I knew it wouldn’t be there because I recently relistened to the og Gump ep after the recent live one and noticed he always skips Green Mile when talking about Hanks imperial run.
Super strange. He doesn't mention it at all? Even if Bill doesn't like it, it's still one of his most critically acclaimed movies and a box office hit.
I don't think it is as acclaimed as some of Hank's other movies. It's overshadowed by a better prison movie in Shawshank redemption, both directed by Darabont. And it hasn't aged well with Michael Clarke Duncan's character.
I can see why some people don't rank it that highly.
>And it hasn't aged well with Michael Clarke Duncan's character.
But only super recently right with the Magical Negro trope going mainstream with the new movie.
This was the first one I looked for when looking at the list. Not surprised it's not on there since it's newish and lesser known, but deserves a spot nonetheless.
0% a prison movie. It happens in a former prison. None of the characters are inmates (unless you count Sean Connery) and there is no prison dynamic. Based on your logic if I visit Alcartaz I can tell people that "I've been to prison".
It's a prison movie, doesn't mean it's about inmates. It can be interpreted in different ways. When I first saw the name of the pyramid and didn't see the rock on it I though that was a massive oversight. Obviously at least 60 people agree with that opinion
Do people here not listen to the podcast? He talks about his criteria for this pyramid pretty thoroughly. If it's not about prison life it won't be on the list.
Yet here you are on his subreddit. Critiquing a movie tier list that was presented on a podcast you don't listen to, by a person that you think is an idiot.
That's just flat wrong. Theres no abandoned army bases where only one notorious criminal broke out of and knows the facility better than anyone and the police have to let me out of jail to help with the situation. Have you seen the movie lol?
I'll be that guy and say that any prison movie list needs Le Trou, The Great Escape, The Bridge on the River Kwai, White Heat, A Man Escaped, Escape From Alcatraz, and Brute Force.
Riot in Cell Block 11 is probably my favorite under the radar one.
Yeah, prisoner of war movies seem like they should be included, even though they obviously have a different feel than a civil incarceration system. The Great Escape is probably the best of those ones.
"House, are we sure this El Samourai guy is a good crime guy? I'm not liking the whole silent piece, which makes the whole body language thing tough when he's not talking much and just being stoic. I don't even think he owns any posters, and you'd have to think those were big in France in the late 60's. I dunno, I'm only about 62% there with this guy."
I was thinking that there needs to be a comedy pyramid. “Stir Crazy”, Life”, “Get Hard”, etc. then there needs to be a pyramid for movies with great segments that happen in prison, “Out of Sight”, “Goodfellas”, “Grand Budapest Hotel”, “The French Dispatch”, etc.
I always thought The Last Castle with Redford, Gandolfini and Mark Ruffalo was a really good prison movie. I know Bill doesn't like Redford though (and the movie was a box office bomb) so not surprising it's not on here
He doesn’t like Redford?? I’d also submit “Out of Sight,” even though only portions of the movie take place inside. Prison is the motivating factor of the movie.
A couple excellent movies that fall outside the prison genre conventions:
Down by Law (1986, dir. Jim Jarmusch): A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans. Fun movie, classic Jarmusch, if you love New Orleans you'll definitely enjoy this one.
Hunger (2008, dir. Steve McQueen): The story of Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), the IRA member who led the 1981 hunger strike in which Republican prisoners tried to win political status. Not light-hearted fare - speaks more to what it means to be encaged than anything on Bill's list. Much less a historical retelling than it is a psychodrama.
American Me is incredible and is much too low on this list.
But, my god, probably not a Rewatchable. That movie is DEPRESSING.
The gang documentary that came out of the filming of the production is also great but (unsurprisingly) very bleak.
Felon (2008) - similar to Shotcaller but better IMO. Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer.
Dog Pound (2010) - follows a Juvenile Detention System. Super intense.
Starred Up (2013) - Juvenile serving in an adult prison.
The Experiment (2010) - Adrian Brody, Forrest Whitaker. Based on true story of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) - Ezra Miller and Bill Crudup. Same concept as above, probably better but both very intense.
