One Of The Best Network Shows Of The '00s Is Finally Back On Netflix After 7 Years (But There's A Catch)

One of the best network shows of the 2000s, Prison Break, is back on Netflix for the first time in seven years – but there’s one important catch. The news comes during a bit of a renaissance for the series, with updates about the Prison Break reboot also picking up steam. It’s the first time audiences will see the show on Netflix after it previously departed the platform in October 2017, a few months after the Prison Break season 5/revival aired. While season 6 of the original Prison Break will never happen, the show has the opportunity to find a whole new audience ahead of the reboot.

Prison Break follows Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell as brothers Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows. When Lincoln is accused of a high-profile murder he didn’t commit and sentenced to death for it, Michael, a genius structural engineer, devises a way to break his brother out of his maximum security prison and clear his name. The simple but impactful premise allowed Prison Break to be one of the 2000s’ most interesting shows. Its fanbase was passionate, and even today, it’s still a show embraced by audiences for its engaging story and great characters.

Prison Break Returned To Netflix As Of July 29th, 2024

It’s Not A Permanent Return

Prison Break finally returned to Netflix this week, the first time it’s returned to the streamer in seven years. It’s great news for fans of the show as it gives them one more way to watch the well-loved series, which can also still be watched on Hulu and Disney+ for free, and other streaming platforms for a price. Despite it being available on those platforms, Netflix is undoubtedly still the biggest streamer out there, and reruns of classic shows have been some of its biggest hitters of the past few years, with viewers jumping at the opportunity to binge series they’ve either never seen or haven’t watched in a long time.

That said, there is one catch with Prison Break returning to Netflix: it will only be available for the next 18 months, and only in the U.S. This shouldn’t be a surprise, nor is it uncommon; shows are leased to Netflix for varying periods of time rather than being on the platform permanently. With 18 months, though, everyone will have plenty of time to watch or rewatch all 90 episodes before it leaves Netflix again as it will be available through late January 2026 at the very least.

Prison Break Is Part Of Netflix’s 20th Century Fox Deal

Netflix Licenses Over A Dozen Shows Under The Disney Umbrella

Prison Break coming back to Netflix has been half a year in the making. Back in December 2023, Netflix struck a deal with Disney to license over a dozen shows from Disney proper and its various subsidiaries. In the case of Prison Break, it was licensed from 20th Century Fox, now 20th Century. In the case of these shows, Netflix will now co-own the exclusive U.S. streaming rights alongside Disney+ and Hulu, where the shows have already been streaming. Prison Break is one of the last shows to come to Netflix from the deal; 10 others included in the deal have already come to Netflix on a staggered schedule starting January 1, 2024.

Why Prison Break Is Worth Watching

The Writing Stayed Strong For Four Seasons & The Fifth Season Revival

For those who haven’t ever seen Prison Break, now’s the time to do it as it’s well worth a watch. For starters, it didn’t overstay its welcome. Four seasons, the movie, and the fifth season revival mostly ensured that the show never got stale or jumped the shark, going out on a high note. Thanks to keeping the show’s arc relatively trim, Prison Break‘s momentum never waned. While all shows have peaks and valleys in the storytelling, the writing of Prison Break remained consistently strong, even during periods that, for the show, were weaker episodes and arcs.

The reason that writing remained strong is that it was able to keep up the tension without ever feeling overly contrived. Prison Break had some well-rounded, interesting characters. The chemistry and bond between Wentworth Miller’s and Dominic Purcell’s Michael and Lincoln was particularly compelling. However, it was the fast-paced flow of the show and the numerous nail-biting moments and cliffhangers that kept audiences coming back. While other shows have to force tense situations, Prison Break delivered them naturally, which is one of just many reasons why it’s still a great watch that holds up.

Prison Break

3.5

Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President’s brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated in order to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body.  

Cast

Curtis Lum , Sarah Wayne Callies , Marina Benedict , Amin El Gamal , Wentworth Miller , Steve Mouzakis , Dominic Purcell , Bobby Naderi , Christian Michael Cooper

Release Date

August 29, 2005

Seasons

5

Network

FOX

Writers

Paul Scheuring , Nick Santora

Directors

Paul Scheuring

Showrunner

Paul Scheuring

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