If you have never experienced the harsh reality of imprisonment, it can be challenging to grasp the emotional and psychological toll it takes. However, movies can be a powerful medium to help you understand the complexities of prison life.
This article is a comprehensive guide to some of the most riveting prison movies you can watch on Netflix. These films will immerse you in the gritty, unforgiving world of prisons and leave you captivated by the characters’ stories of survival, redemption, and resilience.
You Can Check Out These Prison Movies On Netflix
1. 13Th (2013)
- IMDB Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97
The 2016 American documentary film, named after the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, delves into the realities of America’s justice system. The film’s title refers to the Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the country but still allowed it as a punishment for a crime.
The film features numerous interviews with academics, activists, and politicians. Its writer, producer, and director, Ava DuVernay, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature and won the British Academy Film Award for Best Documentary.
2. A Twelve-Year Night (2018)
- IMDB Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80
A Twelve-Year Night is a movie directed by Alvaro Brechner, a Spanish-Uruguayan filmmaker. It is a captivating drama that highlights the experiences of three Uruguayan politicians and members of the National Liberation Movement (Tupamaros) who were incarcerated for 12 years. The story revolves around the lives of Jose Mujica, Mauricio Rosencof, and Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro, played by Antonio de la Torre, Chino Darin, and Alfonso Tort, respectively.
The movie takes us on an emotional journey, depicting the struggles of these men as they fight for their rights and freedom while also exploring the political landscape of Uruguay during that time.
3. American History X (1998)
- IMDB Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84
In this crime drama film, Edward Norton portrayed Derek Vinyard, who was involved in the neo-Nazi movements and was imprisoned for 3 years. He became a changed man by the time he was released and tried to prevent his younger brother, Daniel “Danny” Vineyard, played by Edward Furlong, from being indoctrinated into the same movement. Norton’s performance in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
4. On My Skin (2018)
- IMDB Rating: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67
This true-life story is a raw and unflinching look at the final days of Stefano Cucchi, a young Italian man who died in police custody in 2009. The film follows Stefano’s harrowing, week-long journey from his arrest for a minor drug offense to his brutal beating by officers and his slow, agonizing decline in the hospital.
Through flashbacks and courtroom testimonies, the film sheds light on the institutional cover-up surrounding Stefano’s death and the fight for justice waged by his grieving family.
Alessandro Borghi delivers a powerful performance as Stefano, capturing his vulnerability and his desperate struggle for survival.
5. The Platform (2019)
- IMDB Rating: 7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 81
Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, this Spanish film plunges viewers into a vertical hellhole. Inmates in a vast tower prison share a single platform descending daily, laden with food. Those on top feast like kings, while those below scramble for scraps, driven to violence and desperation.
Iván Massagué played Goreng, a new prisoner who teams up with an enigmatic veteran to challenge the inhumane system, sparking a rebellion that forces them to confront their darkness in the fight for survival.
6. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- IMDB Rating: 9.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91
Based on Stephen King’s novella, the film is a story of hope and friendship set against the backdrop of a prison. It centers around Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife, and his friendship with fellow inmate Red (Morgan Freeman). Despite the harsh realities of prison life, they find solace through integrity and a shared dream of freedom.
The film, directed by Frank Darabont, is renowned for its powerful narrative and performances, particularly by Robbins and Freeman. It also received 7 Academy Award nominations.
7. The Green Mile (1999)
- IMDB Rating: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 79
Set during the Great Depression, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is a death row prison guard who experiences unusual occurrences when John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a man sentenced to death for raping and murdering two teenage white girls, arrives at The Green Mile, the name given to Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row.
The story unfolds on death row, where John, a gentle giant, possesses a mysterious power to heal people’s ailments. The film is based on Stephen King’s 1996 novel of the same name and was nominated for four Academy Awards.
8. Papillon (2017)
- IMDB Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 52
Directed by Michael Noer and based on the autobiographical books by Henri Charrière, a French convict who escaped from the notorious Devil’s Island penal colony with the help of another prisoner, Louis Dega. The film stars Charlie Hunnam as Papillon and Rami Malek as Dega.
It is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name, which starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
9. Midnight Express (1978)
- IMDB Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90
This gripping 1978 piece was directed by Alan Parker and adapted from Billy Hayes’s memoir of the same name. It portrays Hayes’s harrowing experience in a Turkish prison for attempting to smuggle 2 kilos of hashish out of the country. The film, known for its intense drama and powerful performances, won 2 Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. However, it sparked controversy for its portrayal of Turkish characters.
10. The Longest Yard (2005)
- IMDB Rating: 6.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 31
The Longest Yard” (2005) is a sports comedy remake directed by Peter Segal. It stars Adam Sandler as Paul Crewe, a washed-up former NFL quarterback. After a drunk driving incident, Crewe is sentenced to prison, where he’s coerced by the warden to form a football team of inmates to play against the guards.
The film humorously depicts the inmates’ journey from a disorganized group to a unified team, overcoming obstacles set by the guards. With memorable performances by Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds, the film delivers a blend of humor, action, and a lesson in self-respect.
