The 16 Best Prison Movies That Will Make You Miss the Daylight
Prison is a place that most of us would prefer not to think about, let alone experience. But for some, it is a necessary part of life, either as a punishment for a crime or as a way to rehabilitate and reform. For many, however, the concept of prison is shrouded in mystery and fear.
To help shed some light on this interesting institution, we have compiled a list of the 16 best movies set in prison. These films not only provide a glimpse into the lives of inmates, but they also explore the complex issues surrounding the prison system, such as corruption, abuse of power, and the search for redemption.
So, if you're ready to dive into the world of prison movies, grab some popcorn and get ready to be captivated by these tales of crime, punishment, and survival.
1. Papillon (2017)
IMDb: 7,2
Papillon is adapted from a true story to the big screen. Wrongfully convicted of murder, Henri 'Papillon' Charriere is a man who is involved in petty crimes. However, due to this unjust punishment, he is sent to the maximum-security prison on the notorious Devil's Island of France. In prison, he meets Louis Dega. Dega, a rich but vulnerable man, agrees to finance his friend's prison escape in exchange for protection. An interesting friendship begins between the two and they start planning a double escape.
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
IMDb: 9,3
The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of the world that two prisoners named Andy and Red have built behind bars. Andy Dufresne is a young and successful banker. He is convicted for the crime of murdering his wife and his wife's lover, and receives a life sentence in prison. There are beatings, torture, rape, all kinds of situations in Shawshank Prison, but Andy is still committed to life and optimistic. This attitude also affects those around him. With his hopeful outlook, Andy makes all the prisoners around him believe that there can be a free life even behind bars. Andy will also have a friend who will be a partner: Red.
3. Le trou (1960)
IMDb: 8,5
When Claude Gaspard, a prisoner convicted of the attempted murder of his wife and awaiting trial, is transferred to another cell, he learns that the prisoners he met in this cell have plans to escape from prison. At this time, thinking about the case he was convicted of, it is explained to Gaspard that he will get out of prison in a maximum of 5 years. But the escape plan is still working, and the other prisoners will find out about it sooner or later... Based on a real event, Le Trou is the last film by director Jacques Becker, who died a few months after the end of filming.
4. Green Mile (1999)
IMDb: 8,6
The Green Mile tells the story of a prison officer and a prisoner. Paul Edgecomb's mission at the prison is to send prisoners sentenced to death on their last journey. He has executed hundreds of prisoners during the years. One day he meets a scary-looking man named John Coffey. However, under this scary appearance of Coffey lies a rather pure soul. Coffey is on trial in the murder case of two little girls. Coffey's extraterrestrial powers, which are coming to light day by day, will reveal new clues about his character throughout the movie.
5. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
IMDb: 7,6
The film tells the true story of three criminals who managed to escape from Alcatraz Island Prison, which was shown as impossible to escape, J. Based on Campbell Bruce's book. The film is directed by Donald Siegel and written by Richard Tuggle. The film stars Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan and Roberts Blossom, while Paul Benjamin, Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau are other names in the cast.
6. Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
IMDb: 7,8
Master director John Frankenheimer's classic film Birdman of Alcatraz, which was nominated for 4 Oscars in 1963, is about the life of Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster), who is sentenced to life in prison.
In order to distance himself from the harsh prison conditions, Stroud becomes close to birds and after a while specializes in avian diseases.
7. American History X (1998)
IMDb: 8,5
American History X tells the story of a teenager who tries to avenge his murdered father. After the murder of his father by a black drug dealer, Derek has become an important member of a fascist gang. Derek tries to avenge his father's death with the attacks and harassment that this organization carries out against those who are not like them, one day kills two black men who tried to steal his car and goes to prison. In the process, his younger brother Danny also chooses to follow in his brother's footsteps. Derek has become a completely different man during his time in prison, he regrets the mistakes he made. He is no longer a” skinhead' and his only goal will be to try to turn his brother back down this wrong path. Directed by Tony Kaye, this very loud debut feature film stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong.
