View source for Prison Break

{{Short description|American TV series}}
{{other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Prison-break-s1-intro.jpg
| caption            = Seasons 1–2 intertitle
| genre              = {{plainlist|
*[[Crime fiction|Crime drama]]
*[[Thriller (genre)|Action thriller]]
}}
| creator            = [[Paul Scheuring]]
| starring           = {{plainlist|
*[[Dominic Purcell]]
*[[Wentworth Miller]]
*[[Robin Tunney]]
*[[Peter Stormare]]
*[[Amaury Nolasco]]
*[[Marshall Allman]]
*[[Wade Williams]]
*[[Paul Adelstein]]
*[[Robert Knepper]]
*[[Rockmond Dunbar]]
*[[Sarah Wayne Callies]]
*[[William Fichtner]]
*[[Chris Vance (actor)|Chris Vance]]
*[[Robert Wisdom]]
*[[Danay García]]
*[[Jodi Lyn O'Keefe]]
*[[Michael Rapaport]]
*[[Mark Feuerstein]]
*[[Inbar Lavi]]
*[[Augustus Prew]]
}}
| composer           = [[Ramin Djawadi]]
| country            = United States
| language           = {{plainlist|
*English
*Spanish
*Arabic}}
| num_seasons        = 5
| num_episodes       = 90
| list_episodes      = List of Prison Break episodes
| executive_producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Marty Adelstein]]
*[[Neal H. Moritz]]
*Dawn Parouse
*[[Brett Ratner]]
*Paul Scheuring
*[[Matt Olmstead]]
*[[Kevin Hooks]]
*[[Michael Pavone]]
*Dawn Olmstead
*Vaun Wilmott
*Michael Horowitz
*[[Nelson McCormick (director)|Nelson McCormick]]}}
| location           = {{plainlist|
*[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
*[[Joliet, Illinois]]
*[[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]
*[[Pensacola, Florida]]
*[[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]
*[[Toronto, Ontario]]
*[[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]]
*[[Panama City]]
*[[Rabat]]
*[[Casablanca]]
*[[Ouarzazate]]
}}
| cinematography     = {{plainlist|
*[[Dante Spinotti]]
*Fernando Argüelles
*Jeffrey C. Mygatt
*Robert LaBonge
*Chris Manley
*[[Robbie Greenberg]]
*Rick Anderson
}}
| editor             = {{plainlist|
*[[Mark Helfrich (film editor)|Mark Helfrich]]
*Etienne Des Lauriers
*Scott Eilers
*Eric Seaburn
*Warren Bowman
*Kaja Fehr
*[[James Coblentz]]
}}
| runtime            = 42–44 minutes
| company            = {{plainlist|
*[[RatPac Entertainment|Rat Entertainment]] (pilot)
*[[Original Film]]
*Adelstein/Parouse Productions (seasons 1–4)
*Dawn Olmstead Productions (season 5)
*Adelstein Productions (season 5)
*One Light Road Productions (season 5)
*[[20th Television|20th Century Fox Television]]
}}
| first_aired        = {{Start date|2005|8|29}}
| last_aired         = {{End date|2009|5|27}}
| first_aired2        = {{Start date|2017|4|04}}
| last_aired2         = {{End date|2017|5|30}}
| related            = ''[[Breakout Kings]]''
| channel            = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
}}

'''''Prison Break''''' is an American [[Crime film#Crime drama|crime]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series created by [[Paul Scheuring]] for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]. The series revolves around two brothers: [[Lincoln Burrows]] ([[Dominic Purcell]]) and [[Michael Scofield]] ([[Wentworth Miller]]); Lincoln has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, while Michael devises an elaborate plan to help his brother escape prison and clear his name. Along with creator Paul Scheuring, the series was executive-produced by [[Matt Olmstead]], [[Kevin Hooks]], [[Marty Adelstein]], Dawn Parouse<!--credited with her maiden name-->, [[Neal H. Moritz]], and [[Brett Ratner]] who directed the pilot episode. The series' theme music, composed by [[Ramin Djawadi]], was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2006.<ref name="Emmy-2006-nom">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2006?tid=124 |title=2006 Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music |access-date=February 22, 2011 |work=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710191345/http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2006?tid=124 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 }}</ref> ''Prison Break'' is a joint production between [[Original Film]], Adelstein/Parouse Productions (seasons 1–4), Dawn Olmstead Productions (season 5), Adelstein Productions (season 5), One Light Road Productions (season 5), and [[20th Century Fox Television]].

The series was originally turned down by Fox in 2003, which was concerned about the long-term prospects of such a series. Following the popularity of serialized prime time television series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' and ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', Fox decided to back production in 2004. The first season received mostly positive reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/prison-break/season-1 |title=Prison Break: Season 1 |access-date=December 10, 2008 |work=Metacritic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825220153/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/prison-break/season-1 |archive-date=August 25, 2010 }}</ref> Furthermore, it performed exceptionally in the ratings and was originally planned for a 13-episode run, but was extended to include an extra nine episodes due to its popularity. The subsequent seasons continued to receive strong ratings; however some critics claimed the show had overstayed its welcome.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/prison_break |title=Prison Break |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> ''Prison Break'' was nominated for several industry awards, including the 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series Drama and the 2006 People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama, which it won. In the United States, all five seasons have been released on DVD and released on Blu-ray internationally.

The success of the series has spawned several official tie-ins: a video game, the spin-off series ''[[Prison Break: Proof of Innocence]]'' for mobile phones, online webisodes, an official magazine, and a novel. The fourth season of ''Prison Break'' returned from its mid-season break in a new timeslot on April 17, 2009, for the series' last six episodes.<ref name="LAT-2009jan14">{{cite news|first=Maria Elena |last=Fernandez |title=Fox's Kevin Reilly says it's ready to set 'Prison Break' free |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-14-et-presstour14-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403081656/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/14/entertainment/et-presstour14 |archive-date=April 3, 2009 }}</ref> Two additional episodes, titled "The Old Ball and Chain" and "Free" were produced, and were later transformed into a standalone feature, titled ''[[Prison Break: The Final Break|The Final Break]]''. Its events take place before the last scene of the series finale, and conclude the plotlines. The feature was released on DVD and Blu-ray July 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2576 |title=Prison Break Post-Finale on the Way to Blu-ray |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416112752/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2576 |archive-date=April 16, 2009 }}</ref>

A nine-episode [[Prison Break season 5|fifth season]] was announced by Fox in January 2016. The [[Revival (television)|revival]] series premiered on April 4, 2017, and concluded on May 30.<ref name="2017premiere">{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2017/01/11/prison-break-premiere-date-revival-fox/ |title=Prison Break, Making History Premiere Dates Announced by Fox |publisher=TVLine |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |date=January 11, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, Fox confirmed that season 6 was in early development;<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/01/04/prison-break-season-6/|title=Fox developing 'new iteration' of Prison Break |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Natalie |last=Abrams |date=January 4, 2018 |access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> however, in August 2019, Fox announced that it had no current plans to revive ''Prison Break'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/24-spinoffs-update/ |title=Fox Has No Current Plans For More 'Prison Break' or '24' [TCA 2019] |work=/Film |first=Fred |last=Topel |date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref> with Miller stating in late 2020 that he had no plan to return to the series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Dino-Ray |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Wentworth Miller Says He Is Done With 'Prison Break': "I Just Don't Want To Play Straight Characters" |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/wentworth-miller-prison-break-instagram-1234611866/ |access-date=November 10, 2020 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

==Series overview==
{{Main|List of Prison Break episodes}}

{{:List of Prison Break episodes}}<!--To edit this table, go to the List of episodes page-->