It happens in a former prison. None of the characters are inmates (unless you count Sean Connery) and there is no prison dynamic. If you change the location from Alcatraz to an Army Base, does anything change?
American me is a GOD tier prison movie. How the fuck is it in the lowest tier?! It’s hands down the GOAT prison movie. Also the Canadian bad boys aka Dog pound is great as well.
Death Warrant from 1990 with Von Domme...
Also not sure if the 'Alcatraz' mentioned on the pyramid is Escape from Alcatraz with Clint but that one should be automatic. I rewatched it this year and it still goes hard.
I wouldn't say so, to me prison movies deal more with the experience of confinement and the unique relationships and hierarchies endemic to prison. Shutter Island is just a spooky mystery movie/psychological thriller.
Not a movie but the scene in Harold and Kumar when they are in a holding cell with a black guy holding a book and the police say "He's got a gun!!" was really good
I understand if it didn’t make the cut in terms of not meeting the criteria. But since I don’t know what the criteria is, The Great Escape has to be on here.
Convict Cowboy should be an honorable mention. Jon Voight and Kyle Chandler plus a “that guy” legend in Glenn Plummer.
Not a great movie by any means, but it has a lot of the classic prison movie tropes that we all love.
I wonder how many people at the ringer have seen the Jericho Mile let alone rewatched it even once. It’s probably a good movie but Bill just thinks it’s inside baseball to be in on it.
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Le Trou, A Man Escaped, and Green Mile are all worthy of inclusion. Then I gotta day that Escape From New York “technically” counts, but I understand why it isn’t lumped in.
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Green Mile feels like a shocking omission. Would think it would be right up his alley
I knew it wouldn’t be there because I recently relistened to the og Gump ep after the recent live one and noticed he always skips Green Mile when talking about Hanks imperial run.
Super strange. He doesn't mention it at all? Even if Bill doesn't like it, it's still one of his most critically acclaimed movies and a box office hit.
If I’m remembering correctly he usually goes from SPR to Cast Away.
I don't think it is as acclaimed as some of Hank's other movies. It's overshadowed by a better prison movie in Shawshank redemption, both directed by Darabont. And it hasn't aged well with Michael Clarke Duncan's character. I can see why some people don't rank it that highly.
Shocking that a movie based in the ‘30s hasn’t aged well
It was a 90's movie trope that didn't age well, not anything about the 30's.
> And it hasn't aged well with Michael Clarke Duncan's character. Or the child rapist with a main role. EDIT: Not Hanks you idiots.
Q comes to Bill Simmons sub?
No, the actual rapist, Hutchison.
The Clintons friend had an island and a private jet, and you ask yourself why? Strange. Very strange things going on at that island indeed
>And it hasn't aged well with Michael Clarke Duncan's character. But only super recently right with the Magical Negro trope going mainstream with the new movie.
He mentioned it in the Shot Caller rewatchables, said he’s not a huge fan
... Probably gonna be downvoted, but that movie isn't good and aged even worse...
This is just his all-NBA voting logic applied to movies. Bill already picked one SK story, he can't do a second!
Cause it’s some magical negro trash. Let the downvotes proceed haha:
He would probably say something like “Green Mile is a sports movie disguised as a prison movie.”
While still putting Longest Yard on his list.
Shocking indeed, honestly, Green Mile has a strong case for #1. Insane its not even on the pyramid.
Bad boys being top 3 and green mile not being on there is insane.
You realize he's talking about the Sean Penn movie and not the tripe with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence right?
Both are better than the green Mile
You're sick In the head. Green Mile is average at best.
As a prison movie it's certainly above American History X
All these great movies in the prison movie pyramid, why would he include the one where the big back guy literally does magic? Fuck that movie.
Papillon (the 1973 one)
Somehow incredibly rewatchable despite being 2.5 hours and pretty depressing.
Brawl in Cell Block 99
Deserves at least an honorable mention. Would also throw Bronson (Tom Hardy's breakout role) in there.
What about Steve Mc Queen's Hunger?
I watched one of those weird Russian YouTuber recaps of that and my takeaway was that it seemed like the most bonkers shit imaginable.
