Product Details

• Actors: Badja Djola, Chuck Mitchell, Thommy Pollard, Mykelti Williamson, Jamaa Fanaka
• Directors: Jamaa Fanaka
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, Special Edition, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Xenon
• DVD Release Date: January 24, 2006
• Run Time: 99 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CCBCLW
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,855 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
One of the most outrageous and notorious films of the Blaxploitation era from filmmaking phenom Jamaa Fanaka, this landmark prison boxing film Penitentiary was a hit with both audiences and critics. "One of the toughest prison films ever made. Makes Rocky look like patty -cake, patty-cake." - Boston Herald American on Penitentiary

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this movie., July 8, 2008

By	S. Cowen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I remeber watching this when I was a kid. A guy at work asked me to order this online for him. I decided to order if for me instead and loved it. Great film with some suprising good acting by everybody. The director had a small budget,but looks like he had a much bigger one. Great film and my favorite prision film ever. To bad part 2 sucked.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PENITENTIARY IS AN OLD-SKOOL KNOCK OUT!!!!, November 24, 2007

By	Ms Michele (Southfield, MI) - See all my reviews

Wow, what memories; this movie is definately a cult classic. I remember going to the movies (I'm in Detroit) once every weekend to see this as long as it was at the Madison Theatre (not a theatre anymore). "Half-Dead" had a pretty successful career after this but I don't see any more of the cast anywhere. The warden was "Porky" in the Porky's movie; I believe Leon Isaac Kennedy learned the truth in Christ. Anyway, enough rambling....want a memory??? Pick this up!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't get locked up unless you can fight, March 12, 2009

By	Ryan P. Allen "Rhino" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This movie will make anyone clean up their act and get straight to keep from getting locked up. Either that or it will make you want to become a boxer in the slammer so you can hook up with chicks. This movie has some memorable scenes that will have you rolling. One of the rare times that the nickname "Too Sweet" in prison doesn't mean you are someones girlfriend.