The film was made to sell the idea of Manhattan as a sealed maximum-security prison in the near future, where mined bridges and heavy military control prevent escape. The story follows ex-soldier Snake Plissken, forced to carry out a rescue mission after the president's plane crashes, with a deadline in the form of an implanted explosive device.

Filming Locations:

East River waterfront near the Brooklyn Bridge

In the movie

The scene where footage is used to show the fortified river border of the prison city, emphasizing that the waterways and approaches to the bridges are dangerous and controlled, reinforcing the idea that the island is cut off from the outside world.

In reality

The scene was filmed on the actual East River shoreline near the Brooklyn Bridge — a tidal strait separating Manhattan and Brooklyn, surrounded by busy river traffic, iconic structures, and promenades that frame one of New York's most recognizable crossings.

Statue of Liberty / Liberty Island

In the movie

The scene where imagery tied to the iconic harbor landmark is used to anchor the setting as New York, supporting the premise that the city has been transformed into a prison and that even nationally symbolic places now sit within a militarized perimeter.

In reality

The scene was filmed on Liberty Island in New York Harbor — a federally managed National Park Service site housing the Statue of Liberty and remnants of Fort Wood; accessible only by ferry. The location is visually defined by open harbor views and the expressive silhouette of the monument.