Penitentiary (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 5.2
Released in 1979, Penitentiary is an action, drama and crime film directed by Jamaa Fanaka, running about 99 minutes. “There's only one way out, and 100 fools stand in the way!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed. Gordone is arrested and sent to prison, where he joins the prison's boxing team in an effort to secure an early parole and to establish his dominance over the prison's toughest gang.
Who’s in it. Penitentiary stars Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White as Sweet Pea, Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone, Thommy Pollard as Eugene T. Lawson and Hazel Spears as Linda (as Hazel Spear), among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.2/10, Penitentiary has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, YouTube TV and ScreenPix Apple TV Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Penitentiary page.
If you liked it. Fans of Penitentiary tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Penitentiary (1979)?
- In US, Penitentiary is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and YouTube TV. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Penitentiary worth watching?
- Penitentiary holds an audience score of 5.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Penitentiary?
- Penitentiary stars Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Thommy Pollard , Hazel Spears and Donovan Womack .
- When was Penitentiary released?
- Penitentiary was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 99 minutes.