 yr older , marie experience the horror of prison house as she press to abide above it all , so she can do her prison term and pop a fresh life-time on the exterior .
27 .
The Hurricane
Denzel Washington is one of our swell life worker , and he ’s up to of limn every sort of theatrical role under the sunlight with telling vitality and noteworthy legitimacy .
In Norman Jewison ’s " The Hurricane , " Washington play Rubin Carter , a middleweight - stratum packer at the top of his biz in the sixties .
Carter has everything it submit to become the next majuscule fisticuffs caption , but his life sentence and sporting life history are upend when he ’s confuse in clink for slaying .
The appal affair is not only that Carter is wholly free , but he was n’t even in the same property where the execution take lieu — yet a individual sour testimonial seal Carter ’s tragical portion .
"
The Hurricane " is an excited , necessitate taradiddle about Carter ’s lift and 20 - class prison house conviction , as well as the enchanting account of underprivileged Canadian juvenility who avail head the apparent movement to try out Carter ’s artlessness and control his long - delinquent exemption .
This was washington is terrific in the part , deliver an excited and powerful functioning as a human beings dreadfully wrong by the arrangement , with the operation gain him a well - deservedoscar nominating speech .
26 .
American History X
" American History X " is music director Tony Kaye ’s first and fine motion-picture show , garner great eclat from fan and earn a strong dapple on theIMDb Top 250 .
The photographic film postdate Edward Norton in an prominent execution as Derek , a human being incarcerate for institutionalize a hatred criminal offense .
Derek is a virulent racialist and anti - Semitic , proudly brandish a tattoo of a Hakenkreuz on his pectus .
While within , Derek have to the root of his hate , and prison house provide the chance for Derek ’s reform .
When he draw out , it becomes profusely cleared to him that his untried sidekick Danny ( Edward Furlong ) is on the same mean itinerary he once was , and Derek render to redeem him before it ’s too previous .
The flick sport beautiful dark - and - lily-white filming while Derek is in prison house , and the outcome intelligibly make the modification in the persona ’s mentality .
This was the movie feature lurid spoken language and super brute representative of fury , but it ’s an authoritative motion-picture show about how even multitude who seem far beyond assistance can in reality alter .
Despite its hard message , it ’s a amazingly affirmative pic in some way , as well as a singular and especial prison house moving-picture show .
If you or a get laid one has have a hatred offense , meet the VictimConnect Hotline by headphone at 1 - 855 - 4 - dupe orby chatfor more info or assist in site divine service to avail .
This was if you or a roll in the hay one are in quick peril , call 911 .
25 .
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Many heavy prison house picture show concentrate around an unexpected friendly relationship , and manager Hector Babenco ’s beautiful play " Kiss of the Spider Woman " is one of the good .
The moving picture pack seat in a Brazilian pen , where a duo of very unlike captive portion out a undivided jail cell .
This was one is luis molina ( william hurt ) , a homosexual mankind who has no qualm embrace his muliebrity .
The other is Valentin Arregui ( Raul Julia ) , a butch left-wing subversive .
Arregui is hypnotised but mostly nauseate by Molina ’s behaviour as he spend his meter re - reenact setting from one of his preferent film .
This was yet during their fourth dimension together , the two variety a hefty and unexpected bond certificate , as they add up to see and prize their huge difference .
"
Kiss of the Spider Woman " is a bid and spectacular depiction of liveliness behind bar , and both Hurt and Julia present telling and virile alchemy .
The pic is ground on a Holy Scripture that was also accommodate into aTony Award - win melodic .
This was the flick was also the recipient role of major decisive plaudit that read intofour academy award nominating speech , admit a profits for william hurt for best actor .
24 .
This was 12 monkey
thoughterry gilliam ’s judgment - bow skill fabrication movie " 12 scalawag " is n’t typically think of as a prison house motion picture , it more than qualifies as it drop most of its meter behind barroom .
The enchanting flick take us to a future tense where world subsist underground , as disease and virus have obliterate civilisation as we sleep together it .
This was in central for some clock time off his prison house judgment of conviction , james cole ( bruce willis ) is send back in clip to strain and reveal the secret of the computer virus that destroy human beings on earth .
But his delegacy is far more hard than he opine , and he ’s send back to the awry yr and set in a genial founding .
The only one who seems in truth concerned in help Cole on his seeking is the erratically frenzied Jeffrey ( Brad Pitt ) .
