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Season 1 – Escape at Dannemora

Play trailer 0:59 Poster for Season 1 – Escape at Dannemora Nov 2018 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
The small sleepy town of Dannemora is home to the Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. Two inmates, Richard Matt and David Sweat become entangled in the life of a married female prison employee in the summer of 2015. Tilly Mitchell, an employee at Clinton Correctional Facility becomes romantically entangled with both convicts and aids in their escape from the facility. Emmy winner Ben Stiller executive produces and directs all episodes.
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Escape at Dannemora — Season 1

Escape at Dannemora — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Escape at Dannemora's slow pace demands patience, but those willing to wait will be rewarded with a chilling mystery that provides the perfect showcase for its talented cast -- especially so for the incredible Patricia Arquette.

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Critics Reviews

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Alessa Dominguez BuzzFeed News 04/05/2022
The resulting program — hardly able to generate Oz-level drama — takes too much time and perhaps too many liberties in fictionalizing the facts... Go to Full Review Rebecca Nicholson Guardian 03/07/2019
3/5
These two final episodes just about make it feel as if the investment has been worthwhile. Go to Full Review Alastair McKay London Evening Standard 01/22/2019
3/5
It is a punishing watch. Confinement is everything, though Stiller occasionally entertains himself with jarring moments. Go to Full Review Geordie Williamson The Saturday Paper 5d
Our vision of the prison is, like theirs, ground level and extensive. We feel alongside the inmates the curious combination of boredom and unease that the constricted masculine world of the prison generates. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 05/09/2025
It becomes more psychological drama than escape thriller and the story drags out in the middle episodes, but the excellent performances sustain the series until the energy picks up with the escape in the fifth episode ... Go to Full Review Dan Buffa KSDK News (St. Louis) 11/10/2020
Benicio Del Toro just oozes menace without much dialogue. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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J H @UpstateNYThriller Aug 10 8.5/10 Reenactment of escape at Dannemora for murderers from update NY prison Benecio Del Toro and Paul Dano See more Victoria P @VPFTW Jan 19 Yes, it requires patience. But it's a far better show for it's slow moving tempo. Those used to action or fast paced 'page turners' may need to realise there's more story told in the deliberateness and actualisation of the scenario than in pure 'action'. The actors are compelling. So much so, I had Benicio Del Toro's face burned into my retinas long after each episode, as if his character remained with me throughout the day. For me, that's always the sign of a great production! Breaking Bad established the 'slow things down' genre, and was just as compelling. My advice would be to watch Escape From Dannenone like a hawk! There's so much going on - in every smile, grimace, interaction etc. if you look away for a second you'll miss something! This See more Lear S. @kingbloodstone Nov 4 Masterfully redefines the antihero drama. I especially liked Ben Siller's direction, as a precursor to his Severance work See more Harrison B @clinthoward Sep 11 Great story, acting, and writing. Stayed as true to the source info as possible, but I'm sure like 40% of this is made up. See more photofan 1. @photofan 09/03/2025 Captivating series. Acting was outstanding. See more Drew F @Drewfrost20 05/30/2025 Great show!! Acting was top notch. Wish I would have watched it sooner. Check it out! See more Read all reviews
Escape at Dannemora — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Brett Johnson

Creator

Brett Johnson

Creator

Michael Tolkin

Creator

Patricia Arquette

Tilly Mitchell

Paul Dano

David Sweat

Benicio del Toro

Richard Matt

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 18, 2018 Part 1 After a 2015 prison break in Dannemora, N.Y., Joyce "Tilly" Mitchell is questioned about her involvement; months earlier, Tilly is tempted by inmate David Sweat, while inmate Richard Matt paints pictures for guards. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 25, 2018 Part 2 Matt has an idea to get out of Dannemora, but Sweat is not interested; Matt begins to help Tilly with an inmate she doesn't get along with in the shop; Sweat comes to miss the freedoms that come with Matt's protection. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 2, 2018 Part 3 Matt and Sweat run into walls and other obstacles as they search for a way out, but the power of positive thinking helps keep them on track; Tilly feels guilty about her mounting indiscretions, but she has a funny way of showing it. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 9, 2018 Part 4 Excited by the possibility of a new life, Tilly tries her best to avoid Lyle, who is planning something special for their anniversary; Sweat makes progress on the escape route, but feels like he's doing all the work. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 16, 2018 Part 5 On the day of the escape, Matt and Sweat know the smallest mistake can derail their whole plan; Tilly and Lyle have a fateful dinner at an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 23, 2018 Part 6 In a deep dive into the minds of these individuals, what Matt and Sweat are capable of outside the prison walls is finally seen; Tilly's natural instincts aren't much better. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 30, 2018 Part 7 Matt and Sweat run for their lives as the tension between them becomes extreme; Tilly tries to evade the authorities; as the law closes in, all three are confronted with hard truths about who they really are. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 30, 2018 Part 7 Matt and Sweat run for their lives as the tension between them becomes extreme; Tilly tries to evade the authorities; as the law closes in, all three are confronted with hard truths about who they really are. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 30, 2018 Part 8 The small sleepy town of Dannemora is home to the Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. Two inmates, Richard Matt and David Sweat become entangled in the life of a married female prison employee in the summer of 2015. Tilly Mitchell, an employee at Clinton Correctional Facility becomes romantically entangled with both convicts and aids in their escape from the facility. Emmy winner Ben Stiller executive produces and directs all episodes. Details

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Escape at Dannemora — Season 1

Escape at Dannemora: Limited Series Teaser - I See Myself Out There Escape at Dannemora: Limited Series Teaser - I See Myself Out There 0:59 Now Playing View more videos
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Escape at Dannemora — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Ben Stiller
Creator
Brett Johnson, Brett Johnson, Michael Tolkin
Network
Showtime
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Nov 18, 2018
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