===Season 1===
{{Main|Prison Break season 1}}
<!-- Plot summary here should remain under 100 words per WP:TVPLOT. -->
The first season follows the rescue of [[Lincoln Burrows]], who is accused of murdering [[Terrence Steadman]], the brother of the [[Vice President of the United States]], [[Caroline Reynolds]]. Lincoln is sentenced to death and is incarcerated in Fox River State Penitentiary where he awaits his execution. Lincoln's brother, brilliant structural engineer [[Michael Scofield]], is convinced of Lincoln's innocence and formulates an elaborate escape plan. In order to gain access to Fox River, Michael commits an armed robbery which results in him being sentenced to Fox River. In prison, Michael befriends the prison doctor [[Sara Tancredi]] when he pretends to suffer from [[Type 1 diabetes]], in order to gain daily access to the prison's infirmary, where he receives his daily [[insulin]] shots. The brothers' fight to ward off the execution is aided by their lifelong friend [[Veronica Donovan]], who begins to investigate the conspiracy that put Lincoln in jail. However, they are hindered by covert agents, members of an organization called "The {{proper name|Com|pany}}". The {{proper name|Com|pany}} was responsible for framing Lincoln, and they did so because of Lincoln's father [[Aldo Burrows]], and his former connections with The {{proper name|Com|pany}}. The brothers, along with six inmates, [[Fernando Sucre]], [[Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell]], [[Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin]], [[David "Tweener" Apolskis]], [[John Abruzzi]], and [[Charles "Haywire" Patoshik]], who come to be known as the Fox River Eight, escape in the season's penultimate episode by using their prison privileges to dig an escape tunnel underneath the prison.

===Season 2===
{{Main|Prison Break season 2}}
<!-- Plot summary here should remain under 100 words per WP:TVPLOT. -->
The second season begins eight hours after the escape, focusing mainly on the eight escapees. Series creator Paul Scheuring describes the second season as "''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]'' times eight" and likens it to the "second half of ''[[The Great Escape (film)|The Great Escape]]''".<ref name="DFC-2006may15"/> The fugitives split up and journey to locations across the country with the authorities close behind them as they each pursue their individual goals. [[Brad Bellick]] gets fired from the prison where he worked as the main guard and chases after the inmates himself for the reward money. Several of the escapees reunite in search of a large cache of money buried long ago by another Fox River inmate, [[Charles Westmoreland]]. Federal agent [[Alexander Mahone]] is assigned to track down and capture the eight fugitives, but is revealed to be working for The {{proper name|Com|pany}}, which wants all eight men dead. When Sara discovers her father, Governor [[Frank Tancredi]], has been killed, she meets with Michael, remaining with him as the brothers try to bring down now-President Reynolds, a {{proper name|Com|pany}} member. To ensure the brothers' safety, Sara allows herself to be arrested and faces trial. During the trial, the testimony of former [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agent [[Paul Kellerman]], who used to work for The {{proper name|Com|pany}}-controlled President, exonerates Lincoln and Sara. Half of the escapees are killed or recaptured, but the brothers make it to [[Panama]]. Michael, T-Bag, Mahone, and Bellick are arrested by the Panamanian authorities and imprisoned at the Penitenciaría Federal de Sona.

===Season 3===
{{Main|Prison Break season 3}}
<!-- Plot summary here should remain under 100 words per WP:TVPLOT. -->
The third season follows Michael inside Sona and Lincoln on the outside in Panama. Sona is a prison run by the inmates and guarded only from the outside, due to a riot the year before. Inmates are only supplied with food and water and are expected to distribute and serve fellow inmates independently. The surrounding landscape is monitored by armed guards, who shoot at  the sight of inmates escaping. Burrows is quickly contacted by [[Gretchen Morgan]] (a {{proper name|Com|pany}}'s operative who was in charge of operations in Panama) who kidnapped his son [[L. J. Burrows|LJ]] and Sara, the woman Michael loves. He is told that The {{proper name|Com|pany}} wants Scofield to break [[James Whistler (Prison Break character)|James Whistler]] out of Sona. The season follows Michael and Whistler's trials in formulating an escape plan, as Michael has to deal with extreme tension and as Lincoln deals with The {{proper name|Com|pany}}'s operative Gretchen Morgan. Sucre gets a job at the prison to aid Michael in his escape plan. When Lincoln attempts to rescue Sara and LJ following a clue provided by Sara, Gretchen claims to have beheaded Sara and sends Lincoln a head in a box as a warning. As the season ends, the pair manage to escape along with Mahone, and another inmate, Luis, leaving behind several accomplices including T-Bag and Bellick. Sucre's identity is discovered by a prison guard and he is thrown into Sona just after the escape. LJ and Sofia (who was captured for a guarantee that Whistler would go with her) are traded for Whistler, and Michael seeks revenge against Gretchen for Sara's death.

===Season 4===
{{Main|Prison Break season 4}}
<!-- Plot summary here should remain under 100 words per WP:TVPLOT. -->
The major storyline for the fourth season is about a team recruited by [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Homeland Security]] agent [[Don Self]] to obtain Scylla. Although the team initially believes it to be The {{proper name|Com|pany}}'s "black book", it is later revealed to contain information on an advanced renewable power cell. Over the course of the first half of the season, the team obtains cards to access Scylla and breaks into The {{proper name|Com|pany}}'s headquarters to steal it, Sara is discovered to be alive, Bellick dies when he sacrifices himself, and Self is revealed to be a double agent intent on selling Scylla to the highest bidder. Reluctantly, Lincoln decides to join The {{proper name|Com|pany}} to get it back, while Michael suffers from a brain tumor. He is treated and operated on by The {{proper name|Com|pany}}. Michael later learns that his mother, [[Christina Rose Scofield|Christina]] is still alive and was an agent of The {{proper name|Com|pany}}, who is revealed to acquire Scylla to sell to the highest bidder. Eventually, the series' main storyline of the past 4 seasons ends in Miami, where Scylla is recovered by Michael and the team, the General and The {{proper name|Com|pany}} are taken down, and Sara kills Christina to protect her lover.

The last two episodes of the season represent the series finale.  In the penultimate episode, Sara is seen buying flowers in Panama with her toddler son, Michael, before visiting Michael's grave with Lincoln, Sucre and Mahone.  The final episode and television movie ''[[Prison Break: The Final Break]]'' show what happened between the takedown of The {{proper name|Com|pany}} and Michael's death.  This story involves the incarceration of Sara in Miami-Dade county penitentiary for Christina's murder. The General and T-Bag are in the adjacent men's facility.  The General wants Sara dead and has put a $100,000 bounty on her. Michael hears of the bounty and devises a plan to break Sara out. In the end, knowing that he is dying from a brain tumor, Michael sacrifices himself for Sara to escape.

===Season 5===
{{Main|Prison Break season 5}} 
<!-- Plot summary here should remain under 100 words per WP:TVPLOT. -->
Seven years after Michael Scofield's apparent death, strange clues begin to surface, suggesting he may still be alive. Lincoln Burrows, his brother, receives a mysterious photograph from an unknown source that seems to show Michael in a Yemeni prison. Initially skeptical, Lincoln begins to investigate, driven by the hope that his brother might have somehow survived.

Lincoln’s search leads him to discover that Michael is being held in Ogygia Prison in Sana’a, Yemen—a notoriously harsh and dangerous facility—under a new identity: Kaniel Outis, a name linked to terrorist activities. To the world, Outis is a wanted criminal and a traitor. But Lincoln believes otherwise.

As political tensions in Yemen escalate into full-blown civil war, Lincoln teams up with C-Note, who has reformed and is now a devout Muslim with connections in the region. With the help of a local activist named Sheba, they navigate war-torn streets, rebel factions, and corrupt officials in an effort to reach Ogygia and uncover the truth.

Inside the prison, Michael is alive—but a changed man. He appears emotionally detached and distant, refusing to acknowledge Lincoln or explain his situation. He's imprisoned alongside a select group of inmates, including the loyal and sharp Whip, the unpredictable and tech-savvy Ja, and the radical Ramal, a dangerous figure tied to extremist movements.

As Lincoln digs deeper, he learns that Michael was recruited years ago by a shadowy U.S. intelligence operative known only as Poseidon, who used Michael’s unique skill set for covert missions. When Michael tried to leave the operation, Poseidon had him "disappeared," stripping him of his identity and separating him from everyone he loved—including Sara and their son.

