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Lockout Lawsuit: Besson Owes Carpenter Big
8 Jun
Summary
- Luc Besson's film 'Lockout' was found to have plagued Carpenter's 'Escape from New York'.
- A French court ordered Besson and partners to pay Carpenter €20,000.
- The 'Lockout' film, despite being a fun action movie, struggled at the box office.
John Carpenter successfully sued French director Luc Besson over the 2012 film 'Lockout,' alleging it plagiarized Carpenter's 1981 cult classic 'Escape from New York.' A French court initially ordered Besson and his production partners to pay €20,000 to Carpenter, €10,000 to his co-writer Nick Cave, and €50,000 to StudioCanal. This ruling was upheld on appeal, with damages eventually increasing to €450,000.
'Lockout' stars Guy Pearce as a convict sent to a space prison to rescue the President's daughter, a premise heavily criticized for its similarity to 'Escape from New York,' which featured Kurt Russell as Snake Plisken on a mission within a dystopian New York prison. Despite the legal battle and its box office struggles, earning $32 million against a $20 million budget, the film is often described as an enjoyable, if unoriginal, action movie.
The film's financial performance was bolstered by international markets, though its slim profit margin and the legal dispute meant a sequel was unlikely. Meanwhile, plans for a new 'Escape from New York' film are reportedly underway, with Zach Snyder attached to write and direct, sparking debate among fans about his potential contribution to the franchise.
