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The famous cult American drama film, released in 1994 and based on the work of Stephen King, still excites the imagination of the audience. The film is hugely popular even today. Many people want to watch something like this, which makes them sincerely empathize with the main character, worry about his future fate, and believe that he will be able to overcome difficulties.
Especially for you, we have compiled a selection of 10 great films that are similar to The Shawshank Redemption, shot in the same style, have a similar meaning and are related to detention.
10 Escape plan | 2013
“Escape Plan” viewers saw in 2013. The main roles in the film were played by Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cavieze. The plot of the picture revolves around Ray Breslin, who is one of the prominent specialists in security systems. He is often invited to test US prisons, he manages to get out of almost all of them without any problems.
But once the main character is invited to test the top-secret prison “Tomb”, he agrees, not knowing that he was set up and falls into a trap to get out of there, he has to resort to the help of a prisoner named Emil Rottmayer.
9. Green Mile | 1999
The film was released in 1999 and was based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The action of the film takes place in a prison called the Green Mile. Another prisoner named John Coffey enters it, he is seriously charged with the rape and murder of two girls. John faces the death penalty in the electric chair.
The warden in the prison is Paul Edgecomb, who gradually began to notice that John Coffey could not have committed such a terrible crime, the prisoner has a good disposition and has the power of a healer, helping others to recover. But John refuses Paul’s attempt to save him, saying that he would rather die than live in such a terrible world among the killers.
8. Three days to escape | 2010
The film appeared before the eyes of the audience in 2010. Russell Crowe plays the lead role.
The life of a simple literature teacher John goes on as usual, quite peacefully, until his wife Lara is accused of killing her boss and put in jail. Now the life of the protagonist is changing dramatically because he needs to return his beloved wife freedom, and their son’s mother. To achieve his goals, John does things that he would not have dared to do before. He develops a plan to help his wife get out, conspires with Damon, who has escaped from prison more than once. The film has a happy ending, with the whole family reunited and going somewhere where they won’t be disturbed again.
7. Midnight Express | 1978
The drama was released in 1978. The protagonist of the film decided to take drugs out of Turkey, was caught at the airport and sent to jail for 4 years and 2 months. When there was not much time left before his release, the court reversed its decision and increased the sentence to 30 years.
Hayes was preparing to break out of prison, but he was betrayed by another prisoner – Rifki. This act angered the protagonist, and he beat the informer, bit off his tongue, for which he was sent to the sector for insane prisoners. From it, he tried to transfer to the infirmary, giving a bribe to the warden, but he, having taken the money, wanted to abuse Hayes, the hero could not stand it, he was seized with a terrible rage, killing the guard, he changed into his clothes and escaped from prison.
6. Motilek | 1973
The crime drama premiered in 1973. The plot is autobiographical. The main character’s name is Henri Charrière. “Moth” is his nickname. He is falsely accused of murder and sent to prison. Many times the prisoner makes attempts to escape from there, but each time he fails.
In the end, he is sent to a French colony island, from which it is considered impossible to escape. Henri makes a raft and jumps on it into the water from a cliff, thus gaining the freedom that he has always striven for.
5. Criminal | 2008
The audience saw the dramatic thriller in 2008. The main character, Wide Porter, kills a robber he found in his house, he is sentenced to three years in prison. In prison, Wide is forced to take part in battles with other prisoners, which are arranged by the guards.
One day, a prisoner, John Smith, is admitted to prison after killing 17 people in revenge for the rape of his wife and daughter. Wide tries to sit in jail, once again, without getting into fights, waiting for the release date, but it’s not so easy. The guards set him up, the term of imprisonment is increased by another six years. Wade contemplates what to do next.
4. Escape (TV series) | 2005-2017
The television series was first seen on screens in 2005, until 2009 4 seasons were released. Then they released season 5 in 2017. The action of the picture takes place around two brothers. One of them – Lincoln Burrows was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, the other brother – Michael Scofield is trying to save him. The action of the series throughout all 4 seasons takes place in different prisons in the USA, Panama, Yemen.
3. Escape from Alcatraz | 1979
Frank Morris, who has already escaped from other prisons, is brought to a prison on Alcatraz Island. In this prison, he has problems with the prisoner Wolfe, who harasses him. More than once, Morris fights Wolfe. For one of the fights, Frank is sent to a punishment cell, after which he decides to escape from Alcatraz.
The prisoner plans to leave the prison through the ventilation shaft, he colludes with other prisoners, prepares everything necessary for the escape. The prisoners manage to escape the walls of the prison.
At the end of the film, it is said that it is not known whether they were able to swim to the mainland or died in the waves of the bay.
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest | 1975
The film premiered in 1975. The film takes place in 1963. A criminal named Randle Patrick McMurphy is transferred to a psychiatric clinic to undergo an examination.
Once in the hospital, the main character does not understand why all people tolerate a rude attitude on the part of its employees, allow them to interfere in their personal lives during group therapy sessions.
A riot in a psychiatric clinic is meaningless, since most of those in it agree with its laws. McMurphy wants to run, afraid to stay there forever. Having agreed with one of the patients of the psychiatric hospital – the Leader, he plans an escape plan, but it ends in failure. After that, the main character is subjected to a lobotomy. The chief smothers him with a pillow and escapes through the window.
1. Prophet | in 2009
The film was released in 2009. The storyline of the film revolves around the protagonist of a 19-year-old boy named Malik, who ended up in a French prison. It is not easy for him to be in prison, he has no relatives and friends outside.
Malik is forced to run errands for a gang of Corsicans who run the prison. Gradually, he gets used to this difficult place, begins to think about his own plans and develop them.