Lincoln realizes that Michael has been playing a long game from inside the prison, planning yet another impossible escape. But getting out of Ogygia is only the beginning. Once free, they must navigate a collapsing country, evade militants, and bring down a powerful enemy operating at the highest levels of the U.S. government—all while trying to reunite Michael with his family and clear his name.

==Cast and characters==
[[File:Prison Break Cast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Cast members [[Amaury Nolasco]], [[Robert Knepper]], [[Wade Williams]], [[Sarah Wayne Callies]], [[Wentworth Miller]] with executive producer [[Matt Olmstead]]]]
[[File:Wentworth Miller signing autographs.jpg|thumb|250px|Wentworth Miller signing autographs in [[Beverly Hills, California]]]]

{{Main|List of Prison Break characters}}

''Prison Break'' maintains an [[ensemble cast]] for each season along with many recurring guest stars. The first season features a cast of ten actors who receive [[billing (film)|star billing]], who were based in [[Chicago]] or at Fox River State Penitentiary.<ref name="pbseason1">{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/objects/825/825147.html |title=''Prison Break'': Season 1 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227202822/http://tv.ign.com/objects/825/825147.html |archive-date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref> The second season features a cast of nine actors who receive billing; three characters are downgraded from series regular to recurring status, another is upgraded, and a new character is introduced.<ref name="pbseason2">{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/objects/846/846853.html |title=''Prison Break'': Season 2 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227202828/http://tv.ign.com/objects/846/846853.html |archive-date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref> The third season introduces four new characters; two of whom are prisoners at Penitenciaría Federal de Sona.<ref name="pbseasonthree">{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/objects/895/895366.html |title=''Prison Break'': Season 3 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |publisher=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228013939/http://tv.ign.com/objects/895/895366.html |archive-date=December 28, 2008 }}</ref>

Most of the changes in the cast have been due to character deaths. Series creator Paul Scheuring explains that killing off major characters "makes the audience that much more fearful for our protagonists" and that "it actually does help us in terms of reducing story lines".<ref name="TNYT-2006aug20">{{cite news|first=Edward |last=Wyatt |title=In ''Prison Break'', an Actor's Job Is Never Safe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/arts/television/20wyat.html?ei=5088&en=6e08162b93261691&ex=1313726400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |date=August 20, 2006 |access-date=September 13, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019042007/http://nytimes.com/2006/08/20/arts/television/20wyat.html?ei=5088&en=6e08162b93261691&ex=1313726400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all |archive-date=October 19, 2007 }}</ref> The two protagonists of the series, Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows, are the only characters to have appeared in every episode of the series.

<!-- ATTENTION, PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING, please do not include any plot details here (e.g. characters' fates or exit from the series), only a description of the character (e.g. their personality) with sources cited -->
* [[Dominic Purcell]] as Lincoln Burrows: Lincoln is a high school drop-out and a convicted felon, who is wrongfully convicted of the murder of Terence Steadman, the brother of the [[Vice President of the United States]]. Purcell was cast three days before the start of production and consequently, he was the last actor to join the original cast.<ref name="TVGuide-2006aug08">{{cite web|url=https://tvguide.com/news/Prison-Break-DVD-38536.aspx |title=Prison Break DVD News, Season 2 Preview! |access-date=January 17, 2009 |last=Mitovich |first=Matt Webb |date=August 8, 2006 |work=TV Guide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313111139/http://www.tvguide.com/news/Prison-Break-DVD-38536.aspx |archive-date=March 13, 2009 }}</ref> He auditioned for the role while he had a recurring role as Tommy Ravetto on ''[[North Shore (2004 TV series)|North Shore]]''. Since working on ''[[John Doe (TV series)|John Doe]]'', Purcell has had an amiable relationship with Fox. Hence, he was sent the pilot script of ''Prison Break''.<ref name="IGN-2007mar13"/> Scheuring's first impression of Purcell did not convince him as a fit for the role since the actor went to the audition with his hair styled and a tan. However, Purcell's acting won the role. He arrived on the set on the first day of filming with a shaved head, which amazed Scheuring with the physical likeness of the series' two leading actors.<ref name="TSMH-2006jan27">{{cite news|title=Prison Break success shocks creator |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/prison-break-success-shocks-creator/2006/01/27/1138319425109.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 |agency=Australian Associated Press |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=January 27, 2006 |access-date=May 19, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721022818/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/prison-break-success-shocks-creator/2006/01/27/1138319425109.html?page=fullpage |archive-date=July 21, 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Wentworth Miller]] as [[Michael Scofield]]: Michael is Lincoln's brother (his last name is his mother's [[maiden name]]), and worked as a [[structural engineer]] before devoting full-time to his brother's case. In order to save his brother's life, Michael creates an elaborate plan to help his brother escape from prison. In an interview, Paul Scheuring recalled that most of the actors who tested for the role "would come in playing mysterious, but it was so cheesy and false."<ref name="TSMH-2006jan27"/> A week before the start of production, Miller auditioned for the role and impressed Scheuring with his performance; he was cast the following day.<ref name="TVGuide-2006aug08"/>
* [[Amaury Nolasco]] as Fernando Sucre: Sucre develops a friendship with Michael during time at Fox River State Penitentiary, where he was his cell-mate. Initially, his character's story focuses on his wish to reunite with his fiancée. Upon receiving the pilot script, Nolasco's first thought was that it was "one of those failed pilots that the network did not really want" since most of the series' pilots would have started production by that time. Admitting that he does not like to read, Nolasco was amazed that the script was a "huge page-turner". Prior to his last audition for the role, Nolasco recalled his nervousness, which grew when Paul Scheuring told him that he was their favorite choice. Subsequently, he was cast in the role.<ref name="TVAddict-2007mar10">{{cite web|url=http://thetvaddict.com/2007/03/10/prison-break-scoop-direct-from-the-2007-paley-festival/|title=Prison Break Scoop Direct from the 2007 Paley Festival|access-date=May 19, 2007|date=March 10, 2007|work=TheTVAddict.com}}</ref>
* [[Robert Knepper]] as [[Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell]]: T-Bag appears in all five seasons of the series as a cunning, violent, and manipulative psychopath, consistently underestimated by those around him.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/lists/best-tv-villains-list-photos/t-bag-prison-break/ |title=Best TV Villains, Ranked: 60 Baddies From Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, The Boys, Dynasty, Buffy and More |website=TVLine |date=June 18, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_most_iconic_tv_villains/s1__40553932#slide_18 |title=The 20 most entertainingly wicked TV villains |website=Yardbarker |date=May 31, 2025 |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> According to Knepper, "I never play him like a stereotypical [[Racism|racist]] or [[Redneck (stereotype)|redneck]]. He's actually quite cunning and smart."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fonseca |first=Nicholas |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/11/25/catching-robert-knepper/ |title=T-Bag... and no sympathy |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 25, 2005 |access-date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170118080740/http://ew.com/article/2005/11/25/catching-robert-knepper/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He likens the character to "[[Truman Capote]] without a degree."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jensen |first=Jeff |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1173904_5,00.html |title=Pro Cons: Theodore 'T-Bag' Bagwell |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 16, 2006 |access-date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014205051/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1173904_5,00.html |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Knepper has described slowly winning the support of fans despite playing a dangerous character,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20008040_4,00.html |title=Criminal Minds |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030114051/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20008040_4,00.html |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and later preferred to talk less about the heinous crimes for which T-Bag was initially imprisoned.<ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_CVvO1VEJo |title="Prison Break" Cast Plays 'Know Your Fox River 8' |work=[[E!]] |via=[[YouTube]] |date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=June 25, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Robin Tunney]] as Veronica Donovan (seasons 1–2): Veronica is Michael and Lincoln's childhood friend who decides to review Lincoln's case at Michael's insistence. She becomes Lincoln's lawyer and appears as a major character in the first season. She also stars in the first episode of the second season.
* [[Peter Stormare]] as John Abruzzi (seasons 1–2): Due to his role as the leader of a Chicago mafia, Abruzzi became a prominent figure at Fox River State Penitentiary. He agrees to provide an escape jet plane for Michael in exchange for the location of the eyewitness to his crimes, Otto Fibonacci. He appears regularly in the first half of the first season and makes selected appearances towards the end of the first season and the beginning of the second season.
* [[Marshall Allman]] as Lincoln "L. J." Burrows Jr. (seasons 1–4): L. J. is the teenage son of Lincoln Burrows and is greatly affected by his father's death sentence. He is forced into hiding after he becomes the target of the people who want Lincoln dead.
* [[Wade Williams]] as Brad Bellick (seasons 1–4): Bellick is introduced as the captain of Fox River's correctional officers. After reading the pilot script, Williams initially did not want to portray the role of Bellick because the character was "horrible and despicable". His reluctance stemmed from being the father of a four-year-old daughter. However, his manager persuaded him to audition and Williams landed the role.<ref name="TVAddict-2007mar10"/>
* [[Sarah Wayne Callies]] as [[Sara Tancredi]] (seasons 1–2, 4–5): Sara is the prison doctor at Fox River and the daughter of Governor Frank Tancredi, who is linked into the plot that brings Lincoln to Fox River. She takes a liking to Michael and eventually aids his escape. She ultimately joins them on the run. Callies was the first actress the producers saw at the audition for the role of Sara Tancredi and was also the first to become a principal cast member.<ref name="TVGuide-2006aug08"/><ref name="DVD-S1E6">''Prison Break Season 1 DVD'', (2006), audio commentary from episode "[[Riots, Drills and the Devil (Prison Break episode)|Riots, Drills and the Devil (Part 1)]]".</ref>
* [[Paul Adelstein]] as [[Paul Kellerman]] (seasons 1–2, 4–5): Kellerman was introduced as a Secret Service agent working for the Vice President to make sure that the execution of Lincoln Burrows goes smoothly. He appears as a major character in the first and second seasons.
* [[Rockmond Dunbar]] as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin (seasons 1–2, 4–5): Desperate for his family, C-Note blackmails Michael at Fox River to join his escape team. He appears in the series as a major character in the first and second seasons.
* [[William Fichtner]] as [[Alexander Mahone]] (seasons 2–4): Introduced as an FBI agent in the second season, Mahone's assignment was to locate the fugitives. Mahone is intellectually matched with Michael and his background unfolds as the series progresses. In the third season he finds himself incarcerated with Michael in Sona and is eventually forced to become his ally through the fourth season.
* [[Chris Vance (actor)|Chris Vance]] as James Whistler (seasons 3–4): Whistler is incarcerated in Sona for the murder of the Mayor's son and appears as a major character in the third season. He also stars in the first episode of the fourth season.
* [[Robert Wisdom]] as [[Norman "Lechero" St. John]] (season 3): Appearing as a major character in the third season, Lechero is a prisoner at Sona who rules the prison as a dictator and a Panamanian drug kingpin.
* [[Danay Garcia]] as Sofia Lugo (seasons 3–4): Sofia was introduced in the third season as Whistler's girlfriend. At the beginning of the fourth season, she begins dating Lincoln Burrows.
* [[Jodi Lyn O'Keefe]] as Gretchen Morgan (seasons 3–4): Introduced as "[[Susan B. Anthony]]", Gretchen is an operative for The {{proper name|Com|pany}} who is in charge of ensuring the escape of James Whistler.
* [[Michael Rapaport]] as Donald Self (season 4): Introduced in the fourth season, Self is a [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] special agent who teams up with the gang to take down The {{proper name|Com|pany}}.
* [[Mark Feuerstein]] as Jacob Anton Ness (season 5): Introduced in the fifth season, Jacob is Sara's new husband and an economics professor who is later revealed to be a rogue [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative who is responsible for Michael's disappearance.
* [[Inbar Lavi]] as Sheba (season 5): The leader of a resistance against [[ISIL]] in Yemen, Sheba appears as C-Note's friend and Lincoln's love interest.
* [[Augustus Prew]] as David "Whip" Martin (season 5): Michael's cellmate and partner in the fifth season, as well as T-Bag's illegitimate son. He is the muscle to back up Michael, often called Michael's whip hand.

