6. Escape From New York (1981)
After a major disaster, the U.S. crime rate skyrockets 400 percent. The government evacuates Manhattan before turning the island into a maximum–security prison where criminals are banished. Things get dicey when the President’s Air Force One escape pod lands in the middle of the city, so the cops have to send in resident badass Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) to save the Commander–In–Chief (Donald Pleasance) in exchange for a full pardon. Martin says the John Carpenter classic’s post-apocalyptic elements and setting are pretty on the money. “That’s the natural tendency, to wall off occupants that are less than desirable. It may be the most relevant of these movies for our time today, with the United States National Police Force against the New York citizens that were walled up. The movie hits on some points that are going on in our country right now. You’ve got the UN armored vehicles spotted around the United States, and people are afraid that the UN forces are going to be brought in. And again, we see the normal post-apocalyptic aspect with violence, rape, and street gangs that always emerges, and that Snake has to contend with. But that’s what happens when society collapses.”
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
Back to top