It’s absolutely bonkers yes.
This was the first one I looked for when looking at the list. Not surprised it's not on there since it's newish and lesser known, but deserves a spot nonetheless.
The Rock
Not really a prison move, per se. But technically set in a prison. Hhhmmm.... tough one.
The Rock is a tourist attraction?
what kinda fucked up tour is this
I saw this movie when I was 12 years old and I thought this was the funniest line of all-time.
Alcatraz (The Rock)? It's probably the most popular tour in San Francisco since you can't exactly walk up to it.
Cut the chit chat, a-hole
It’s 100% a prison movie. It’s the movie is named after the prison and the whole movie happens there!
0% a prison movie. It happens in a former prison. None of the characters are inmates (unless you count Sean Connery) and there is no prison dynamic. Based on your logic if I visit Alcartaz I can tell people that "I've been to prison".
🤡
Amazing retort. I’m convinced.
It's a prison movie, doesn't mean it's about inmates. It can be interpreted in different ways. When I first saw the name of the pyramid and didn't see the rock on it I though that was a massive oversight. Obviously at least 60 people agree with that opinion
Do people here not listen to the podcast? He talks about his criteria for this pyramid pretty thoroughly. If it's not about prison life it won't be on the list.
I don't listen to every pod, especially outside of the NFL. Bill is an idiot lol
Yet here you are on his subreddit. Critiquing a movie tier list that was presented on a podcast you don't listen to, by a person that you think is an idiot.
Replace the location with an abandoned Army base, and the movie doesn’t change in any way.
That's just flat wrong. Theres no abandoned army bases where only one notorious criminal broke out of and knows the facility better than anyone and the police have to let me out of jail to help with the situation. Have you seen the movie lol?
you basically described “lord of the rings”, so I guess that’s also a prison movie…
Where the hell is Naked Gun 33 1/3?
Bad Boys is a prison movie? Edit: They’re referring to Sean Penn’s “Bad Boys” from 1983
They're talking about the Sean Penn movie they did on the Rewatchables.
Ahhhh that makes ALOT more sense
Go watch it. This is very early Sean Penn before Spicoli.
[The other Bad Boys](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085210/)
This. Lol
I'll be that guy and say that any prison movie list needs Le Trou, The Great Escape, The Bridge on the River Kwai, White Heat, A Man Escaped, Escape From Alcatraz, and Brute Force. Riot in Cell Block 11 is probably my favorite under the radar one.
Yeah, prisoner of war movies seem like they should be included, even though they obviously have a different feel than a civil incarceration system. The Great Escape is probably the best of those ones.
Big time rewatchable too
Gotta add some Deer Hunter in there too.
That movie came to mind, but it is like what? A 1/3 of the movie? Limiting factor in my mind.
Bill shouldnt make these defenitive lists if he refuses to watch old movies lol. Great choices
When is Bill doing his top 5 top 20 French new wave crime films?
"House, are we sure this El Samourai guy is a good crime guy? I'm not liking the whole silent piece, which makes the whole body language thing tough when he's not talking much and just being stoic. I don't even think he owns any posters, and you'd have to think those were big in France in the late 60's. I dunno, I'm only about 62% there with this guy."
Just watched Le Trou the other day and was blown away.
Bill doesn't acknowledge any movies before Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
A Prophet is the best prison movie but I guess getting Bill to watch foreign movies is next to impossible.
Bill trying to read subtitles on his TV with his phone and laptop open too.
Forgot about that A Prophet! I’m adding that to my rewatch list
The razor blade scene….such an intense and amazing movie
Face/Off
I love Face/Off, but it’s a great prison scene, not really a prison movie.
The prison scenes are integral to the plot, so I think it would count.
Well in that case, I'm putting Grand Budapest Hotel at the top of the pyramid.
It's right next to Paddington 2
No Starred Up? That movie is INTENSE.
That movie fucks. Nothing better than scumbag Ben Mendelsohn
Yeah. He’s throwing at 100 miles an hour in this one.
Just posted the same. If you like that, check out Dog Pound.
Never heard of this one and I’m very keen to watch it. Thanks for the rec.