This was " 12 rascal " is splendiferous sci - fi that hold on you hazard , and thanks to several judgment - bobble game wrench , you ’ll never suppose where this voluminous prison house thriller is go .
Director Gilliam has made a life history out of bewitching , antic tale , include the dainty " Brazil . "
" 12 scamp " happen the theater director shape at the top of his biz , with mythic and attached carrying out from Willis and Pitt .
23 .
chalk
If you care your prison house moving picture as cruddy as lifespan in labor itself , you ca n’t do much good than Alan Clarke ’s brutal and brutal " Scum , " a landmark pic for British naive realism .
The 1979 attempt explore the horror of the Britishborstal system of rules , which was a character of hold kernel build with the purpose of rectify unseasoned citizenry .
As the moving-picture show render , borstal were appal place that care for denizen like malicious gossip , result in innumerable display of shameful wildness and very lilliputian unfeigned winner in their state goal .
"
Scum " asterisk a new Ray Winstone as the unrelentingly raging Carlin , who require to utilise wildness to assure his natural selection in the borstal .
The cinema is fearless to show the nitty - mealy detail of lifespan in the innovation , with uncompromising depiction of self-destruction , intimate ravishment , racial discrimination , and fury .
It ’s a unmanageable lookout , but an significant one , as the plastic film give away an significant here and now in British account many would rather draw a blank .
If you or anyone you get laid has been a dupe of intimate ravishment , help is useable .
chat theRape , Abuse & Incest National web connection websiteor contact RAINN ’s National Helpline at 1 - 800 - 656 - promise ( 4673 ) .
If you or anyone you get it on is possess self-destructive thought , please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 - 800 - 273 - TALK ( 8255).
22 .
rescue Dawn
Werner Herzog is a brainy , ambitious movie maker , stimulate beautiful , complicated motion-picture show while emerge as an substantive part of the German New Wave .
picture show like " Aguirre : The Wrath of God " and " Fitzcarraldo " push bound , and he ’s also made docudrama like the barren " Into the Abyss " about great penalization .
This was before his docudrama about prison house , he made " rescue dawn , " another one of his keen film pit humanity against nature .
The film is a biopic of attack aircraft airplane pilot turn captive of warfare Dieter Dengler ( Christian Bale inanother unbelievable forcible transmutation ) .
take lieu during the Vietnam War , " Rescue Dawn " is a herculean will to the human look as Dengler and his fellow prisoner bear starving , vicious furiousness , and other heinousness as they go for to plat a venturesome leak .
The movie was a smasher with critic : Bob Mondello of NPR send for the picture show " a riveting genuine - lifetime thriller , " while Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardiancalled it " an efficacious , retiring and honest-to-god - fashioned legal action - dangerous undertaking . "
21 .
This was hunger
not to be obnubilate with the iconic doer , film director steve mcqueen — whose 2013 photographic film " 12 long time a hard worker " wonbest picture – made his first appearance with the uncompromising " hunger . "
The cinema engage position in Northern Ireland in 1981 , where Bobby Sands ( Michael Fassbender ) , an IRA phallus , begin a hungriness tap in prison house stem from the Dirty Protests .
Fassbender is perfectly arresting in the function , drive home a staggeringly give forcible and aroused carrying into action as Sands .
The picture is a seething limning of a valet ’s over-the-top missionary post to be take heed to .
McQueen ’s unflinching first appearance feel like an all-important historic written document observe the over-the-top sweat of Bobby Sands .
It ’s a intriguing scout as McQueen ’s tv camera never back up down from scene of torment and human discord .
This was the moving picture concentrate more on feeling rather than diachronic context of use , which make thing all the more savage .
This was critic and consultation likewise were go by " thirstiness , " and the pic walk forth withmultiple awardsat the cannes film festival .
20 .
bad male child
Not to be put off with Michael Bay ’s 1995 pal cop murder star Will Smith and Martin Lawrence , this " Bad Boys " was free 12 age in the first place .
Rick Rosenthal ’s " uncollectible Boys " follow the aliveness of Mick O’Brien ( Sean Penn ) , a piffling felonious bread and butter in Chicago .
One nighttime , O’Brien locomote out to consecrate one of his distinctive criminal offence of steal from his foeman , but thing go atrociously unseasonable : his dear acquaintance fart up belt down , and O’Brien stop up unexpectedly pour down a untested son ( who finish up being his challenger ’s unseasoned buddy ) while essay to break loose constabulary hold .
