The Great Escape (1963)
Kernel Score: 89% · 2,783 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Adventure, Drama, War
Released: 1963-07-03
Runtime: 173 minutes
Is The Great Escape worth watching?
Must-watch. A classic prisoner-of-war adventure with a great ensemble and a famously cool Steve McQueen. It's long and sometimes light-hearted for its subject, but the planning and the escape are tremendously entertaining.
Watch it if you
- love classic ensemble adventures
- enjoy war films that focus on cleverness and teamwork
- like old Hollywood star power
Skip it if you
- dislike long runtimes
- want a gritty, realistic war film
Best for: Classic movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Great Escape
- Stream: Prime Video, YouTube TV
- Free with ads: YouTube Free, Prime Video (free with ads), Amazon MX Player
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II. Based on a true story.
The Great Escape parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that The Great Escape is a classic NR war film based on a true story of Allied POWs planning an escape from a Nazi prison camp.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — WWII POW film includes escape attempts, a machine gun, and wartime peril, though largely bloodless by modern standards.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Great Escape
If you liked The Great Escape, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Guns of Navarone (1961) — 81%: Classic WWII mission movie with a team of specialists.
- Where Eagles Dare (1968) — 84%: Stylish, action-heavy WWII adventure with clever twists.
- The Magnificent Seven (1960) — 83%: Same director and star McQueen, with a classic team of heroes.
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) — 85%: Charismatic prison movie about a man who won't give in.
- Papillon (1973) — 87%: Prison-escape story with McQueen and real determination.
- A Man Escaped (1956) — 89%: Quietly gripping French story of a patient, careful escape.
Director
Cast
- Steve McQueen as Hilts 'The Cooler King'
- James Garner as Hendley 'The Scrounger'
- Richard Attenborough as Bartlett 'Big X'
- James Donald as Ramsey 'The SBO'
- Charles Bronson as Danny 'Tunnel King'
- Donald Pleasence as Blythe 'The Forger'
- James Coburn as Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
- Hannes Messemer as Von Luger 'The Kommandant'
- David McCallum as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
- Gordon Jackson as MacDonald 'Intelligence'
The Great Escape FAQ
Is The Great Escape worth watching?
Must-watch. A classic prisoner-of-war adventure with a great ensemble and a famously cool Steve McQueen. It's long and sometimes light-hearted for its subject, but the planning and the escape are tremendously entertaining.
Where can I watch The Great Escape?
In the US you can stream The Great Escape on Prime Video and YouTube TV, watch it free with ads on YouTube Free, Prime Video (free with ads) and Amazon MX Player and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Great Escape OK for kids?
The Great Escape is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that The Great Escape is a classic NR war film based on a true story of Allied POWs planning an escape from a Nazi prison camp.
What movies are like The Great Escape?
If you liked The Great Escape, try The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, The Magnificent Seven and Cool Hand Luke.