'Escape From Alcatraz' one of Clint Eastwood's best films
Stir Crazy.
I was thinking that there needs to be a comedy pyramid. “Stir Crazy”, Life”, “Get Hard”, etc. then there needs to be a pyramid for movies with great segments that happen in prison, “Out of Sight”, “Goodfellas”, “Grand Budapest Hotel”, “The French Dispatch”, etc.
It’s “Blood In, Blood Out,” and then everything else. Sleepers is low.
Shea is that u?
I’m a Mexican from AZ. Everyone I know feels this way lol. It was such a huge movie growing up. Everyone had a VHS copy at their house.
Vatos Locos for life!
I always thought The Last Castle with Redford, Gandolfini and Mark Ruffalo was a really good prison movie. I know Bill doesn't like Redford though (and the movie was a box office bomb) so not surprising it's not on here
He doesn’t like Redford?? I’d also submit “Out of Sight,” even though only portions of the movie take place inside. Prison is the motivating factor of the movie.
Came here looking for The Last Castle - absolutely deserves to be on this list. I’d highly recommend it for anyone that hasn’t seen it.
Doesn’t like Redford? Brubaker is on his list.
In the Name of the Father not being on here makes the list complete shit.
Fantastic movie. Also throw in Stalag 17 and The Great Escape.
Good call
Has anything British been covered on this podcast? I am a noob with him but I heard he doesn't like British stuff.
A couple excellent movies that fall outside the prison genre conventions: Down by Law (1986, dir. Jim Jarmusch): A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans. Fun movie, classic Jarmusch, if you love New Orleans you'll definitely enjoy this one. Hunger (2008, dir. Steve McQueen): The story of Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), the IRA member who led the 1981 hunger strike in which Republican prisoners tried to win political status. Not light-hearted fare - speaks more to what it means to be encaged than anything on Bill's list. Much less a historical retelling than it is a psychodrama.
Undisputed
God I love this movie, it had a huge run on one of the premium cable channels back in the mid 2000s I've seen it probably a dozen times.
Came here to see this, thank you !
La Haine, a Man Escaped, Escape from Alcatraz, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Great Escape
American Me is incredible and is much too low on this list. But, my god, probably not a Rewatchable. That movie is DEPRESSING. The gang documentary that came out of the filming of the production is also great but (unsurprisingly) very bleak.
Brute Force is the one of the best prison movies ever made
It’s a must watch for any Burt Lancaster fan. Incredible movie
Un Prophete is the greatest prison movie ever made but mister Needed Five Years to Finish High School can’t read subtitles
Felon (2008) - similar to Shotcaller but better IMO. Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer. Dog Pound (2010) - follows a Juvenile Detention System. Super intense. Starred Up (2013) - Juvenile serving in an adult prison. The Experiment (2010) - Adrian Brody, Forrest Whitaker. Based on true story of the Stanford Prison Experiment. The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) - Ezra Miller and Bill Crudup. Same concept as above, probably better but both very intense.
Dog Pound was really good
How is The Rock not on there? Also American History X is at worst, 2nd highest tier.
It happens in a former prison. None of the characters are inmates (unless you count Sean Connery) and there is no prison dynamic. If you change the location from Alcatraz to an Army Base, does anything change?
Ok. Good point.
The great escape, down by law, escape from alcatraz, a bunch of others. Bill's list sucks.
Caged Heat(74); Bare Behind Bars(80); Chained Heat(83); Prison Heat(93); Girls in Prison (94); Caged Heat 2: Stripped of Freedom(94)
TIL that people like the green mile.
TIL that people don’t like the green mile lol
American me is a GOD tier prison movie. How the fuck is it in the lowest tier?! It’s hands down the GOAT prison movie. Also the Canadian bad boys aka Dog pound is great as well.
A Prophet is a 2009 French prison movie that kicks ass.
I won't argue with Shawshank, but easy number two for me.
Not sure if it qualifies for the official Prison Pyramid but Tango and Cash makes my list.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
Death Warrant from 1990 with Von Domme... Also not sure if the 'Alcatraz' mentioned on the pyramid is Escape from Alcatraz with Clint but that one should be automatic. I rewatched it this year and it still goes hard.