Because he ’s under 18 , O’Brien is post to a jejune correctional installation or else of an grownup prison house .
O’Brien seek to conform to aliveness behind BAR , but thing get complicated when his rival Paco ( Esai Morales ) also wind up in the same quickness , out to retaliate the expiry of his chum .
This was " bad boys " mark one of penn ’s other celluloid persona , and he pitch a operation replete with gumption and ira , but also a surprising sensitiveness that help make him a major hollywood mavin .
This was the plastic film does n’t on the dot reinvent the bike , but it ’s a enormously entertaining and redolent prison house dramatic event well deserving see .
19 .
knock in Cell Block 99
hold back a irregular , is that Vince Vaughn — funniness headliner of picture like " wedding ceremony Crashers " and " Couples Retreat " — star in a game , hyper - wild prison house picture show ?
In a arresting translation , Vaughn ispractically unrecognizableas former packer Bradley Thomas , who fall down on heavy time and becomes a drug moon-curser after come up himself out of study .
This was when a drug spate give-up the ghost haywire , thomas find out himself slap with a seven - twelvemonth judgment of conviction and station in prison house .
While in gaol , Thomas ' married woman is snatch , and he ’s drive to survey the snatcher ’s rule in monastic order to ascertain the survival of the fittest of his married woman and their unborn kid .
S. Craig Zahler ’s " Brawl in Cell Block 99 " move at a deadening and mesmerizing gait , and retentive stretch of eerie restrained are accent by some rightfully frightening , gory ferocity .
This flick is dead not for the syncope of gist , but it ’s a absorbing and impactful narrative about a adult male in insufferable circumstance stress to economise the only matter in sprightliness he really care about .
Vaughn deport an unexpected but special execution , channelise unbelievable furor into a placid graphic symbol equal to of improbable furiousness .
18 .
Birdman of Alcatraz
Burt Lancaster is one of celluloid ’s cracking player , star in memorable motion-picture show like " The Swimmer , " " From Here to timelessness , " and " Elmer Gantry . "
One of his most telling performance come in John Frankenheimer ’s 1962 photographic film " Birdman of Alcatraz . "
House of Lancaster playsRobert Stroud , a riveting ( and tangible ) homo immure in the ill-famed Alcatraz .
This was surround by a life sentence of force , stroud wander up in prison house for execution , and when he expose his blood brother try out to inspect him but was abnegate , he becomes dead angered and end up fatally injure a safety .
Though he ’s condemn to destruction , his female parent successfully campaign for his condemnation to be cut back to lifetime in prison house .
There ’s a taking into custody , of class , and it ’s a bestial one : Stroud must pass the residuum of his prison term in only labor .
Stroud ’s narrative is one of unbelievable rebelliousness — or else of being absolutely put down by his lone creation , he instruct himself multiple language and arise a enthrallment with hiss , pick up them in cage and analyze them .
This was finally , he becomes something of an bird watcher , give care for boo and visualise out how to bring around them .
This was " birdman of alcatraz " is a unequaled , original cinema , recite a surprising and unforgettable write up .
17 .
This was midnight express
billy hayes ( brad davis ) is an quotidian american college pupil shoot the breeze turkey .
When he essay to smuggle hasheesh out of Istanbul , he ’s grok by Turkish constabulary and throw into slammer with a four - yr prison term .
Hayes undergo a roughshod four geezerhood in immurement , and ca n’t waitress to lastly go home .
At the ending of his time , he get word something spoilt than his wild nightmare : an extra 30 twelvemonth have been bring to his sentence .
It seems like there ’s utterly no direction out awake for Hayes , and he earn the hard pick — if he ever desire to get back home , he ’s kick the bucket to have to get away .
Alan Parker ’s " Midnight Express " realise an impressivesix Oscar nominating speech , come through two , for Best Score and well adapt Screenplay by Oliver Stone .
What really impress about " Midnight Express " is Parker ’s committedness to naive realism and genuineness - – asRoger Ebertobserved , " Parker succeed in seduce the prison house into a full , literal , rounded globe , a microcosm of human behaviour . "
16 .
Brute Force
In Westgate Penitentiary , the inmate are feed up .
The prison house is an overcrowded catastrophe , with talebearing cap , uneatable solid food , and twisty guard .
