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The Prisoner

1967·Show
17Episodes in1Season·TV-PG
IMDb8.4Rotten Tomatoes100%93%
Episode ratings

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVThe RokuKanopyCriterion

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Prisoner fingerprint

Fully immersive world, masterful craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Nerve-racking

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension9
  • Spectacle6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Nostalgic

  • Nostalgia7
  • Melancholy6
  • Wonder6

Humor

Plenty of satire and sharp wit

  • Satire & Parody8
  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Absurdist Humor7

World

The mind, mystery, and politics

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability10
  • Novelty10
  • Ambiguity9

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and storytelling

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Intrigue10
  • Complexity10
  • Direction9

Style

Standout cinematography, score, and visual style

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Visual Stylization8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Suspense showsPsychological showsMind-Bending showsMorally Complex shows

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
SeasonEpisode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4Episode 5Episode 6Episode 7Episode 8Episode 9Episode 10Episode 11Episode 12Episode 13Episode 14Episode 15Episode 16Episode 17
IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
Episode
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17

About

No man is just a number.

After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.
Cult ClassicPsychological ThrillerAllegorical Sci-FiExistential MysteryAnti-EstablishmentSurrealist DramaPhilosophical ExplorationIconic TelevisionParanoid Narrative

Crew

Directed by:
Patrick McGoohan, Pat Jackson, Don Chaffey
Written by:
Patrick McGoohan, Anthony Skene, Terence Feely
Produced by:
Patrick McGoohan, David Tomblin

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Prisoner

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Prisoner legally?

PrimefuboTVThe RokuKanopyCriterionPluto TVNight Flight+Shout! Factory TV

The Prisoner is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Night Flight+, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Shout! Factory TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Prisoner worth watching?

92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 92/100 (IMDb 8.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Prisoner rated?

TV-PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

It's rated TV-PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How many seasons does The Prisoner have?

1 season

It has 1 season with 17 episodes of about 60 minutes each.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Prisoner?

Critics100
Audiences89

Not quite. Critics rate The Prisoner higher (100) than audiences (89). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

When did The Prisoner air?

It ran from 1967 to 1968 and has ended.

What language is The Prisoner in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch The Prisoner?

7ATCADEFRGBGGUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Prisoner in 7 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Prisoner use?

Mind ScrewdriverDifferent in Every EpisodeOntological MysteryLarge HamFictional SportMacGuffinThe DragonDriving QuestionMore Deadly Than the MaleReal Life Writes the PlotHappiness Is MandatoryNo, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Dineand 85 more

TV Tropes lists 97 storytelling tropes for The Prisoner, including Mind Screwdriver, Different in Every Episode, Ontological Mystery.