Punishment Park
One of the most controversial films ever made.
1971 | 88m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Peter Watkins |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Peter Watkins |
| Staring: |
| In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim. | |
| Release Date: | Oct 01, 1971 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Peter Watkins |
| Writer: | Peter Watkins |
| Genres: | Drama, Thriller |
| Keywords | hippie, police brutality, dystopia, mockumentary, soldier, struggle for survival, desert, fake documentary, military, found footage, mock trial, mccarthyism, hostile, aggressive, political repression, survival competition, murdered by a policeman, united states of america (usa), young activists, united states police |
| Production Companies | Churchill Films, Chartwell, Françoise Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $95,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 09, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Patrick Boland | Tribunal Defendant |
| Carmen Argenziano | Jay Kaufman (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Kent Foreman | Lee Robert Brown (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Luke Johnson | William Luke Valerio (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Katherine Quittner | Nancy Jane Smith (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Scott Turner | James Arthur Kohler (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Stan Armsted | Charles Robbins (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Mary Ellen Kleinhall | Allison Mitchner (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Mark Keats | William C. Hoeger (Tribunal Chairman) |
| Gladys Golden | Mary Jurgens (Tribunal Member) |
| Sanford Golden | Senator Harris (Tribunal Member) |
| George Gregory | Mr. Keagan (Tribunal Member) |
| Norman Sinclair | Tribunal Member |
| Sigmund Rich | Prof. Hazlett |
| Paul Rosenstein | Tribunal Member |
| Lee Marks | Federal Agent |
| Sandy Cox | Stenographer |
| Frederic Franklyn | Defense Attorney |
| Ross Briegleb | Tribunal Doctor |
| Joe Hudgins | Chief Tribunal Marshall |
| Rodger Greene | Tribunal Marshall |
| Tom Kemp | Tribunal Marshall |
| Harry McKasson | Tribunal Marshall |
| Harold Beaulieu | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Cynthia Jenkins | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Jack London | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Rob Lewine | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Viola Gonzalez | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Roland Gonzalez | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Jack Gozdzik | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Brian Hart | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Linda Mandel | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Don Pino | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Jason Sommers | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Conchita Thornton-Marusich | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Gary Johnson | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Michelle Johnson | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Ted Martin | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Don McDonald | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Harold Schneider | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Jim Bohan | Officer Edwards (as Jim Bowan) |
| Val Daniel | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Harlan Green | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Dennis Wilson | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Paul Alelyunes | City Police |
| Kerry Cannon | City Police |
| Bob Franklin | City Police |
| Bruce McGuire | City Police |
| Ron Pennington | City Police |
| Allen Powell | City Police |
| Jim Wettstein | City Police |
| Jim Churchill | National Guard |
| Danny Conlon | National Guard |
| Wally McKay | National Guard |
| Cliff Pinard | National Guard |
| Don Vann | National Guard |
| Charlie Wyatt | National Guard |
| Peter Watkins | Documentarist (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Paul Motian | Music |
| David Hancock | Art Direction |
| Terry Hodel | Editor |
| Miriam Nunberg | Makeup Artist |
| Hiroaki 'Zom' Yamamoto | Sound Mixer |
| Wayne Nakatsu | Sound Mixer |
| Barry Wilson | Assistant Art Director |
| Joan Churchill | Director of Photography |
| Peter Watkins | Screenplay, Director, Editor |
| Peter Smokler | Additional Photography, Assistant Camera |
| Richard Wells | Assistant Camera |
| John Arthur Morrill | Lighting Technician |
| Harlan Chapman | Lighting Technician |
| Kit Kalionzes | Lighting Technician |
| Doug Stevenson | Sound Assistant |
| Michael C. Moore | Sound |
| Susan Martin | Assistant Editor |
| Linda Elbow | Continuity, Casting |
| Harlan Green | Production Assistant |
| Laura Golden | Casting, Production Assistant |
| Brian Hart | Title Designer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Susan Martin | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 8 |
| 2024 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 12 | 25 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 5 |
| 2024 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| 2025 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Trending Position