Federal maximum-security prison Alcatraz, located on the eponymous island in San Francisco Bay, is a harsh and mysterious institution that has become a true phenomenon. It was considered the most secure prison, housing the most notorious criminals in the world, yet some managed to escape. Even 60 years after its closure, the legendary prison, also known as “The Rock,” continues to attract the attention of tourists, journalists, writers, and filmmakers.
Recently, it was announced that the island will receive about $50 million for reconstruction—the National Park Service signed an agreement with the construction firm Tutor Perini for a project to stabilize and restore historical structures.
This means that Alcatraz will continue to capture attention and tell its stories for many years to come. Films about it are the best way to learn at least part of these stories, and we have collected the best ones.
1.Escape from Alcatraz, 1979
This cult drama starring Clint Eastwood is based on a true story, possibly the only successful escape from the island.
In the early 1960s, criminal Frank Morris arrives at Alcatraz—convicted of bank robbery, burglary, and multiple escape attempts from various prisons. Later, Morris encounters two bank robbers, brothers John and Clarence Anglin, whom he knew from previous prison terms. Sitting in adjacent cells, they begin to devise an escape plan.
In twenty-nine years, this seemingly impregnable federal prison, which housed Al Capone and the “Birdman of Alcatraz” Robert Stroud, was breached only once by three inmates who were never heard from again. Incidentally, in the mid-2010s, the Anglin brothers’ relatives presented circumstantial evidence of John and Clarence’s escape to Brazil. A facial recognition analyst determined that a 1975 photograph of two men resembling the brothers indeed supports this theory.
Interesting fact: Although Alcatraz had its own power plant, it was no longer operational, and to connect the island to San Francisco’s electricity for filming, 15 miles of cable were needed. Overall, the producers paid half a million dollars to restore the deteriorating prison—some improvements still remain.
2. The Rock, 1996
The Rock boasts a star-studded cast, including Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris. It’s a classic action-thriller that offers something for everyone—if you like hostage situations, government corruption, and chemical weapon attacks.
In the plot, FBI chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) is sent on an urgent mission with former British spy John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery) to prevent General Francis X. Hummel (Ed Harris) from launching chemical weapons from Alcatraz Island into San Francisco. General Hummel demands $100 million in war reparations for the families of soldiers killed in covert operations. After their SEAL team is eliminated, Stanley and John handle the soldiers on their own.
The film is pure fiction, and much of it wasn’t even filmed on Alcatraz, but the island gave the film its name and grim reputation.
3. Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story, 1980
This two-part film tells the story of Clarence Carnes, a Choctaw Indian from Oklahoma, who is said to be the youngest person ever imprisoned in the notorious maximum-security prison.
Serving a 99-year sentence for robbing a gas station and murder, Carnes periodically attempts to escape, the last attempt on May 2–4, 1946, leading to the infamous “Battle of Alcatraz.”
4. Birdman of Alcatraz, 1962
Any Alcatraz tour guide will quickly tell you that inmate Robert Stroud—the so-called “Birdman of Alcatraz”—was never allowed to keep birds on the island. He earned this nickname during his time in a previous prison, where he kept canaries and became an expert on bird diseases. You can probably guess that this 1962 Alcatraz film is largely a fictional account of Stroud’s life, but it received many positive reviews.
Sentenced to life in solitary confinement for murdering a prison guard, Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster) combats loneliness and boredom by caring for a sick bird. Stroud develops an interest in bird care and becomes a talented ornithologist. Publishing a book on bird diseases from prison, he meets a fellow bird enthusiast, Stella (Betty Field), and they marry. However, when Stroud is suddenly transferred to Alcatraz, his marriage and work are threatened…
5. Murder in the First,1995
The plot is inspired by the real story of Henry Young, who ends up in prison for stealing five dollars to feed his little sister. He plans to escape, but due to the betrayal of one of the inmates, the attempt fails. Henry is sent to solitary confinement for three years.
The film features an all-star cast. Kevin Bacon played Young (given a menacing makeup scar across his cheek), Christian Slater played his lawyer, and Gary Oldman portrayed the brutal prison warden. Overall, it’s a rather interesting dramatic thriller with several excellent scenes.
