Punishment Park (1971): cast, story & where to watch
1971 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1971, Punishment Park is a thriller and drama film directed by Peter Watkins, running about 88 minutes. “One of the most controversial films ever made.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim.
Who’s in it. Punishment Park stars Carmen Argenziano as Jay Kaufman, Tribunal Defendant, Patrick Boland as First Tribunal Defendant, Kent Foreman as Defendant in the tribunal and Luke Johnson as Defendant in the tribunal, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Punishment Park has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on FlixFling and rent or buy it from FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Punishment Park page.
If you liked it. Fans of Punishment Park tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Punishment Park (1971)?
- In US, Punishment Park is available to stream on FlixFling, and rent or buy from FlixFling. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Punishment Park worth watching?
- Punishment Park holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Punishment Park?
- Punishment Park stars Carmen Argenziano, Patrick Boland, Kent Foreman, Luke Johnson and Katherine Quittner.
- When was Punishment Park released?
- Punishment Park was released in 1971, with a runtime of about 88 minutes.