10 Movies and Shows Similar to Time (2021)

Description: This Clint Eastwood film parallels 'Time' (2021) in its examination of the psychological and physical challenges of imprisonment. Both works depict the relentless passage of time behind bars and the human drive for freedom. While 'Time' shows the emotional impact on families, 'Escape from Alcatraz' focuses on the meticulous planning of a prison break from America's most notorious prison.

Fact: Based on the true 1962 escape attempt from Alcatraz. The real fate of the escapees remains unknown. Filmed on location at the actual abandoned prison.

Description: Like 'Time' (2021), 'The Shawshank Redemption' explores themes of hope, resilience, and the human spirit's endurance in the face of injustice within the prison system. Both films delve into the psychological and emotional toll of incarceration, though 'The Shawshank Redemption' offers a more uplifting resolution. The film's focus on friendship and the quest for freedom mirrors the personal struggles depicted in 'Time'.

Fact: Based on Stephen King's novella 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption'. Initially a box office disappointment but gained massive popularity through home video and TV broadcasts. Morgan Freeman's character Red was originally written as an Irishman in the novella.

Description: Like 'Time' (2021), HBO's 'Oz' offers an unflinching look at prison life, though with more graphic violence and heightened drama. Both works explore themes of redemption, power structures within prisons, and how the system changes those who enter it. 'Oz' was groundbreaking for its time in depicting the brutal realities of incarceration, much like 'Time' does in documentary form.

Fact: HBO's first one-hour dramatic series. Many actors from 'Oz' later appeared in 'The Wire'. The show's title refers to the nickname for the Oswald State Correctional Facility.

Description: This Stephen King adaptation shares with 'Time' (2021) a profound meditation on justice, humanity, and the passage of time within prison walls. Both works feature sympathetic portrayals of inmates and critique the prison system's failures. 'The Green Mile's' supernatural elements contrast with 'Time's' documentary realism, but both ultimately humanize those behind bars.

Fact: Tom Hanks reportedly cried after reading the script. Michael Clarke Duncan had never acted in a major film before this role. The mouse in the film was played by a trained mouse named Crispin.

Description: This prison drama shares with 'Time' (2021) an unglamorized depiction of daily prison life and the relationships formed behind bars. Both works show how inmates create their own social structures to survive. 'Animal Factory' focuses more on the mentor-protege dynamic between prisoners, while 'Time' emphasizes family impacts, but both reveal the human stories within the system.

Fact: Based on Edward Bunker's novel (Bunker also appears in the film). Willem Dafoe performed his own stunts. Director Steve Buscemi's second feature film.

Description: 'Prison Break' shares with 'Time' (2021) an intense focus on the mechanics of incarceration and the lengths individuals will go to reclaim their freedom. While 'Time' is a documentary-style portrayal of real-life prison experiences, 'Prison Break' is a fictional thriller that dramatizes escape attempts and systemic corruption within prisons. Both highlight the dehumanizing aspects of the penal system.

Fact: The show's iconic tattoo was designed by series creator Paul Scheuring. Wentworth Miller, who plays Michael Scofield, actually learned to speak Arabic for his role. The first season was originally conceived as a miniseries with a definitive ending.

Description: 'Felon' resonates with 'Time' (2021) in its portrayal of how quickly ordinary lives can be destroyed by the prison system. Both works depict the harsh realities of incarceration and the struggle to maintain humanity within it. While 'Felon' is more action-oriented, it shares 'Time's' critical perspective on prison conditions and the justice system's failures.

Fact: Inspired by real events at California's Corcoran State Prison. Val Kilmer gained weight and grew a beard for his role. The film's writer spent time interviewing former inmates for research.

Description: This French prison drama aligns with 'Time' (2021) in its authentic portrayal of prison life and the transformation of an inmate. Both works show how time in prison fundamentally changes a person, though 'A Prophet' follows a more criminal trajectory. The films share a gritty realism in depicting the hierarchies and violence within prison systems.

Fact: Won the Grand Prix at Cannes in

Description: Similar to 'Time' (2021), 'Orange Is the New Black' provides a raw, humanizing look at life behind bars, though with a focus on women's prisons. Both works explore how incarceration affects personal relationships and identity. While 'Time' is a documentary, 'OITNB' uses dark comedy and drama to address systemic issues in the prison industrial complex, including racial disparities and privatization.

Fact: Based on Piper Kerman's memoir about her year in a minimum-security prison. The first original Netflix series to be nominated for major Emmy awards. Many cast members had personal experiences with the prison system.

Description: Like 'Time' (2021), 'Shot Caller' examines how prison changes a person's identity and relationships. Both works show the long-term consequences of incarceration, though 'Shot Caller' focuses more on gang culture within prisons. The film's portrayal of a white-collar professional transformed by the prison system echoes 'Time's' themes of lost time and changed lives.

Fact: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau trained with former inmates to prepare for his role. The director consulted with prison gang experts for authenticity. Originally developed as a TV series before becoming a film.