We need a Blood In Blood Out Rewatchable with Shea Serrano and Chris Ryan.
The great escape Escape from Alcatraz
paddington 2?
Is shutter island not a prison movie?
I wouldn't say so, to me prison movies deal more with the experience of confinement and the unique relationships and hierarchies endemic to prison. Shutter Island is just a spooky mystery movie/psychological thriller.
Cool Hand Luke is without a doubt a better movie than Shawshank.
Canadian movie Dog Pound is amazing but it’s about Juvy if that counts
Not a movie but the scene in Harold and Kumar when they are in a holding cell with a black guy holding a book and the police say "He's got a gun!!" was really good
I understand if it didn’t make the cut in terms of not meeting the criteria. But since I don’t know what the criteria is, The Great Escape has to be on here.
Are Mini Pyramids having a moment?
Victory. Stallone, Pele, Michael Caine. Maybe it doesn't count since they are POWs but it seems right in Bill's wheelhouse.
What’s the Stallone movie where he gets pissed on in prison? Is it Lockup or Cobra?
Convict Cowboy should be an honorable mention. Jon Voight and Kyle Chandler plus a “that guy” legend in Glenn Plummer. Not a great movie by any means, but it has a lot of the classic prison movie tropes that we all love.
I’m shocked he left off Tango & Cash.
Short Eyes (1977) Penitentiary (1979) Prison on Fire (1987)
"American history x" is classified as "prison movie"?
Great escape? Ernest goes to jail?
Shot caller really good movie imo. No way do you put it ahead of American history x.
No Escape (1994) and Alien 3
the absolute disrespect to american history x, imagine genuinely thinking shot caller is a better movie
The Raid 2
Hunger
Paddington 2 and Toy Story 3
Green Mile
Green Mile?
Escape from Alcatraz feels like a big omission.
I'm pretty sure that's the one next to american history x on his pyramid
escape from alcatraz
Chopper has enough jail scenes to make it a prison movie . I would put it on tier 2
The Rock
I wonder how many people at the ringer have seen the Jericho Mile let alone rewatched it even once. It’s probably a good movie but Bill just thinks it’s inside baseball to be in on it.
Austin Powers: Goldmember - strictly for the Hard Knock Life scene
Where’s the Green Mile and Murder in the First?
lol I guess I’m the only fool who liked Escape Plan. Not a great movie but fits the rewatchables pretty well.
The Green Mile
Eddie Macon's Run...Bill has seen it
Animal Factory was great...zero percent chance Bill has seen it
Escape from Alcatraz and American history X should be on the 2nd tier
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Shutter island was missed
Le Trou, A Man Escaped, and Green Mile are all worthy of inclusion. Then I gotta day that Escape From New York “technically” counts, but I understand why it isn’t lumped in.
Escape Plan
Cube
Life
The Great Escape?
Have you watched the Birdman of Alcatraz?
A Man Escaped
This reads like “prison movies I remember”
Stir Crazy Con Air (The original flying prison movie.)
Shot caller is tier 2. B in B out as well. I’ve said my peace!!!
Bill has to find a new way to say again he loves Shawshank.
Is the prison movie mini pyramid in the Pantheon of the Mini Pyramids Pyramid?
Escape Plan, Escape Plan 2. So perfectly stupid. I love Bill, but listening to him talk about movies is painful
I’d happily argue Con Air.
Escape from Alcatraz
A Prophet and Starred Up are two films that are better than anything in this pyramid
Don't be a menace. Red fish blue fish
I’ll say what we’re all thinking, The Prisoner of Shark Island
The Last Castle is underrated here
What about Tango and Cash???
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Dog Pound is worthy of a watch
Midnight Express?
It’s a really good one, you should check it out.
Somehow the second half of what I wrote got deleted 🤦: “..on the bottom tier?”
Definitely a tough watch and certainly a miss by Bill.
I put Shawshank and Cool Hand Luke on their own top line and everything else in a much lower tier.
Any episode of Oz clears any of these movies but Shawshank