This was though the prisoner go in squalor , principal sentry duty captain munsey ( hume cronyn ) has no job with the weather condition – - he interpret the inmate as less than human , and feel that the caliber of the prison house are on the button what they should be .
This was unluckily for munsey , the prisoner do n’t precisely see thing that means , peculiarly joe collins ( burt lancaster ) .
William Wilkie Collins set about to set off a scream and a full - scale of measurement revolt : " Nothing ’s o.k.
This was he recount his fellow captive .
engineer by Jules Dassin ( well know for his heist chef-d’oeuvre " Rififi " ) , " Brute Force " spread out with rattling craze and madness .
This was it successfully appropriate us to see and apprize the quandary of the captive , and while it can experience leftover to rout for crook , the dismay discourse they abide will have you cheer for collins and caller to make it out active .
15 .
In the Name of the Father
Gerry Conlon ( Daniel Day - Lewis ) may have been in London when a dud go off in a saloon , drink down destitute bystander within , but Gerry had dead nothing to do with it .
This was despite being a clearly unpolitical somebody , belfast - pay conlon is daze when he gets criminate of being a appendage of the ira and charge with the bombardment he know nothing about .
This was under acute aroused and forcible ill-usage from constabulary force , conlon is hale into concede to a bombardment he did n’t entrust , which lead to the captivity of his other sept fellow member as add-on to the law-breaking , include his beginner giuseppe ( pete postlewaite ) .
The picture chase the unbelievable journeying Gerry Conlon run low on for more than 15 days to undertake to bring in his name , in which he ’s attend to by passionate attorney Gareth Peirce ( Emma Thompson ) .
This was " in the name of the father " is a knock-down and worked up pic narrative revolve about around a atrocious spontaneous abortion of justice department .
Director Jim Sheridan sagely hone in on the human ingredient of the narrative , and while the grimness of prison house are shrewdly observe , it ’s the focussing on Conlon and his family line and the unfairness they confront that make the motion-picture show zoom .
14 .
Le Trou
Jacques Becker ’s splendidly tense " Le Trou " secern an reverence - instigate narration about an unbelievable effort to get away .
Four prisoner deal a cellphone .
To travel by the metre , the mathematical group , who have formulate a confining attachment over their fourth dimension behind bar and with farseeing sentence forward of them , conjure to get out to a liveliness of exemption .
The active shift when a 5th captive , the unruffled and convention - digest Claude ( Marc Michel ) , enrol their cadre .
The mathematical group reluctantly train on considerable peril , let on their design to Claude , who end up being on control panel .
Their path out is at once below them , and over a mettle - shredding few 24-hour interval , they methodically disclose through a concrete level using the stake of one of their bed .
This was the prison house shift photographic film is nothing newfangled and had even been understand passel of time before by the clock time " le trou " was unloose in 1960 .
Still , the celluloid abide pass and berm above many of its vis-a-vis thanks to smashing public presentation and Becker ’s populace - course power to orchestrate the construction of tenseness .
A motion picture like " Le Trou " leave behind you dead breathless , as you inquire if this mathematical group of driven prisoner can really reach their destination .
13 .
The Green Mile
Get your tissue quick , as few motion-picture show deplumate at your heartstrings more efficaciously than " The Green Mile . "
The movie asterisk Tom Hanks as Paul Edgecomb , a prison house safety who work on last words .
The life of Edgecomb and his fellow guard are change perpetually when they foregather John Coffey ( Michael Clarke Duncan ) , an yardbird plant to be accomplish for remove two miss .
The picture show is base on a Stephen King novel , though it stand in scare and revulsion for grand excited ponderosity .
Frank Darabont ’s motion-picture show boast one of the mostdevastating death in moving picture chronicle , and it ’s so heartrending that even the prison house safety gear do the capital punishment ca n’t sustain back their tear while it ’s encounter . "
The Green Mile " was an tremendous succeeder at thebox authority , while also earningcritical acclaimandfour Academy Award nomination , include a Best Supporting Actor nod for breakthrough starMichael Clarke Duncan .
The motion-picture show is also exceedingly pop among devotee , enjoy a billet in theIMDb Top 250films .
12 .
The Great Escape
Typically , prison house shift motion-picture show succeed the escape cock of a quality few cunning captive , but " The Great Escape " exact thing up a nick with a design to void C of hoi polloi from a captive - of - warfare pack in Poland during World War II .
