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The Rewatchables ·

Escape From New York

year 1981decade 80sdirector John Carpentergenre Science fictiongenre Action
host Bill Simmonshost Shea Serranohost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 16 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 25:48

Split: the gladiator match

Bill Simmons: The Hawk briefing is praised for revealing Snake’s decorated military past and criminal sentence through an absurd rescue proposition and clipped sarcasm.

Lee Van Cleef’s earring and severe presentation deepen Hawk’s villainous authority.

The film

Escape From New York (1981)

Directed by John Carpenter · Science fiction

99 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

17:50

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:17:50Read transcript
  • The stated score is two and a half stars. — Bill Simmons
  • The quoted review calls it a merely good thriller that rehashes familiar science-fiction ingredients for cynical times. — Bill Simmons
  • The panel gives the review an L and questions comparing the movie to Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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25:48

Most Rewatchable Scene

Split: the gladiator match; the opening setup

Split: the gladiator match; the opening setup

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:48Read transcript
  • The Hawk briefing is praised for revealing Snake’s decorated military past and criminal sentence through an absurd rescue proposition and clipped sarcasm. — Bill Simmons
  • Lee Van Cleef’s earring and severe presentation deepen Hawk’s villainous authority.
  • Snake landing a one-seat glider on the World Trade Center is praised despite questions about how the president would have escaped with him. — Bill Simmons
  • The first Duke sighting, chandelier Cadillac, stolen car, and run down Broadway form another favored action passage. — Bill Simmons
  • The Duke firing repeatedly around the president while forcing his slogan is singled out as an absurd high point. — Bill Simmons
  • Romero’s finger-delivery countdown establishes how strange prison society has become. — Bill Simmons
  • The gladiator match is selected for its unexplained entrance, Ox Baker reveal, nail-studded bats, live music, and cross-cut rescue attempt. — Bill Simmons
  • The bridge escape and president killing the Duke complete a favored finale sequence. — Bill Simmons
  • The map-like opening that raises the prison walls wins another ballot for producing immediate physical excitement.
  • The sewer attack and Chock Full o’ Nuts abduction are praised for making every surface in Manhattan feel dangerous. — Chris Ryan
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40:18

What’s Aged the Best?

Frank Doubleday’s Romero, the score, deleted material, fatal catchphrase, military base, Kurt Russell, and soundtrack

Frank Doubleday’s Romero, the score, deleted material, fatal catchphrase, military base, Kurt Russell, and soundtrack

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:18Read transcript
  • Romero is praised as perfectly balanced between an extreme look and an ordinary accountant-like voice. — Bill Simmons
  • His first-line physical flourish and the finger exchange remain memorable. — Bill Simmons
  • The deleted bank-robbery opening is valued as an extra seven minutes for fans. — Bill Simmons
  • Every character who tells Snake they heard he was dead eventually dies, creating a recurring kiss-of-death phrase. — Bill Simmons
  • The Gulf Fire plane and the Duke’s car are added to the list of designs that still hold up. — Bill Simmons
  • Hawk’s military installation and its sweeping helicopter-preparation shots remain an unimproved dystopian base design. — Chris Ryan
  • Kurt Russell’s Snake performance is judged capable of making him a star even if released today. — Chris Ryan
  • The synth score remains futuristic, frightening, and musically influential. — Bill Simmons
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45:16

What’s Aged the Worst?

Post-2001 imagery, the president, romance beat, tattoo, huge phone, fight sounds, and inert radar display

Post-2001 imagery, the president, romance beat, tattoo, huge phone, fight sounds, and inert radar display

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:16Read transcript
  • A presidential aircraft flying toward a New York skyscraper plays differently after 2001. — Bill Simmons
  • Donald Pleasence is judged an implausible American president because of his accent and shifty Nixon-like manner. — Bill Simmons
  • A possible sexual pause with the Chock Full o’ Nuts woman is debated as either unappealing or understandable given Snake’s isolation and limited time. — Bill Simmons
  • Snake’s tattoo is criticized as hastily designed, though its roughness is defended as period-appropriate.
  • Hawk’s future cell phone is comically enormous. — Bill Simmons
  • The exaggerated fist-fight sound effects have dated.
  • The radar operator claims Snake entered a building even though the screen’s blinking light does not move.
  • The appended interview says the president’s foreign accent was intentional because the story is set in the future, directly qualifying the panel’s accent criticism.
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49:25

Casting What-Ifs

The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates wa...

