Best Prison Movies & TV Series of the 1970s

Looking for the best prison movies and TV series of the 1970s? These 59 are the highest-rated on 3eyedraven, weighted by vote count so a handful of glowing reviews never beats a proven favourite.

Papillon 1973 ★ 7.8
Le Cercle Rouge 1970 ★ 7.6
Escape from Alcatraz 1979 ★ 7.5
Midnight Express 1978 ★ 7.4
Porridge 1974 ★ 8.1
Why 1971 ★ 7.3
Straight Time 1978 ★ 7.1
Fake Gangster 1976 ★ 7.3
The Olsen Gang Sees Red 1976 ★ 7.4
Scum 1979 ★ 7.1
Prisoner 1979 ★ 7.6
Hothead 1979 ★ 7.1
The Olsen Gang on the Track 1975 ★ 7.2
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode 1974 ★ 7.2
Insiang 1976 ★ 7.1
There Was a Crooked Man... 1970 ★ 6.8
The Longest Yard 1974 ★ 6.7
The Olsen Gang Goes to War 1978 ★ 6.9
Revolver 1973 ★ 6.9
Street Mobster 1972 ★ 6.8
The Sugarland Express 1974 ★ 6.6
Graveyard of Honor 1975 ★ 6.7
Dillinger 1973 ★ 6.6
Short Eyes 1977 ★ 6.6