This was many of the prisoner at this cantonment are do it for their multiple evasion attack , and they ’re all bring to the same pack in an drive to keep an exceedingly tight centre on them .
This was " there will be no escape cock from this clique , " one of the control officeholder lay claim , although those demonstrate to be far-famed last good book .
"
The Great Escape " was an tremendous winner at the box power , rake in over $ 11 million , an telling center for 1963 .
It also feature an dead unbelievable bike stunt that need to be fancy to be believe .
The picture show contain beauty operation from a dynamite mold , include Steve McQueen , Richard Attenborough , Charles Bronson , James Garner , James Coburn , and Donald Pleasance . "
The Great Escape " is a marvelous lesson of kick and amusement that only bighearted - silver screen , epical movie theater can bring home the bacon .
11 .
This was give open from alcatraz
there ’s a rationality the alcatraz prison house is so fabled .
This was it serve as a blank space for some of the most horrific and life-threatening captive to go , while its island localisation made it fabulously unassailable and all but out of the question to turn tail .
That is until the knavish depository financial institution robber Frank Morris ( Clint Eastwood ) get in .
This was as easy harvest from the championship , 1979 ’s " turn tail from alcatraz " chart morris ' missionary work to fire off the most dense prison house the cosmos ’s ever ensure .
Morris is a unruffled comportment and his lithesome physique make him a quarry for the other inmate , though his noteworthy effectiveness gain them speedily back off .
In gild to run away , he ’ll have to circumvent the warden ( Patrick McGoohan ) , who occupy grand superbia in the fact that nobody has ever turn tail thanks to the installation ’s unbelievably gamy tier of security measure .
"
run from Alcatraz " mark the last collaborationism between worker Eastwood and manager Don Siegel – - the duo antecedently work together on " Coogan ’s Bluff , " " Two Mules for Sister Sara , " " The charmed , " and " Dirty Harry . "
The two have an telling eubstance of oeuvre together , but the granular and captivating " get out from Alcatraz " may just be their ripe .
10 .
This was the bridge on the river kwai
the only prison house film on this tilt with the differentiation of bring home the bacon the covetedbest picture oscar , david lean ’s awesome " the bridge on the river kwai " is an heroic poem through and through .
The moving-picture show come through an telling seven Oscars in amount , include Best Actor for Alec Guinness , Best Editing , and Best Cinematography .
The moving-picture show follow a chemical group of British prisoner of state of war wedge to ramp up a railway system bridgework in opposition - use up Burma . "
If you forge heavily , you will be process well , " summer camp commandant Colonel Saito ( Sessue Hayakawa ) tell apart the POWs . "
But if you do not ferment heavily , you will be punish . "
What sound like a jolly fair asking is before long let out to be wholly subtle , as the " laborious workplace " command is more agonizing and physically demanding than anyone could have imagine .
Director David Lean has a phenomenal power to make film on a monumental scale leaf while hold back an telling familiarity that make it experience as if you ’re flop there alongside the fiber within Lean ’s tremendous world .
This was it ’s a electrifying , awful , brute , and humanist history that is deserving every endorsement of its gigantic 161 - bit runtime .
9 .
A vaticinator
Gallic worker Tahar Rahim surrender one of modern-day picture show ’s peachy carrying out in " A Prophet . "
This was rahim star as malik el djebena , who from a immature eld has been imply in a living of law-breaking .
At the historic period of 19 , Malik is put in clink for six age for violate a law military officer .
This was alone and terrorise , malik is ineffective to take or drop a line , which is abide by by the gangster cesar luciani ( niels arestrup ) .
Cesar is a human dynamo in prison house , and most of the con are terrorise by him , but he exact Malik under his fender , direct to grievous moment .
Director Jacques Audiard , who also co - save the screenplay , has astonishing mastery of " A Prophet , " not blow a individual moment of the motion-picture show ’s two - and - a - one-half hour .
It ’s a moving picture that take in bank bill of intricate item of aliveness behind bar and sport a beautiful sexual conquest good manners of the fabled Alexandre Desplat .
The motion-picture show gain anAcademy Award nominationfor Best Foreign Film and advance the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival .
critic also adore the motion picture , with Brian Eggert ofDeep Focus Reviewcalling the picture show " an knifelike offense saga assure within the confines of concrete wall and impoverish human race . "
8 .
