20 Prison Movies You Must See Before You Die

14. Hunger (2008)

If you've seen Hunger, chances are that you're thinking about all that sh*t covering the walls in what is perhaps its most harrowing scene. You are, aren't you? That "iconic" moment aside, though, Hunger - directed by the great British director Steve McQueen and starring Michael Fassbender - is one of the most horrific prison films ever made. Based around the true story of IRA prisoner Bobby Sands, the man who instigated the infamous prison hunger strikes in Ireland in 1983, this is a raw and painful slice of filmmaking from a duo who seem to thrive on delivering pictures in exactly that vein. Fassbender is truly transformative in his role as Sands (he lost a ton of weight to play the character), whilst the film itself - bleak and beautiful all at once - refuses to compromise on its authenticity for even a single moment. There's also a remarkable 17-minute shot, which would feel like McQueen just showing off if it wasn't so bloody phenomenal.