The Great Escape: The Criterion Collection DVD

The Great Escape from The Criterion Collection is a two-disc DVD edition of John Sturges’s World War II prison-camp escape drama. It pairs the film with audio commentaries, interviews, documentaries about the real escape, and an essay, making the bonus material a notable part of the package.

At a glance

A World War II escape story directed by John Sturges, with Steve McQueen and an ensemble cast.
Two audio commentaries and interviews provide additional discussion of the film and its production.
Documentary extras cover the historical escape from Stalag Luft III and pilot David Jones, an inspiration for McQueen’s character.
The listing describes a restored 4K digital transfer, while the selected format is DVD, NTSC.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Two discs offer more than the feature, including commentaries, interviews, documentaries, a trailer, and an essay.
The extra material includes a four-part documentary on the real-life prison-camp escape.
The listed cast includes Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, and Donald Pleasence.

Cons

This is a DVD edition, not the Blu-ray or 4K format buyers may prefer for higher-definition playback.

Technical specifications

13 specifications

Format and edition
Format	DVD, NTSC
Disc count	2
Language	English
Rating	NR (Not Rated)

Film
Director	John Sturges
Genre	Military & War/Drama, Military & War/World War II
Release date	May 12, 2020

Special features
Audio	Two audio commentaries
Other extras	Interviews with cast and crew, and McQueen’s son, Chad McQueen
Other extras	New interview with critic Michael Sragow
Other extras	A four-part 2001 documentary about the real-life escape from the Stalag Luft III POW camp
Other extras	A program on the U.S. Army Air Forces pilot David Jones, the inspiration for McQueen’s character

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4 ounces

What to know before buying

The listing calls this a DVD, NTSC release but also describes a restored 4K digital transfer. That wording refers to the transfer source, not a 4K disc format. The description also specifies an alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, which is not clarified in the format details. Confirm the selected edition and playback expectations if disc format or audio configuration matters.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Collectors seeking a two-disc Criterion DVD with substantial film and historical extras.
Viewers interested in World War II dramas, ensemble casts, or prison-break stories.
Buyers who want commentary and documentary material alongside the feature.

Less suited to

Buyers specifically seeking a Blu-ray or 4K UHD disc.
Viewers who want a feature-only release without substantial supplemental material.

The Great Escape: The Criterion Collection DVD · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 930 ratings

5 stars90%90%
4 stars6%6%
3 stars2%2%
2 stars0%0%
1 star2%2%

Customer feedback describes the movie as a favorite from the 1960s and praises its action, acting, picture quality, audio, and historical material. Those comments may matter to viewers choosing this edition for both the film and its documentary extras. The listing identifies it as DVD and claims a restored 4K digital transfer, but customer impressions do not establish playback quality for every setup. Aggregate ratings are strongly positive overall, though a smaller share are low ratings, and the supplied information does not explain those differences.

Positive themes

Customers praise the action, acting, picture quality, audio, and historical bonus material.

Frequently asked questions

What disc format is this edition?

The listing identifies it as DVD, NTSC and specifies two discs. It also mentions a restored 4K digital transfer, which is a transfer description rather than a 4K UHD disc.

What bonus material is listed?

The listing describes two audio commentaries, cast and crew interviews, an interview with critic Michael Sragow, documentaries about the real Stalag Luft III escape and David Jones, a trailer, and an essay.

Is this a Blu-ray or 4K UHD release?

No. The selected title and format details identify it as DVD. The 4K wording concerns the digital transfer described in the listing.

What language and rating are specified?

The listing specifies English and NR (Not Rated).