Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- heightened
- melodramatic
- 1980s action marathon
- prison movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic and exaggerated prison action drama, though some acknowledged its brisk pacing and effective performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Frank Leone is nearing parole when the hostile warden takes control of his prison experience and attempts to prolong his captivity.
Warden Drumgoole exploits the prison system to retaliate against Leone for publicly humiliating him in the past.
Leone's relationships with inmates including Eclipse, Dallas, and Chink Weber shape his ability to endure Drumgoole's campaign.
The film combines Stallone's heroic persona with prison assaults, threats, coercion, and stylized resistance.
Films like Lock Up, and why
Escape from Alcatraz
shared prison setting, institutional abuse, personal resistance, and action-drama intensity
The Shawshank Redemption
shared prison drama framework, corrupt authority figures, and determined protagonists pursuing freedom
Tango & Cash
shared 1980s action style, muscular star vehicle format, and conflict with abusive institutions
Movie Details
- Director
- John Flynn
- Release Date
- 1989-08-04
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (1374)
Cast
- Sylvester Stallone
- Donald Sutherland
- John Amos
- Sonny Landham
- Tom Sizemore
- Frank McRae
- Darlanne Fluegel
- William Allen Young
- Larry Romano
- Jordan Lund
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Lock Up about?
- A nearly paroled inmate must survive a vindictive warden's escalating campaign to destroy his freedom and dignity.
- What is Lock Up like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lock Up as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Lock Up violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Lock Up as moderate.
- What did critics think of Lock Up?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a formulaic and exaggerated prison action drama, though some acknowledged its brisk pacing and effective performances.
- Which films are like Lock Up?
- Films with a similar feel include Escape from Alcatraz, The Shawshank Redemption, and Tango & Cash.
- How long is Lock Up?
- Lock Up runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lock Up?
- In United States, Lock Up is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
