7 Must-Watch Films That Realistically Portray Life in Prison

(All photos credit: IMDb & X)

Khushi Arora
Feb 18, 2025

Shawshank Redemption

Released in 1994, this classic prison movie follows a story of a banker named Andy who was wrongfully convicted of murder and was locked in a Shawshank Prison.

The Prisoner

This amazing psychological drama is a story of a prisoner who is interrogated by an oppressive regime, exploring the themes of manipulation and faith.

A Prophet

This gripping French drama revolves around the story of an Arab man experiencing a brutal prison system in France.

Midnight Express

Released in 1978, this movie is based on a true story of an American student who used to do drug smuggling and was imprisoned in Turkey.

Cool Hand Luke

Starring Paul Newman as Luke who is in a Southern prison camp, exploring the themes of struggle for individuality and power and oppression.

Punishment Park

Released in 1971, this pseudo-documentary revolves around the National Guard soldiers and police officers embarking on a desert pursuit of a counterculture group, sparking a tense and thrilling confrontation.

The Hurricane

This amazing film is based on a true story of a boxer named Rubin who was falsely imprisoned for a murder, the film explores the theme of racial injustice.

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