==Production==

===Conception===
The original concept of ''Prison Break''—a man deliberately getting himself sent to prison in order to help someone escape—was suggested to [[Paul Scheuring]] by producer Dawn Parouse, who wanted to produce an action-oriented series. Although Scheuring thought it was a good idea, he was initially stumped as to why someone would embark on such a mission or how he could develop it into a viable television show. He came up with the story of the wrongfully accused brother, and began working on the plot outline and devising the characters. In 2003, he pitched the idea to the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] but was turned down as Fox felt nervous about the long-term possibilities of such a series. He subsequently showed the concept to other channels but was also turned down as it was thought to be more suited for a film project than a television series.<ref name="IGN-2007mar13">{{cite news|first=Eric |last=Goldman |title=Paley Fest: Prison Break |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/772/772555p1.html |work=IGN |date=March 13, 2007 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317015955/http://tv.ign.com/articles/772/772555p1.html |archive-date=March 17, 2007 }}</ref> ''Prison Break'' was later considered as a possible 14-part [[miniseries]], which drew the interest of [[Steven Spielberg]] before his departure due to his involvement with ''[[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds]]''. Thus, the miniseries never materialized. Following the huge popularity of [[serial (radio and television)|serialized]] prime time television series such as ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' and ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', Fox backed the production in 2004. The pilot episode was filmed one year after Scheuring wrote the script.<ref>{{cite web|title=Into the heart of darkness |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/into-the-heart-of-darkness/2006/01/24/1138066797049.html |date=January 26, 2006 |work=[[The Age]] |access-date=July 19, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720100454/http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/into-the-heart-of-darkness/2006/01/24/1138066797049.html |archive-date=July 20, 2009 }}</ref>

===Filming===
[[File:Joliet State Prison (10045283735).jpg|alt=Joliet State Prison|thumb|Joliet State Prison became the set of Fox River State Penitentiary in ''Prison Break''.]]
The majority of the first season was filmed on location in and around [[Chicago]].<ref name="TCT-2005aug24">{{cite news|first=Maureen |last=Ryan |title=Joliet prison is a 'Break'-out star |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2005/08/joliet_prison_i.html |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=August 24, 2005 |access-date=December 5, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060429121923/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2005/08/joliet_prison_i.html |archive-date=April 29, 2006 }}</ref> [[Joliet Prison]] closed in 2002, and in 2005 became the set of ''Prison Break'' as Fox River State Penitentiary.<ref name="TSMH-2006feb01">{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Idato |title=Inside Prison Break: Chain male |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/inside-prison-break-chain-male/2006/01/28/1138319488697.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=February 1, 2006 |access-date=October 10, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721022348/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/inside-prison-break-chain-male/2006/01/28/1138319488697.html?page=fullpage |archive-date=July 21, 2009 }}</ref> Scenes set in Lincoln's cell, the infirmary, and the prison yard were all shot on location there.<ref name="IGN-2006mar17">{{cite web|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/696/696707p1.html |title=Set Visit: Prison Break |access-date=January 16, 2009 |last=Zoromski |first=Brian |date=March 17, 2006 |work=IGN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203203210/http://movies.ign.com/articles/696/696707p1.html |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }}</ref> Lincoln's cell was alleged to be where serial killer [[John Wayne Gacy]] was incarcerated,{{efn|[[John Wayne Gacy]] was incarcerated at [[Menard Correctional Center]] in [[Chester, Illinois]] for 14 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/notorious/crimefiles.do?catId=259456&action=view&profileId=262926&selectedIndex=1&sectionName=Aftermath|title=Notorious Crime Profiles: John Wayne Gacy|publisher=The Biography Channel|access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> and then executed at [[Stateville Correctional Center]] in [[Crest Hill, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/05/17/is-it-right-to-kill-the-killers/ |title=Is It Right To Kill The Killers? |work=Chicago Tribune |first=Amanda |last=Vogt |date=May 17, 1994 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424020303/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-05-17/features/9405170317_1_death-penalty-john-wayne-gacy-death-row |archive-date=April 24, 2012 }}</ref> He was never held in nearby [[Joliet Correctional Center]].}} which at least one member of the production crew refused to enter, because it was allegedly haunted.<ref name="TCT-2005aug24"/><ref name="TDTA-2007feb07">{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Downie |title=Making a run for it |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/tv/making-a-run-for-it/story-e6frexlr-1111112955687 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=February 7, 2007 |access-date=January 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008120145/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/tv/making-a-run-for-it/story-e6frexlr-1111112955687 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 }}</ref> Other sets were built at the prison, including the cell blocks that housed the general prison population; these blocks had three tiers of cells (instead of the real cell block's four), enlarged for the actors and cameras.<ref name="IGN-2006mar17"/> Exterior scenes were filmed in areas around Chicago, [[Woodstock, Illinois|Woodstock]], and [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]] in [[Illinois]]. Other locations included [[O'Hare International Airport]] in Chicago and Toronto, [[Ontario]] in Canada. ''Prison Break'' production spent $2 million per episode in the state of Illinois, totaling $24 million in 2005.<ref name="TCT-2005aug24"/>