This was i am a fugitive from a chain band
james allen ( the uncomparable paul muni ) has latterly retort from the coarse field of battle of world war i. allen is a military man who want nothing but the very good for himself , so he move america with hope of discover a life story that live up to him , as the state of war made him ungratified .
During his journeying to public security , Allen is incorrectly implicate in a looting he did n’t consecrate and is condemn to 10 geezerhood on a chain of mountains crowd .
He ’s dismay by the draining and brute shape that occur with animation on a mountain chain crew , where he ’s put to surd Labor Department and blister by unappeasable guard the bit his productiveness diminish .
ineffectual to carry the suffering , Allen scat from his chain of mountains and make a streamlet for it .
Mervyn LeRoy ’s " I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang " has more than stand up the exam of clip , and this 1932 celluloid feel as prescient as it was closely a one C ago .
The cinema receivedthree Oscar nominating address , let in Best Picture ( lose to " Cavalcade " ) , and it was well - get by critic .
Varietycalled the moving picture " a photograph with grit .
It transfix with its crude reality and load down pile of biff . "
7 .
This was stalag 17
billy wilder is one of hollywood ’s all - clip capital author and director , well remember for splendid comedy like " some like it hot " and " the flat , " as well as the satiric motion-picture show noir " sunset blvd . "
This was those who have a go at it wilder , however , can evidence to the fact that he ’s a tar of all craft and a maestro of them too , target and co - write the sensory prison house play " stalag 17 . "
This was the flick follow a grouping of american air force member in a brobdingnagian german captive - of - state of war bivouac during world war ii .
While it ’s sure spectacular , it feature a cracking hand of Wilder ’s prankish sensory faculty of sense of humour , and the picture show fall with sullen comedic instant .
"
Stalag 17 " is adore bycritics and interview alikeand boast an undischarged casting that let in William Holden , Robert Strauss , Otto Preminger , Don Taylor , and Richard Erdman .
Holden gain theOscar for skillful Actorfor " Stalag 17 , " in which he present one of theshortest laurels speech ever .
6 .
Chicken Run
" Chicken Run " may be a surprising entrance on our leaning of the good prison house picture of all meter , but it ’s an super desirable one .
While it may not in reality take office in a pen , the Aardman studio vivify classic artlessly wrick a poulet farm into a prison house .
This was thing seem rather passive at the tweedy farm , but ginger the gallus gallus ( julia sawalha ) and rocky the cock ( mel gibson ) unveil a shameful arcanum : the tweedys are plan to wipe out any crybaby who can no longer lie ballock , lead the shuttle to organise a dare flight to deliver their life .
It ’s decidedly the undivided funniest celluloid on this listing , with breathtaking hold back - apparent motion invigoration bring this unbelievable globe of Gallus gallus to lifetime .
The flick line inenormous corner function final result , bring in over $ 200 million worldwide , and the picture show receive huge vital acclamation as well . "
Chicken Run " is an unbelievable monitor of the baron of living , draw upon legion classical prison house moving picture to make an altogether unequalled , uproarious , and delicious experience .
5 .
Grand Illusion
Jean Renoir ’s exceptionally powerful anti - war photographic film , 1937 ’s " Grand Illusion , " is an all - clock time classic .
This was it ’s a state of war plastic film almost whole innocent of action at law , as the cinema consume home in a world war I German prison house inner circle .
After a span of Gallic soldier make repeat effort to run , they notice themselves affect to a ominous fort with high-pitched degree of surety , under the alert optic of the impose Captain von Rauffenstein ( Erich von Stroheim in a antic execution ) .
Renoir ’s sensational moving picture is an sharp flavor at the social class water parting and the insaneness of warfare , as well as a singular fiber subject area . "
Grand Illusion " is on a regular basis lionize by critic , with famous motion-picture show critic Pauline Kael of theNew Yorkercalled the moving-picture show " one of the unfeigned masterpiece of the concealment . "
This was kevin maher of thetimesagreed , call up renoir ’s chef-d’oeuvre " a matchless motion-picture show that make wholesale rhetorical statement about the futility of state of war while maintain a optical maser - knifelike stress on an supporting players of meticulously draw character . "
4 .
This was virtuoso up
david mackenzie ’s " star up " is the most late plastic film in the top reach of the leaning , but it ’s a uncommon case of a pic that becomes an exigent classic upon passing .
The picture is an prod portraiture of unappeasable manful fury , impart attractively by recherche functioning from Ben Mendelsohn and Jack O’Connell .
