The Movievaures Time Machine: Escape from New York — The 80s Vibe is Strong With This One

Welcome back to The Movievaures Time Machine, where I revisit classics from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s to see if they’ve stood the test of time or got lost in the cinematic void.

This week, I jumped into a movie I’d heard about forever but had never actually watched: John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, released in 1981. A cult classic in many eyes, starring the iconic Kurt Russell as the unforgettable Snake Plissken.

Let’s just say… this one sparked some thoughts.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Set in a dystopian future (well, 1997 from the 1981 perspective), Escape from New York imagines a world where the entire island of Manhattan has been turned into a maximum-security prison. When Air Force One is hijacked and the President crashes into the island, the government sends in ex-soldier and convicted criminal Snake Plissken to rescue him.

He’s given 24 hours to complete the mission or die. Sounds wild? It is.

A Look at the Movie

This movie has all the 80s sci-fi vibes you could ask for. From the synth-heavy soundtrack to the gritty, dystopian aesthetic and over-the-top characters, Escape from New York is soaked in that very specific era of filmmaking. And as someone who loves that mood, it’s hard not to enjoy it… at least on the surface.

But let’s be real: it didn’t age well.

The premise—turning Manhattan into a prison island—is so ridiculous that you kind of have to accept it blindly. And even if you do, what follows doesn’t really deliver on the setup. The story barely evolves, characters make choices that don’t really make sense, and the movie ends up feeling like a string of action scenes loosely tied together.

Snake Plissken is, let’s face it, a total cliché. The eyepatch, the gruff one-liners, the constant brooding—it’s all there. It’s kind of entertaining, sure, but also a little silly by today’s standards. And while I get why the character became iconic, his depth is basically non-existent.

One strange thing I felt was a kind of slowness, even though the movie isn’t long. There’s a certain weight to the pacing that doesn’t add tension—it just drags a little.

Public Reception Then and Now

Escape from New York was a hit when it was released and became a true cult classic over the years. Fans love it for its bold concept, its dark tone, and Carpenter’s signature atmosphere. And to be fair, it did influence a ton of future dystopian films and video games

But watching it today, without the nostalgia factor, it’s easier to see the cracks in the surface.

The Movievaures Time Machine Verdict

This is a tricky one. As an 80s sci-fi action flick, it checks all the boxes: gritty cityscapes, weird costumes, brooding antihero. But as a timeless movie? Not really. The plot feels shaky, the pacing is uneven, and the character logic often goes out the window.

So…

Time Machine verdict: not passed. But! If you’re a fan of cheesy 80s action and don’t mind a story that’s more about the vibe than the logic, you’ll still have a good time.

Conclusion

What about you? Have you seen Escape from New York recently? Is Snake still your antihero of choice? Let me know your thoughts—and don’t forget to follow The Movievaures Time Machine on Instagram for more retro rewatches, honest verdicts, and cinematic throwbacks.

Because sometimes, loving a movie doesn’t mean pretending it aged like fine wine.