Renewed for a second season, ''Prison Break'' resumed filming on June 15, 2006, in [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]], due to the close proximity of rural and urban settings.<ref name="MSN-2006may15">{{cite news|title=New 'Prison Break' to be filmed in Dallas|url=http://movies.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=223366|agency=The Associated Press|work=MSN|date=May 15, 2006|access-date=January 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102131545/http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=223366|archive-date=November 2, 2007}}</ref> Locations within a 30-minute radius of Dallas included [[Little Elm, Texas|Little Elm]], [[Decatur, Texas|Decatur]], [[Mineral Wells, Texas|Mineral Wells]], and [[McKinney, Texas|McKinney]].<ref name="MWI-2006sep14">{{cite news|first=Lacie|last=Morrison|title=A major production|url=http://www.mineralwellsindex.com/homepage/local_story_257103654.html?keyword=leadpicturestory|archive-url=https://archive.today/20061101143331/http://www.mineralwellsindex.com/homepage/local_story_257103654.html?keyword=leadpicturestory|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2006|work=Mineral Wells Index|date=September 14, 2006|access-date=January 17, 2009}}</ref> Many of these locations were used to represent various American towns.<ref name="TCT-2006aug18">{{cite news|first=Maureen |last=Ryan |title=Getting out was the easy part: Season 2 of 'Prison Break' |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/08/getting_out_was.html |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=August 18, 2006 |access-date=September 15, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821214746/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/08/getting_out_was.html |archive-date=August 21, 2006 }}</ref> The show was expected to spend more than $50 million in Texas during the second season.<ref name="DFC-2006may15">{{cite press release|title=Dallas Welcomes Hit Television Series |publisher=Dallas Film Commission |date=May 15, 2006 |url=http://www.visitdallas.com/media/article-details?id=127&category=5374 |access-date=January 17, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060137/http://www.visitdallas.com/media/article-details?id=127&category=5374 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> For the final three episodes of the second season, filming took place in [[Pensacola, Florida]] to represent [[Panama]].<ref name="PNJ-2007mar11">{{cite news|first=T. |last=Moon |title='Prison Break' hits beach |url=http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/NEWS01/70311006 |work=Pensacola News Journal |date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914082540/http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070311%2FNEWS01%2F70311006 |archive-date=September 14, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each episode took eight days to film and contributed approximately $1.4 million to the local economy.<ref name="Fox4News-2007feb12">{{cite news|first=Scott|last=Sayres|title=Incentives Would Draw More Film, TV Productions|url=http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2360275&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506220336/http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2360275&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1|archive-date=May 6, 2008|work=Fox 4 News|date=February 12, 2007|access-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>

The third season was shot in Dallas and had a budget of $3 million per episode.<ref name="AR-2007dec13">{{cite news|first=Angela|last=Weatherford|title=A little bit of Hollywood|url=http://www.athensreview.com/local/x212232295/A-little-bit-of-Hollywood|work=Athens Review|date=December 13, 2007|access-date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> Several of the exterior scenes with [[Lincoln Burrows|Lincoln]] and [[Gretchen Morgan|Gretchen]] negotiating the escape from the [[Panama]] jail were shot in the [[Panama City#Tourism|Casco Viejo]] quarter of [[Panama City]].<ref name="Screen-2008feb09">{{cite news |title=Panama 'shaken, not stirred' by shooting of Bond flick |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=18890 |work=Screen |date=February 9, 2008 |access-date=December 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721021631/http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=18890 |archive-date=July 21, 2009 }}</ref> The principal photography for the fourth season was relocated to Los Angeles, California.<ref name="TBN-2008jul29">{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Pergament|title=Television series is a working vacation for actor from Cheektowaga|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/article107957.ecel|work=The Buffalo News|date=July 29, 2008|access-date=December 7, 2008}}</ref>

===Music===
[[File:Ramin Djawadi.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Ramin Djawadi|upright|[[Ramin Djawadi]] is the composer of the ''Prison Break'' score.]]
The theme music of ''Prison Break'' and the [[incidental music]] of each episode was composed by [[Ramin Djawadi]]. The score for the first two seasons is featured in the ''[[Prison Break (soundtrack)|Prison Break: Original Television Soundtrack]]'', which was released on August 28, 2007.<ref name="Amazon-soundtrack">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UAEB8W |title=Prison Break (Original Television Soundtrack) |work=Amazon.com |access-date=December 13, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905223923/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UAEB8W |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref> Djawadi and [[Ferry Corsten]] produced a remix of the theme music titled "[[Ferry Corsten discography#Remixes|Prison Break Theme (Ferry Corsten Breakout Mix)]]" as a single, which was released by [[Fox Entertainment Group|Fox Music]] in 2006. In Europe, rapper [[Faf Larage]]'s song "[[Pas le temps]]" is used by television network [[Métropole Télévision|M6]] in France and by [[RTL-TVI]] in Belgium to replace the show's original theme music in the [[title sequence]], which generated publicity and helped to localize the show.<ref name="Time-2006oct17">{{cite news|first=Jeanne |last=McDowell |title=Helping TV Hits Translate Overseas |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1547027,00.html |magazine=Time |date=October 17, 2006 |access-date=November 12, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114065753/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0%2C8599%2C1547027%2C00.html |archive-date=November 14, 2006 }}</ref>

===Format===
''Prison Break'' features a [[Serial (radio and television)|serialized story structure]], similar to that of its first season companion show ''24''. At the 2009 TV Critics Press Tour, [[Kevin Reilly (executive)|Kevin Reilly]] told reporters that the series would end with the fourth season. Despite decreasing ratings, Reilly attributed the cancellation to creativity. He stated, "The show has just played out. You get to a point creatively where you feel all the stories have been told, and you want to end strong and not gimp out in the end of the season."<ref name="E-2009jan14">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b78824_prison_break_ending.html |title=''Prison Break'' Is Ending |access-date=January 14, 2009 |author=Dos Santos, Kristin |author-link=Kristin Dos Santos |date=January 14, 2008 |work=E! |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116140022/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b78824_prison_break_ending.html |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> Regarding the finale, Reilly stated, "They have a really cool ending, actually. I know where they end, and it's a hell of an idea."<ref name="E-2009jan14"/>

===Tattoo===
Designed by Tom Berg and created by Tinsley Transfers, [[Michael Scofield's tattoo]] took around five hours to be applied onto Wentworth Miller. In scenes where the actor is wearing a T-shirt and the entire tattoo is not being shown, only the forearm pieces of the tattoo were applied.<ref>{{cite video|title=Prison Break: Season One – "Beyond the Ink" featurette|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox|date=August 8, 2006}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===

