8 Reasons It’s Hard To Watch ‘Escape From New York’ Today

Another remake of Escape From New York is in the works. Hollywood has been attempting to reimagine John Carpenter’s classic, which launched Kurt Russell to stardom, for quite some time. StudioCanal announced they’re the latest to give it a shot at CinemaCon 2026.

Fans were disappointed with the recent news, as they feel the show brilliantly delivers on its fascinating premise: a criminal’s mission to save the President from a prison that was once Manhattan, set in a future, war-ravaged America. But looking at the original 1981 film now reveals a few areas where it could be even better.

Escape From New York Takes Its Time To Pick Up The Pace

Escape from New York expertly builds its bleak, post-apocalyptic world and introduces us to its compelling, tough-as-nails hero, Snake Plissken, played brilliantly by Kurt Russell. However, it’s easy to see how someone watching it for the first time might not be immediately captivated, as the story takes a little while to truly get going.

Honestly, the first part of this movie felt incredibly slow. While there were a couple of standout scenes – like the US Police Force’s over-the-top missile launch and the Air Force One crash – most of it just dragged. What really bothered me was how subdued everyone was, even when things were supposedly critical. It felt like no one could muster a believable reaction! Thankfully, things finally picked up once the main action started, though it wasn’t without a few issues, even then.

Escape from New York Is Not The Action-Packed Thrillride It Could Have Been

Almost everyone would agree with that. However, some people might also say it’s really an action movie only because there aren’t any better categories for it.

The movie has a few enjoyable moments – like when Snake is chased by escaped prisoners or forced to fight a much larger opponent by The Duke – but these scenes aren’t as thrilling as they could be, and they’re spread out among long, slow sections of Snake wandering through the destroyed city. Considering the film was made in the early 1980s with a $6 million budget, it’s understandable that Carpenter and his team were limited in what they could accomplish.

The Absence Of The Real New York City Is Glaring

Given the limited budget, it’s not surprising that Escape from New York wasn’t actually filmed in New York City. Only a short scene was shot on Liberty Island with permission. While St. Louis, Missouri, stood in for Manhattan, it had a suitably bleak, post-apocalyptic feel after a major fire, but ultimately didn’t quite capture the unique look of New York.

You know, one thing that always struck me about this movie is how they handled the locations. They clearly had to build miniatures or cleverly disguise St. Louis buildings to stand in for famous places – Union Station pretending to be Grand Central was a pretty obvious example. Honestly, the movie often felt more effective when it didn’t even try to be realistic and just invented locations or used St. Louis as-is. But still, I can’t help but wonder what a blast it would have been to see Snake running through Times Square, or that big chase happening on the Brooklyn Bridge instead of that made-up ’69th Street Bridge.’ It just feels like it could have taken things to another level.

Escape from New York Does Not Boast Carpenter’s Best Dialogue

John Carpenter is widely considered one of the most creative filmmakers of his time, known for his original ideas and ability to build incredibly suspenseful and disturbing moods in films like Halloween and The Thing. However, his writing, particularly dialogue, isn’t usually considered a strength, and Escape from New York really highlights that weakness.

The actors often deliver lines that sound forced and unnatural, either explaining things in a clunky way or failing to create believable conversations. Plus, the repeated joke of prisoners mistaking Snake for dead becomes tiresome and doesn’t really add up.

Harry Dean Stanton’s Stilted Performance

Given how quickly the game has become a beloved classic, with lines like “Call me Snake” already iconic, it appears the main problems lie with how the dialogue is performed, not the writing itself. This might be a controversial viewpoint, and it’s difficult to say, but Harry Dean Stanton’s performance feels like the biggest weak point.

The beloved actor, known for iconic roles in films like Alien and Paris, Texas, sadly delivers a surprisingly flat performance as Brain, a loyal follower of The Duke and an old friend of Snake’s. His delivery often feels stilted – perhaps due to his reputation for ad-libbing – making his scenes difficult to watch.

Escape from New York Takes Itself Very Seriously

The character of Snake Plissken in Escape from New York could have been even better if John Carpenter had intentionally made him funnier. Adding more humor to certain parts of the movie would have likely improved it.

The film could have been much funnier and more outlandish. It missed chances to embrace its sillier ideas, like the President’s illogical safety pod – something even the director later acknowledged. The movie also played it too straight when it could have really let loose, for example, by making the drag show sequence even more spectacular.

Escape from New York Fails To Get The Future Right

A lot of dystopian films haven’t aged well, and Escape from New York is a prime example. Released with a setting in 1997, its vision of a massive crime surge turning New York City into a giant prison simply hasn’t happened.

The movie’s silly depiction of future tech is more noticeable than any other flaws. Things like the huge gadgets Snake uses, or the comically oversized cell phone Hauk carries, really stand out. However, the digital cityscapes seen during the glider scenes are surprisingly appealing. What’s even cooler is that these weren’t created with computers – they were made practically by sticking bright tape onto black models.

Snake’s World Trade Center Landing Has Not Aged Well

The scene with Snake’s glider highlights a particularly awkward aspect of how Escape from New York hasn’t held up over time. Hauk tells Snake to land on top of the World Trade Center when he reaches the prison, which causes problems and almost traps him inside permanently.

The frequent appearance of the Twin Towers during dangerous moments in the film might remind some viewers of the September 11th attacks. However, this isn’t unique to this film; many movies made before the tragedy feature scenes that can feel uncomfortable because of the World Trade Center. A notable example is a famous shot from another film where the character Kevin looks out over the city from the top of the towers.

While not flawless, Escape from New York remains one of John Carpenter’s most creative and enjoyable films. It’s also famous for introducing Snake Plissken, a truly iconic and cool action hero, brilliantly played with a calm, unwavering demeanor by Kurt Russell. He later inspired further films and comic books.

Even if Carpenter’s future isn’t quite what came true, his political commentary is sharp, insightful, and feels surprisingly relevant today. The prospect of a refreshed version of this classic sci-fi story, addressing some of the original’s flaws, is definitely appealing.

2026-05-15 22:14