The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates was first set for Brain.

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:25Read transcript
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51:58

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
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51:58

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
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51:58

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
  • Adrian Barbeau and Isaac Hayes are strong short-performance alternatives. — Bill Simmons
  • Ernest Borgnine is praised as a famous older actor enjoying the role.
  • Doubleday wins for moving from terror to insecurity, dying with strange physical precision, and adding expressive gestures throughout. — Bill Simmons
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55:13

Half-Assed Internet Research

Narration, location work, the eye patch, Maggie’s death insert, James Cameron, Nick Castle, and Stephen Ford

Narration, location work, the eye patch, Maggie’s death insert, James Cameron, Nick Castle, and Stephen Ford

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:13Read transcript
  • Jamie Lee Curtis is identified as the narrator. — Bill Simmons
  • Russell reportedly stayed in character but removed the eye patch between takes because it damaged his depth perception. — Bill Simmons
  • East St. Louis was selected for its old buildings, river, bridge, and blocks of fire-damaged rubble. — Bill Simmons
  • The Chain of Rocks Bridge was reportedly purchased for one dollar, and the city darkened ten blocks nightly for filming. — Bill Simmons
  • An eleven-year-old J. J. Abrams reportedly prompted the insert proving Maggie died, which Carpenter shot with Adrian Barbeau in their garage. — Bill Simmons
  • James Cameron worked on visual effects and cinematography before The Terminator and was considered the set genius. — Bill Simmons
  • Co-writer Nick Castle also played Michael Myers in Halloween. — Bill Simmons
  • Gerald Ford’s son Stephen Ford plays the Secret Service agent at the cockpit. — Bill Simmons
  • The appended interview says Snake’s eye patch was proposed as a visible, painful war injury and might also have a hidden futuristic function.
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58:03

Apex Mountain

Ox Baker and dystopian New York movies

Ox Baker and dystopian New York movies

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:03Read transcript
  • Kurt Russell is debated between this breakout and later peaks around Tango & Cash, Backdraft, Tombstone, and other roles. — Bill Simmons
  • Escape from New York is treated as the moment Russell became the guy even if it was not his biggest-star phase. — Chris Ryan
  • Making Escape from L.A. is floated as a possible Russell apex because he had enough power to revive the character. — Bill Simmons
  • Ox Baker receives a yes. — Bill Simmons
  • Adrian Barbeau is rejected in favor of her years on Maude. — Bill Simmons
  • John Carpenter receives Halloween as his apex. — Bill Simmons
  • The year 1997 is rejected as a cultural apex. — Bill Simmons
  • Dystopian New York films receive a clear apex verdict here. — Bill Simmons
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1:00:14

Picking Nits

The unique fusion tape, terrorist flight attendants, Brain’s competence, escape pod, arena security, capsules, day–ni...

The unique fusion tape, terrorist flight attendants, Brain’s competence, escape pod, arena security, capsules, day–night timing, and Cabby trade

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:14Read transcript
  • The president carries the only copy of a nuclear-fusion peace tape on a dangerous flight, with no backup. — Bill Simmons
  • Terrorist flight attendants apparently pass background checks and seize the aircraft. — Bill Simmons
  • Brain can make gasoline but struggles to locate an obvious tall-building landing point and delivers Snake into immediate capture.
  • The one-person escape pod leaves the president easy to seize and excludes Secret Service protection. — Bill Simmons
  • After the gladiator fight, guards inexplicably stop treating Snake as dangerous.
  • Romero is unfairly excluded from watching the fight. — Bill Simmons
  • The implanted charges dissolve and explode with implausible second-by-second precision.
  • The changing daylight seems inconsistent with the stated 24-hour mission. — Bill Simmons
  • Cabby’s casual hat-for-tape barter with Romero leaves the negotiation unexplained. — Bill Simmons
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1:05:35

Probably Unanswerable Questions

World War III, the liberation front, survival strategy, prison services, and the displaced people and sports teams of...