The show debuted on August 29, 2005, to an estimated audience of 10.5 million viewers. Fox had not had such success for mid-year Monday numbers since ''[[Melrose Place]]'' and ''[[Ally McBeal]]'' aired in September 1998. The premiere was ranked first in both the 18–49 and 18–34 [[demographic]]s.<ref name="Variety-2005sep07">{{cite news |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=September 7, 2005 |title=Everyone's watching Post-Katrina coverage |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/everyone-s-watching-post-katrina-coverage-1117928712/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629172453/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117928712 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The strong debut performance was matched by positive reviews. ''The New York Times'' wrote, ''Prison Break'' was "more intriguing than most of the new network series, and it certainly is one of the most original", complimenting its ability to create a "suspenseful thriller" and its "authentic look".<ref name="TNYT-2005aug29">{{cite news |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra |date=August 29, 2005 |title=Jailhouse Heroes Are Hard to Find |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/arts/television/29stan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223004409/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/arts/television/29stan.html |archive-date=February 23, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> [[Gillian Flynn]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' dubbed it one of the best new shows of 2005.<ref name="EW-2006apr21">{{cite magazine |last=Flynn |first=Gillian |date=April 21, 2006 |title=TV Review: Prison Break (2005) |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/04/24/prison-break/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119055611/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1186037%2C00.html |archive-date=January 19, 2009 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' criticized the "somber pretentiousness" and "uniformly overwrought" performances.<ref name="TWP-2005aug29">{{cite news |last=Shales |first=Tom |date=August 29, 2005 |title='Prison Break': Sharpen Up Those Spoons |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/28/AR2005082801134.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026084135/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/28/AR2005082801134.html |archive-date=October 26, 2005 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Due to its ratings success, Fox extended ''Prison Break'' by an extra nine episodes, making it the first new series in the 2005–2006 television season to receive a full season order of 22 episodes.<ref name="Variety-2005sep28">{{cite news|first=Josef |last=Adalian |title=Fox fine with more jail time |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/fox-fine-with-more-jail-time-1117929907/ |work=Variety |date=September 28, 2005 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629172522/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117929907?refCatId=1417 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> The series averaged 9.2 million viewers per week in its first season.<ref name="THR-2006may26">{{cite web |date=May 26, 2006 |title=Series Rankings for 2005–2006 |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716115645/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393 |archive-date=July 16, 2008 |access-date=May 29, 2010 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

The premiere of the second season of ''Prison Break'' obtained an average of 9.4 million viewers.<ref name="USAT-2006aug29">{{cite news|first=Gary |last=Levin |title=Premieres, finales falter |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-08-29-nielsen-analysis_x.htm |work=USA Today |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=January 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029020400/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-08-29-nielsen-analysis_x.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2008 }}</ref> The decline was steeper among young-adult viewers with a decrease of 20% in the 18–49 demographic compared to its series premiere, but its household rating grew from 3.6% to 3.9% during the last half-hour.<ref name="Mediaweek-2006aug22">{{cite news|first=John|last=Consoli|title=Fox to Stream Prison Break, Vanished|url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003020694|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110050336/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003020694|archive-date=January 10, 2008|work=Mediaweek.com|date=August 22, 2006|access-date=January 17, 2009}}</ref> Robert Bianco of ''[[USA Today]]'' commented on the "harebrained absurdities that have swamped this show", and blamed the writers for being "incredibly lazy" for the continuous use of the tattoo as an "all-purpose plot fix".<ref name="USAT-2006aug27">{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Bianco|title=What to watch Monday|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2006-08-27-critics-corner_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=August 27, 2006|access-date=February 16, 2011}}</ref> In contrast, ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' commended the second-season premiere on matching the standard set by the first season, which delivered "rocking good entertainment" due to its "motley crew of cellblock characters" and the "taut, ingenious storytelling of series creator Paul T. Scheuring and his staff".<ref name="DFP-2006aug21">{{cite news |date=August 21, 2006 |title=Fox tonight: Great return, so-so debut |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/ENT03/608210336 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011152840/http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060821%2FENT03%2F608210336 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=September 15, 2006 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]]}}</ref> The second season obtained its largest audience on the original airdate of the episode, "[[Chicago (Prison Break episode)|Chicago]]" with an average of 10.1 million viewers.<ref name="TFC-2007feb13">{{cite web |date=February 14, 2007 |title=NBC ratings results for the week of February 5 – February 11 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=02/13/07&id=20070213nbc02 |access-date=February 13, 2007 |work=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref> Overall, the second season averaged 9.3 million viewers per week.<ref name="THR-2007may25">{{cite web |date=May 25, 2007 |title=2006–07 Primetime Wrap |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/h/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011091144/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

The third and particularly fourth season received progressively negative reviews, as the show's plot diverged from its origin story of breaking out of prison, and focused more on conventional elements of a government conspiracy drama series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andrew |first=Jamie |date=August 19, 2013 |title=The wasted potential of Prison Break |url=https://denofgeek.com/tv/prison-break/26927/the-wasted-potential-of-prison-break |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109024711/http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/prison-break/26927/the-wasted-potential-of-prison-break |archive-date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |publisher=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Venable |first=Nick |date=2015 |title=10 Great Shows That Went Way Downhill |url=https://cinemablend.com/television/10-Great-Shows-Went-Way-Downhill-71594-p6.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108161544/http://www.cinemablend.com/television/10-Great-Shows-Went-Way-Downhill-71594-p6.html |archive-date=November 8, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |publisher=[[CinemaBlend]]}}</ref>

Season five received mixed reviews. On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the season has an approval rating of 52% based on 21 reviews, with an average score of 6.61/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Prison Break'' recaptures some of its old urgency in its return, but familiar faces and frenetic action aren't enough to make up for a plot that manages to bore while beggaring belief."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/prison_break/s05 |title=Prison Break: Season 5 (2017) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=April 4, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020908/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/prison_break/s05 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the season has a score of 48 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Prison Break: Season 5 reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/prison-break/season-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406124144/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/prison-break/season-5 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2017 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]]}}</ref>

===Ratings===
The following seasonal rankings are based on a weighted average total viewers per episode as recorded by [[Nielsen Media Research]]. The recording period begins in late September (the start of the U.S. network television season) and ends in late May. 

