If you’re fond of sci-fi action films, then you have to watch the movie, Escape From New York (1981). The sci-fi action drama film is set in the 90s and follows an ex-Special Forces soldier who is sent on a dangerous mission to rescue the President of the United States. In this article, I’ll discuss the film and tell you where was Escape From New York filmed.
It wouldn’t be wrong to call Escape From New York a dystopian film. During the 80s and 90s, Hollywood produced several dystopian films, and John Carpenter’s sci-fi action film is one of them. Kurt Russell plays the protagonist in the film. The other central characters are played by Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, and Harry Dean Stanton. Russell started his career as a child actor in television, eventually shifting to movies. He is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Not to mention, he has won several accolades over a long period of time. If you want to witness a young Kurt Russell fighting a ruthless crime boss, then you better not miss out on the movie.
Now if you’re wondering about where was Escape From New York filmed, well, the sci-fi action film was shot in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
Escape From New York was first screened at the USA Film Festival on 1st April 1981, followed by its official release in the United States on 10th July 1981. The sci-fi action film is a Goldcrest Films production and was distributed internationally and in America by AVCO Embassy Pictures. However, let’s find out more about the movie and its filming locations.
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Where Was Escape From New York Filmed? Let’s See!
John Carpenter’s Escape From New York was a huge hit at the box office and also did great commercially. The film earned over $25 million against its budget of $6 million. It also received critical acclaim. The critics praised Carpenter’s extraordinary direction and Kurt Russell’s impeccable performance. The movie won a number of awards and eventually became a cult classic.
The sci-fi action film got an incredible score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7.1 on IMDb. However, let’s dig a little deeper and find out more about where was Escape From New York filmed.
St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
Principal photography of Escape From New York began in August 1980 and was wrapped up by November 1980. The majority of the sci-fi action movie was filmed in St. Louis, Missouri. The major fight sequence in the movie, between Snake and Slag, was filmed in the Grand Hall in the city of St. Louis. Carpenter, along with the cast and crew, shot in multiple locations in and around the city.
Carpenter, in an interview, shared that during the filming of certain scenes, the crew persuaded the city to shut off the electricity for 10 blocks at a time. Some of the special effects in the film were done by James Cameron. At that time, he was working as a special-effects artist along with Roger Corman.
Other successful movies like Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air, Michael Mann’s Manhunter, Oscar Isaac’s crime drama film, The Card Counter, and many more were filmed in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
Few Other Filming Locations
Some of the scenes were also shot in Los Angeles and Atlanta. A handful of interior scenes were filmed in studios in LA. Also, the climax of the movie was shot in neighborhoods like Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles.
Plot Of Escape From New York (1981) | Let’s Meet Snake Plissken!
Escape From New York is set in the 1990s in a dystopian society amidst a war between the Soviet Union and The United States. The American government has turned one of the biggest cities in the country, New York City, into a massive maximum security prison. America is witnessing a high rise in crime, and the situation everywhere in the nation is extremely volatile.
Everything changes for the American citizen when Air Force One is hijacked by a terrorist, and the president is held hostage. President John Harker, played by Donald Pleasence, is put into an escape pod and dropped into the walled Manhattan. When cops are sent to rescue the president, Romero, played by Frank Doubleday, a powerful crime boss, threatens to kill him.
With not many options left, Snake Plissken, played by Kurt Russell, is called to go on a rescue mission and save the president. Plissken is a former Special Forces soldier who is also a convicted bank robber. If anyone can pull off such a mission, it is him. He agrees to go on the mission in exchange for his own freedom.
Final Words
Escape From New York is a must-watch for all film buffs, especially if you’re into highly-rated sci-fi action films. It’s a well-directed film with an outstanding star cast. Missing out on a movie like this would be nothing but a crime. Now that you know everything about the movie and its filming locations, I Would suggest you hurry up and get on with it. To read more such amazing articles, follow the Viebly website.
Who Is The Director Of Escape From New York?
The director of Escape From New York is John Carpenter.
Who Wrote The Screenplay Of Escape From New York?
John Carpenter and Nick Castle wrote the screenplay of Escape From New York.
Who Produced The Sci-Fi Action Film, Escape From New York?
Barry Bernardi, Jake Eberts, Larry Franco, and Debra Hill produced the sci-fi action film, Escape From New York.
Is Escape From New York Available In Any Other Language?
No, Escape From New York is not available in any other language apart from English.
Is Escape From New York Based On A Novel?
No, Escape From New York is not based on a novel.
Who All Acted In The Movie, Escape From New York?
Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Joe Unger, Frank Doubleday, John Strobel, John Cothran, Garrett Bergfeld, Richard Cosentino, Robert John Metcalf, Joel Bennett, and Vicangelo Bulluck acted in the movie, Escape From New York.
What Is The Runtime Of Escape From New York?
The runtime of Escape From New York is 1 hour 39 minutes.
