Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- rousing
- tense
- earnest
- sports night
- classic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly find the film’s war-sports premise and performances uneven, while agreeing that the football sequences are its main strength.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Allied prisoners use a Nazi propaganda football match as a possible route to freedom and defiance.
The prisoners agree to participate in the match while planning to use the event to escape the camp.
Nazi officers organize the football game to promote their image and manipulate public perception.
The Allied team includes prisoners from different backgrounds and features football figures such as Pelé and Bobby Moore.
Films like Escape to Victory, and why
The Great Escape
shares the world war ii prison camp setting, escape planning, and adventure-drama tone
Victory
shares wartime imprisonment, athletic competition, ensemble camaraderie, and uplifting resistance themes
Stalag 17
shares world war ii prisoner-of-war drama, strategic teamwork, and escape suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1981-06-17
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1044)
Cast
- Sylvester Stallone
- Michael Caine
- Max von Sydow
- Pelé
- Daniel Massey
- Tim Pigott-Smith
- Maurice Roëves
- Julian Curry
- Clive Merrison
- Bobby Moore
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Escape to Victory about?
- Allied prisoners of war turn a Nazi propaganda football match into a dangerous opportunity for teamwork, defiance, and escape.
- What is Escape to Victory like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Escape to Victory as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Escape to Victory violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Escape to Victory as mild.
- What did critics think of Escape to Victory?
- Critics broadly find the film’s war-sports premise and performances uneven, while agreeing that the football sequences are its main strength.
- Which films are like Escape to Victory?
- Films with a similar feel include The Great Escape, Victory, and Stalag 17.
- How long is Escape to Victory?
- Escape to Victory runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Escape to Victory?
- In United States, Escape to Victory is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