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:5%;" | Season
! rowspan="2" style="width:20%;" | Time slot ([[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|ET]])
! rowspan="2" style="width:5%;" | Episodes
! colspan="2" | Premiered
! colspan="2" | Ended
! rowspan="2" style="width:10%; background:#ffdead;" | Viewers<br />(in millions)
! rowspan="2" style="width:5%;" | #Rank
|-
! style="width:10%;" | Date
! style="width:10%; font-size:smaller; line-height:100%;" span | <small>Premiere viewers<br />(in millions)</small>
! style="width:10%;" | Date
! style="width:10%; font-size:smaller; line-height:100%;" span |  <small>Finale viewers<br />(in millions)</small>
|-
| [[Prison Break season 1|1]]
| <small>Monday 9:00&nbsp;p.m. (2005)/Monday 8:00&nbsp;p.m. (2006)</small>
| 22
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|August 29, 2005}}
| 10.51
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|May 15, 2006}}
| 10.24
| style="background:#fc9;" | 9.2<ref name="THR-2006may26" />
| 55
|-
| [[Prison Break season 2|2]]
| rowspan="2" |<small>Monday 8:00&nbsp;p.m.</small>
| 22
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|August 21, 2006}}
| 9.37
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center| April 2, 2007}}
| 8.12
| style="background:#fc9;" | 9.3<ref name="THR-2007may25" />
| 51
|-
| [[Prison Break season 3|3]]
| 13
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|September 17, 2007}}
| 7.51
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|February 18, 2008}}
| 7.40
| style="background:#fc9;" | 8.2<ref name="Televisionista-2008jun01">{{cite web |last=Van De Kamp |first=Justin |date=June 1, 2008 |title=TV Ratings: 2007–2008 Season Top-200 |url=http://televisionista.blogspot.com/2008/06/tv-ratings-2007-2008-season-top-200.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216081636/http://televisionista.blogspot.com/2008/06/tv-ratings-2007-2008-season-top-200.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=January 16, 2009 |work=Televisionista.com}}</ref>
| 73
|-
| [[Prison Break season 4|4]]
| <small>Monday 9:00&nbsp;p.m. (2008)/Friday 8:00&nbsp;p.m. (2009)</small>
| 22
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|September 1, 2008}}
| 6.53
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|May 15, 2009 }}
| 3.32
| style="background:#fc9;" | 6.1<ref name="ABC-2008dec09">{{cite web |date=December 9, 2008 |title=Season Program Rankings (Through 12/7) |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=120908_05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216135138/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=120908_05 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=December 10, 2008 |work=American Broadcasting Company (ABC) Medianet}}</ref>
| 68
|-
| [[Prison Break season 5|5]]
|<small>Tuesday 9:00&nbsp;p.m. </small>
| 9
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|April 4, 2017}}
| 3.83
| style="font-size:11px;line-height:110%" |{{center|May 30, 2017 }}
| 2.30
| style="background:#fc9;" | 4.0<ref>{{cite web |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Final 2016–17 TV Rankings: 'Sunday Night Football' Winning Streak Continues |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530115026/http://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/ |archive-date=May 30, 2017 |access-date=June 2, 2017 |work=Deadline}}</ref>
| 115
|}
According to the file-sharing news website ''[[TorrentFreak]]'', ''Prison Break'' was the sixth most-watched pirated television series of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2017-12-28 |title=The 10 Most Pirated Television Shows of 2017 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/most-pirated-television-shows-2017-game-of-thrones-1201911688/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=[[IndieWire]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowen |first=Trace William |date=December 29, 2017 |title=You Can Probably Guess Which TV Show Was the Most Pirated... |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tracewilliamcowen/most-pirated-tv-shows-2017 |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |publisher=[[Complex Networks]] |language=en}}</ref> The show later gained renewed popularity after becoming available on streaming platforms like [[Hulu]] and [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Deana |date=September 6, 2024 |title=Prison Break Gets Major Resurgence on Streaming Ahead of Upcoming Sequel Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/netflixs-prison-break-tops-nielsens-streaming-rankings/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Nielsen Media Research]], which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that the series was watched for 758 million minutes from July 29 to August 4, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Nielsen Streaming Top 10: 'Prison Break' Makes No. 5 After Netflix Debut, 'House of the Dragon' Leads the Chart |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/nielsen-top-10-ratings-streaming-1235693657/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Olympics Steal Streaming Spotlight As No Originals Make Nielsen Chart; 'Prison Break' Latest Series To Pop On Netflix |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/nielsen-streaming-viewership-july-olympics-prison-break-1236073211/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> From August 5 to 11, 2024, ''Prison Break'' was the most-streamed program, with 1.6 billion minutes of viewership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=September 5, 2024 |title='Prison Break' Races To No. 1 On Nielsen Streaming List As Fox Series Finds New Life On Netflix; 'Umbrella Academy' Comes In Second |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/prison-break-umbrella-academy-nielsen-streaming-viewership-1236079392/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Streaming Ratings: 'Prison Break' Absconds With No. 1 Overall Ranking |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/streaming-ratings-aug-5-11-2024-1235992758/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The following week, it maintained its top position, with 1.61 billion minutes of viewing time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=September 12, 2024 |title='Prison Break' Continues Streaming Dominance As 'Fire Country' Heats Up On Nielsen Charts |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/prison-break-fire-country-nielsen-streaming-viewership-1236086596/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Streaming Ratings: 'Emily in Paris' Opens Lower With Half-Season Release |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/streaming-ratings-aug-12-18-2024-1236000147/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Hispanic viewers remained a key demographic, constituting nearly one-third of the audience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gruenwedel |first=Erik |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Nielsen: 'Prison Break' Reruns Remain Atop Weekly Household TV Streaming Through Aug. 18 |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-prison-break-reruns-remain-atop-weekly-household-tv-streaming-through-aug-18/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=[[Media Play News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Nielsen Media Research later reported that ''Prison Break'' garnered 1.188 billion minutes of viewing time, once again ranking as the most-streamed television series, from August 26 to September 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seitz |first=Loree |date=September 26, 2024 |title='Rings of Power' Season 2 Debuts at No. 2 on Nielsen Streaming Charts With Over 1 Billion Minutes Viewed |url=https://www.thewrap.com/rings-of-power-season-2-nielsen-ratings/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=[[TheWrap]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=September 26, 2024 |title='Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power' Back On Nielsen Charts In Season 2 Debut Week, Crossing 1B Minutes Viewed |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/rings-of-power-season-2-premiere-ratings-nielsen-streaming-amazon-1236100849/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Since its addition to Netflix in late July 2024, the series has continued to gain significant traction, dominating the overall streaming charts and holding the top spot for a fourth consecutive week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seitz |first=Loree |date=September 26, 2024 |title='Rings of Power' Season 2 Debuts at No. 2 on Nielsen Streaming Charts With Over 1 Billion Minutes Viewed |url=https://www.thewrap.com/rings-of-power-season-2-nielsen-ratings/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=[[TheWrap]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In the week leading up to September 15, 2024, seasons one, two, and three of ''Prison Break'' reappeared on Netflix's English-language TV chart. Season one ranked No. 3 with 4.7 million views, followed by season two at No. 7 with 2.8 million views, and season three at No. 10 with 1.7 million views.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gruenwedel |first=Erik |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Netflix: Actioner 'Rebel Ridge' Remains Atop Weekly Streaming Through Sept. 15 |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/netflix-actioner-rebel-ridge-remains-atop-weekly-streaming-through-sept-15/?hilite=%22Prison%20Break%22 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=[[Media Play News]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Netflix Top 10: 'Uglies' Debuts as No. 2 Movie While 'Perfect Couple' and 'Rebel Ridge' Hold Strong |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/netflix-top-10-streaming-ratings-september-9-1236154798/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Classification===
Concerns were raised by the [[Parents Television Council]] in the United States about the time slot in which ''Prison Break'' was broadcast (8:00&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|ET]]) because of graphic content.<ref name="PTC-2006sep05">{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2006/0905worst.asp |title=Worst TV Show of the Week |access-date=September 5, 2006 |date=September 15, 2006 |work=Parents Television Council |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020082310/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2006/0905worst.asp |archive-date=October 20, 2006 }}</ref> In France, the broadcasting watchdog, {{Interlanguage link|Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel|Fr}} (CSA), also complained that the violence in some episodes exceeded the amount allowed for its rating, which is "not for under 10s". Under France's regulations, any higher ratings would have moved the show away from its primetime time slot to a later time slot. However, the decision to change the rating would have affected only the first season, which had already been broadcast, and not the second season.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alison |last=James |title='Prison' too violent? |url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/prison-too-violent-1117954337/ |work=Variety |date=November 21, 2006 |access-date=November 21, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629172632/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117954337?refCatId=14 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ {{sronly|Awards and nominations received by ''Prison Break''}}
|-
! scope="col" style="width:20%;" | Awards
! scope="col" style="width:3%;"  | Year
! scope="col" style="width:33%;" | Category
! scope="col" | Nominee(s)
! scope="col" style="width:6%;"  | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:1%;" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Australian Film Institute Awards]]
| align="center" | 2007
| Best Actor
| {{sortname|Dominic|Purcell}}
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Boland |first=Michaela |date=2007-12-06 |title=Oz's AFI Awards love 'Father' |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/oz-s-afi-awards-love-father-1117977178/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3"| [[ALMA Award]]s
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2006
| Outstanding Director of a Television Drama or Comedy
| {{sortname|Jesús Salvador|Treviño}}
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref name="ALMA-2006-win">{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=2006 ALMA winners |url=http://www.almaawards.com/2006-winners.html |url-status=dead |work=National Council of La Raza |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822171844/http://www.almaawards.com/2006-winners.html |archivedate=August 22, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series
| {{sortname|Amaury|Nolasco}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="ALMA-2006-nom">{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=2006 ALMA nominees |url=http://www.almaawards.com/2006-nominees.html |url-status=dead |work=National Council of La Raza |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530105506/http://www.almaawards.com/2006-nominees.html |archivedate=May 30, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| align="center"| 2008
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series
| {{sortname|Amaury|Nolasco}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="ALMA-2008-nom">{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=2008 ALMA nominees |url=http://www.almaawards.com/2008-nominees.html |url-status=dead |work=National Council of La Raza |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730002201/http://www.almaawards.com/2008-nominees.html |archivedate=July 30, 2008}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Eddie Awards]]
| align="center"| [[American Cinema Editors Awards 2006|2006]]
| [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Drama Series|Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television]]
| {{sortname|Mark|Helfrich|Mark Helfrich (film editor)}} (for [[Pilot (Prison Break)|the pilot episode]])
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| rowspan="2" align="center"| [[63rd Golden Globe Awards|2005]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]]
| {{sortname|Wentworth|Miller}}
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref name="GoldenGlobes">{{Cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/26030 |title=Prison Break |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |work=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829235752/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/26030 |archivedate=August 29, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]
| ''Prison Break''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| [[Golden Reel Award (Motion Picture Sound Editors)|Golden Reel Awards]]
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2007
| [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Music Score and Musical for Episodic Short Form Broadcast Media|Best Sound Editing in Music for Television – Short Form]]
| {{sortname|David|Klotz}} (for "[[Disconnect (Prison Break)|Disconnect]]")
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2007awards/2007tvnominees.html |title=2007 Golden Reel Awards nominees and winners |access-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715184056/http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2007awards/2007tvnominees.html |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects and Foley for Episodic Short Form Broadcast Media|Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects and Foley for Television – Short Form]]
| {{sortname|Gregory M.|Gerlich|nolink=1}}, Casey J. Crabtree, Michael Crabtree, Dan Yale, Brian Risner, William Jacobs, Stuart Calderon, Andy Kopetzky, and Jerry Edemann (for "[[Disconnect (Prison Break)|Disconnect]]")
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Leo Awards]]
| align="center" | 2018
| Best Stunt Coordination in a Dramatic Series
| {{sortname|Lauro David|Chartrand-DelValle|nolink=1}} (for "[[Ogygia (Prison Break)|Ogygia]]")
| {{Win}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |title=LEO AWARDS, Nominees & Winners by Program |url=http://www.leoawards.com/past_nominees_and_winners/nominees_and_winners_by_program_2018.php#Dramatic_Series |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=www.leoawards.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[People's Choice Awards]]
| align="center" | [[32nd People's Choice Awards|2006]]
| Favorite New Television Drama
| ''Prison Break''
| {{Win}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-17 |title='Prison Break' Revival Locks Up Returns of Rockmond Dunbar, Robert Knepper |url=https://www.thewrap.com/prison-break-revival-locks-up-returns-of-rockmond-dunbar-robert-knepper/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| align="center" | [[58th Primetime Emmy Awards|2006]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music|Outstanding Main Title Theme Music]]
| {{sortname|Ramin|Djawadi}}
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Prison Break |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/prison-break |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Satellite Awards]]
| align="center"| [[Satellite Awards 2006|2006]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]
| {{sortname|Robert|Knepper}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="Satellite-2006-nom">{{cite press release|title=Official nominations for the 11th Annual Satellite Awards |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/forms/pdf/2006-IPA-Nom-Announce.pdf |publisher=International Press Academy |date=December 12, 2006 |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928115940/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/forms/pdf/2006-IPA-Nom-Announce.pdf |archivedate=September 28, 2011 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"| [[Saturn Award]]s
| rowspan="2" align="center"| [[32nd Saturn Awards|2005]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Network Television Series|Best Network Television Series]]
| ''Prison Break''
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |title=32nd Saturn Awards Nominations |publisher=[[Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films]] |access-date=February 14, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712225937/http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |archive-date=July 12, 2006}}</ref>
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television|Best Actor on Television]]
| {{sortname|Wentworth|Miller}}
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| align="center"| [[15th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2008]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series|Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series]]
| ''Prison Break''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="SAG-2008-nom">{{cite press release |title=Nominations Announced for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards |url=http://www.sagawards.org/files/15_SAGAwards_Noms.pdf |publisher=Screen Actors Guild |date=December 18, 2008 |accessdate=January 19, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[TCA Awards|Television Critics Association Awards]]
| align="center"| [[22nd TCA Awards|2006]]
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Best New Program]]
| ''Prison Break''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="TCA-nom">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvcritics.org/tca/files/July2007/TCA%20complete%20NOMINEES%20list.xls |title=Complete list of nominees |accessdate=January 19, 2009 |work=Television Critics Association |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824070446/http://www.tvcritics.org/tca/files/July2007/TCA%20complete%20NOMINEES%20list.xls |archivedate=August 24, 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|}