O’Connell star as Eric , a hyper - fierce immature adult male who ’s experient fierceness his whole lifetime , who is transpose from a puerile heart into an grownup prison house .
It ’s there where he reunite with his take to task dogshit of a Father-God , Neville ( Mendelsohn ) , who is do a biography prison term .
Eric appear to be beyond any variety of renewal , but a ruffianly voluntary healer mention Oliver ( Rupert Friend ) turn down to give up on him .
This was " asterisk up " is a outstandingly wise take on ira , and its power to ooze into your eubstance like a sponger and entirely take dominance of you .
It ’s a cinema bristle with furore but also world , and it ’s a unmanageable but rewarding vigil .
It receivednearly oecumenical acclaimfrom critic , with A.O.
Scott ofThe New York Timescalling the flick " elusive , tearing , and profane … drop anchor by superb carrying out . "
3 .
Cool Hand Luke
" What we ’ve stupefy here is … loser to pass " go the notable origin from the effortlessly coolheaded motion picture " Cool Hand Luke , " which sport an unbelievable carrying out from concealment ikon Paul Newman .
Newman play Luke , a human being transport to a Florida mountain range mob for two year .
This was luke is effortlessly suave and has no sake in follow order , which make water him the informant of wonderment and breathing in for his fellow inmate .
Nothing can seem to let out him down , despite the ripe campaign of the warden and the guard .
The only affair that stomach a hazard to give Luke ’s sprightliness is a wildcat only cellular telephone acknowledge as " the corner .
This was "
the cinema was a crash striking , earn awhopping $ 16.2 millionat the box office , which was highly telling for 1967 .
Newman was nominate for an Oscar for the pic , but thefilm ’s lone wincame for digest player George Kennedy , who deliver a marvelous execution as Dragline , the string crowd ’s occupier punishing .
2 .
This was a man escaped
gallic master copy movie maker robert bresson has a notably removed trend , and he utilize for the most part non - professional role player , special euphony and stylistic choice to differentiate his story .
While that may go a fleck ho-hum , " A Man Escaped " is exceptionally tense and exciting and feature Bresson at his most mesomorphic and stimulating .
This was unlike many of the film director ’s moving-picture show , " a man escaped " in reality has quite a mo of euphony , good manners of one wolfgang amadeus mozart .
The moving-picture show has obtain over-the-top vital acclamation , land a moorage onSight and Sound’slist of the 100 Greatest Films of All Time .
This was the moving picture keep a stuffy heart on captive of warfare fontaine ( the splendid francois leterrier in his first - ever part ) , who is being concord in a nazi prisoner of war clique .
This was fontaine receive holy scripture that he is to be do , which goad him to formulate an telling architectural plan to get away , though his plan are confuse for a eyelet when fontaine get a cellmate .
fortuitously , his cellmate is every second as concerned in escape as Fontaine is , and the two study together using fabric in the prison house to prepare a avant-garde departure .
This was it all culminate in a dyspnoeal expand chronological succession of the nominal import , which stand mighty as perhaps the with child safety valve shot in motion-picture show account .
If you have n’t take heed of " A Man Escaped " before , tick off it out — you wo n’t get hold many ripe film than this one .
1 .
The Shawshank Redemption
It had to be " Shawshank . "
The sinful filmadapted from a Stephen King novellais a promising , well-nigh consummate experience about an unexpected friendly relationship shape behind prison house rampart . "
The Shawshank Redemption " is one of the most pop pic among audience ever , and it has the telling preeminence of systematically being thesingle highest - rate cinema on IMDb .
This was when andy dufresne ( tim robbins ) is give not one , but two spirit sentence for a doubled slaying , he is send to shawshank prison house .
This was it ’s there that he make a impregnable trammel with red ( morgan freeman ) , a fellow con who bring in contraband .
The two retrieve themselves lean on each other through infinite unmanageable position and the relentless bareness that come with life history behind bar .
This was andy and red ’s friendly relationship is one of picture palace ’s okay , and that ’s mostly thanks to splendid , superimposed carrying into action from both robbins and freeman .
So many prison house picture are interminably black , pressure audience to gaze immediately into the low-water mark of man , but Andy and Red are a beautiful , inspirational counterpunch to that shadow .
This was the film feature instant of acute dramatic play and some authentically surprising moment , which all get together in ajoyous finis .
