In “Escape from Alcatraz (2025),” Morgan Freeman stars as Elijah Carter, a wise and resilient inmate serving a life sentence on the infamous island prison. The film opens with Carter’s arrival at Alcatraz in the late 1960s, where he quickly becomes acquainted with the brutal realities of prison life and the iron-fisted warden, played by Bryan Cranston. Carter, a former civil rights activist, is respected by fellow inmates for his calm demeanor and intellect, but he harbors a deep desire for freedom.

The story intensifies when Carter befriends two new inmates: Frank Morris (Michael B. Jordan), a brilliant but quiet bank robber, and the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence (portrayed by Lakeith Stanfield and John Boyega). Together, they begin to plot an escape, inspired by the real-life 1962 attempt. Carter, with his experience and wisdom, becomes the mastermind behind the plan, using his position in the prison library to gather information and materials.

The group meticulously crafts dummy heads from soap, toilet paper, and paint to fool the guards during nightly bed checks. They use stolen spoons and makeshift tools to dig through the crumbling concrete walls of their cells, hiding the evidence behind cardboard and posters. Tension mounts as the warden grows suspicious of Carter’s activities, leading to several close calls and a brutal shakedown of the cell block.

As the escape night approaches, Carter faces a moral dilemma: a younger inmate, Tommy (Ashton Sanders), begs to join the plan, but Carter fears the risk is too great. Ultimately, Carter decides to leave Tommy behind, promising to send word if they succeed.

On a stormy night, the group puts their plan into action. They slip through the holes in their cells, crawl through the utility corridors, and emerge on the roof. Using a makeshift raft constructed from raincoats, they launch into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. The next morning, the guards discover the empty cells and the decoys, sparking a massive manhunt.

The film ends ambiguously: Carter’s fate is left uncertain. A final scene shows a postcard arriving at Tommy’s halfway house, depicting a Brazilian beach with the words, “Freedom is a journey, not a destination. — E.C.” The warden, defeated, stares out at the bay, realizing that Carter’s spirit—if not his body—has finally escaped Alcatraz.