The Great Escape (1963): cast, story & where to watch
1963 · Film · ★ 7.9
Released in 1963, The Great Escape is a thriller, drama, adventure and war film directed by John Sturges, running about 173 minutes. “Put a fence in front of these men... and they'll climb it!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Great Escape stars Steve McQueen as Hilts 'The Cooler King', James Garner as Hendley 'The Scrounger', Richard Attenborough as Bartlett 'Big X' and James Donald as Ramsey 'The SBO', among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.9/10, The Great Escape has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $11.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Great Escape page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Great Escape tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Great Escape (1963)?
- In US, The Great Escape is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Great Escape worth watching?
- The Great Escape holds an audience score of 7.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, adventure and war. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Great Escape?
- The Great Escape stars Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald and Charles Bronson.
- When was The Great Escape released?
- The Great Escape was released in 1963, with a runtime of about 173 minutes.