8. Hunger (2008)
IMDb: 7,5
In the film about the IRA, you almost experience the harshness of Bobby Sands' inhumane treatment. The film, which starts with the striking of the scenes without dialogue, comprehends the viewer with the terrifying sense of reality that pervades the entire film.
The prisoners' resistance, which proceeds with blanket and non-washing actions, culminates with a hunger strike that lasted for six weeks. The dramatic process that took place when Sands considered his own body as the last battleground of his life is revealed with tremendous impressiveness.
The film's impressiveness is not only about the saga of the resistance of prisoners led by Sands. Because prison is a complete hell for the prisoners as well as for the guards. We are also watching the overturned psychology of the guards in the film.
9. Uçurtmayı Vurmasınlar (1989)
IMDb: 8,4
Forced to grow up in prison because of his mother's imprisonment, Barış is a source of joy for all prisoners. The closeness between him and İnci, one of the political prisoners, is much different than with all the other prisoners.
This loving friendship that has developed between little Barış and İnci will allow them to create a big world that even pierces through the prison walls.
10. Celda 211 (2009)
IMDb: 7,6
Juan is about to become a guard. One day, he goes to work early. While two colleagues are giving him a tour of the prison, he suddenly faints when he is hit by a piece falling from the ceiling. The guards take him to the empty cell number 211 to sober him up. While Juan is lying unconscious in the cell, a riot breaks out in the prison. When he gets sober, he is faced with a difficult situation: he must play the role of a prisoner in order to survive.
11. The Platform (2019)
IMDb: 7,0
The platform takes place in a vertically positioned prison. In the prison, where two prisoners stay in each cell, food is sent from the upper floor to the lower floor only once a day. While the prisoners upstairs are struggling to get to food, the prisoners downstairs are trying to cope with hunger by getting a little wilder every day. One day, Goreng opens his eyes to the 33rd floor of the prison, embarks on a difficult struggle to get to the food together with Trimagasi, who knows the rules of the prison well.
12. Brubaker (1980)
IMDb: 7,2
A man who is appointed warden of a small prison in Arkansas disguises himself as an inmate. When doing this, he tries to find out about all the corruption in the prison. Later, the man who reveals the facts and explains that he is the director of the prison, leads a war against corruption.
13. Przesluchanie (1989)
IMDb: 8,0
The film, which could only be released years after it was made due to its restrictions, tells in all its nakedness about the torture and ill-treatment that Tonia, who does not even know what her crime is, experiences in prison.
14. Cool Hand Luke (1967)
IMDb: 8,1
This film is about the escape story of a man who was sentenced to two years in prison. War veteran Luke Jackson is serving a two-year prison sentence for a trivial war crime he committed. In prison, he meets Dragline, who is trying to somehow show him that he is the boss of their place. Having managed to stand out in this place, where it is quite difficult to gain friendship and respect, Luke is taking important steps towards becoming the new boss of the prison. It's probably time to try to escape from prison.
15. Das Experiment (2001)
IMDb: 7,7
Scientists decide to set up an experiment in order to measure people's instinctual impulses. According to the experiment, 8 people are taken to a fake prison as guards and 12 people are taken as prisoners. Guards will play the role of guards, and prisoners will play the role of prisoners. It all starts as a game, but as the situation starts to get more and more serious, the twenty people who came there for money are condemned to their roles. Now the fake guards will start acting like real guards. Scientists will lose control of the experiment.
16. Un prophète (2009)
IMDb: 7,9
Malik Djabena, who is in a prison in France to serve his six-year sentence, is a man who is late for life. He can't read nor write. He is just nearing the end of his 19th birthday and seems quite weak compared to other prisoners. As a newcomer, Malik will have various obligations in this prison, which usually houses criminals from minorities. Malik, who starts to gain influence in the prison as he fulfills his duties day by day, will gradually rise in the environment he is in and start making his own plans.
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