Escape to Victory

1981 116 min ★ 6.9 Drama, War

A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.

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Cast

Sylvester Stallone

Captain Robert Hatch

Michael Caine

Captain John Colby

Max von Sydow

Major Karl von Steiner

Pelé

Cpl. Luis Fernandez, Brazil

Daniel Massey

Colonel Waldron

Tim Pigott-Smith

Rose

Maurice Roëves

Pyrie

Julian Curry

Shurlock

Clive Merrison

The Forger

Bobby Moore

Terry Brady, England

Details

Director

John Huston

Screenplay

Evan Jones

Tagline

"Now is the time for heroes."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$10,000,000

Revenue

$27,453,418

Production

Victory Company, New Gold Entertainment, Lorimar Motion Pictures

Reviews

J

John Chard

December 27, 2015

★ 7.5/10

Arguably one of the most unfairly derided boys own movies out there. World War II and the Nazi officers have come up with a propaganda driven idea for the German national football team to play a team composed of Allied Prisoners of War. Led by Capt. John Colby (Michael Caine) the prisoners agree, but there's more than just propaganda at stake here. Directed by John Huston in the twilight of ...

R

RottenPop

June 26, 2026

★ 6/10

With World Cup fever in full swing, it feels like the perfect time to revisit a film we reviewed a few years ago: Escape to Victory. Set during World War II and loosely inspired by true events, this classic football film follows a group of Allied prisoners of war drafted by the Nazis into a high-stakes match against the German national team. Directed by the legendary John Huston and penned by the ...