World War III, the liberation front, survival strategy, prison services, and the displaced people and sports teams of New York

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:35Read transcript
  • The panel asks what happened in World War III and infers the United States probably lost. — Bill Simmons
  • The National Liberation Front’s plans after crashing the plane and then losing the president remain unclear. — Bill Simmons
  • A hypothetical prisoner chooses the sewers or immediate cremation in real life, but imagines overthrowing the Duke in a movie version.
  • Another participant imagines building a pirate radio station funded by Chock Full o’ Nuts. — Chris Ryan
  • The prison’s electricity, plumbing, food, entertainment, gas, and the Duke’s governing services are questioned. — Chris Ryan
  • The fate of New York’s teams, residents, homes, and largest arena is explored without a firm answer. — Bill Simmons
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1:07:28

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

Snake’s death-rumor line, Romero’s countdown, the Hawk exchange, and the Duke slogan

Snake’s death-rumor line, Romero’s countdown, the Hawk exchange, and the Duke slogan

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:28Read transcript
  • The first Hawk–Snake scene is treated as quotable line by line. — Chris Ryan
  • Snake Plissken, I thought you were dead is a primary takeaway. — Chris Ryan
  • Romero’s touch-me countdown is another favorite. — Chris Ryan
  • Snake telling Hawk the president is dead and may have been eaten is singled out.
  • The Duke of New York, A number one is selected as the favorite line and a family affirmation.
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1:08:34

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A modern series (with practical-effects risk); Catalina; Escape to New York

A modern series (with practical-effects risk); Catalina; Escape to New York

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:34Read transcript
  • A 2020 series offers many advantages, but modern effects may erase the practical magic that distinguishes the original from Escape from L.A.
  • Catalina Island is proposed as a California prison society for a series. — Bill Simmons
  • Escape to New York would invert the premise by making Manhattan the only safe, supplied area in a ruined country. — Chris Ryan
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1:16:11

Who Won the Movie?

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:11Read transcript
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Kurt Russell
Speaker not identified
Kurt Russell
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1:16:19

Producer review

Producer Craig praises the now-fashionable synth music and Russell, while his viewing partner rates it two out of four.

Producer Craig praises the now-fashionable synth music and Russell, while his viewing partner rates it two out of four.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:19Read transcript
  • The closing reaction says the synth music has become cool again and resembles what current listeners seek from electronic artists. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He argues there is no current Kurt Russell equivalent and that Russell still improves any production.
  • His viewing partner gives the movie two out of four and checks her phone, making it a middle-ground shared viewing.
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More from the conversation

The film’s premise is praised for placing an entire maximum-security prison inside Manhattan in a future shaped by crime and war.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:18Read transcript
Carpenter’s early run is treated as an unusually strong sequence of low-budget genre films with distinct worlds and minimal exposition.
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:52Read transcript
The prison society’s unexplained geography, economy, rulers, entertainment, and folklore are treated as the source of repeat-viewing pleasure.
Approx. transcript time · 00:10:58Read transcript
The movie joins a run of 1970s and early-1980s films imagining New York as violent, depraved, and near collapse.
Approx. transcript time · 00:15:01Read transcript
Its $6 million budget, $20 million gross, cult home-video life, restored deleted opening, and disappointing sequel establish the reception history.
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:39Read transcript
Kurt Russell’s casting against his Disney image is framed as the break that created a new star persona.
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:39Read transcript
The appended Kurt Russell interview defines Snake as a non-redemptive American escape artist whose one inescapable prison is himself.
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:06Read transcript
Russell argues remakes work best when the source has fixable flaws and says Carpenter’s work remains hard to reproduce because of his singular worldview.
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:45Read transcript
Russell says Carpenter adapted Who Goes There rather than simply remaking the earlier film, then describes The Thing as a study of paranoia and the decay of identity under isolation.
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:42Read transcript