===Alleged copyright infringement===
On October 24, 2006, the [[Associated Press]] reported that Donald and Robert Hughes filed a lawsuit against Fox Broadcasting Company and the show's executive producer and creator, Paul Scheuring, for [[copyright infringement]], seeking unspecified damages and other costs. They claimed that in 2001, they had sent Fox their manuscript which was based on their own experiences of a prison break at a juvenile facility. In the 1960s, Donald Hughes planned and successfully executed a [[prison escape]] for his brother, Robert Hughes, who was wrongfully incarcerated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox Accused of Stealing Prison Break|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=f7a81b49-ad9d-47f2-a0d4-efb19a25221d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203141245/http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=f7a81b49-ad9d-47f2-a0d4-efb19a25221d|archive-date=February 3, 2008|work=E! |date=October 24, 2006|access-date=October 26, 2008}}</ref>

==Distribution==

===Television===
In [[Canada]], ''Prison Break'' was broadcast on [[Global Television Network|Global]] one hour before it aired on Fox, except in the Maritimes where it aired two hours before Fox's airing. ''Prison Break'' was the only new television series to be positioned in the top twenty television shows of 2005–2006 in Canada, achieving an average of 876,000 viewers in the key demographic of 18–49 and 1.4 million viewers nationally for its first season.<ref name="CNW-2006sep18">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/September2006/18/c7269.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212032732/http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/September2006/18/c7269.html|archive-date=February 12, 2008|title=Global Television Ratings|access-date=September 18, 2006|date=October 1, 2006|work=CNW Telbec}}</ref> ''Prison Break'' premiered on the Australian television network [[Seven Network|Seven]] on February 1, 2006, to an average audience of 1.94 million.<ref name="NCA-2006feb02">{{cite news|title=Prison Break debuts with 1.94 million viewers|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-118029363.html|work=News.com.au|date=February 2, 2006|access-date=February 17, 2006}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The first season attracted an overall average of 1.353 million viewers.<ref name="EBroadcast-2006dec04">{{cite press release|title=Seven dominates television in 2006|publisher=Seven Network|date=December 4, 2006|url=http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/Seven_dominates_television_in_2006_041206.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612045240/http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/Seven_dominates_television_in_2006_041206.html|archive-date=June 12, 2008|access-date=December 6, 2006}}</ref> After decreasing ratings throughout the second season, Seven decided to fast-track the airing of the third-season episodes.<ref name="TSMH-2007jun27">{{cite news|first=Emily |last=Dunn |title=Cult shows air sooner to curb downloads |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/cult-shows-air-sooner-to-curb-downloads/2007/06/26/1182623906754.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=January 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914070645/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/cult-shows-air-sooner-to-curb-downloads/2007/06/26/1182623906754.html |archive-date=September 14, 2008 }}</ref> The fifth-season revival moved to [[Network Ten]] and debuted on May 15, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2017/05/returning-prison-break-3.html |title=Returning: Prison Break |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=May 12, 2017 |first=David |last=Knox |work=TV Tonight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502061726/http://tvtonight.com.au/2017/05/returning-prison-break-3.html |archive-date=May 2, 2017 }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the first and second seasons premiered on [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Five]], with the first season being replayed on [[Gold (British TV channel)|UKTV Gold]] before the second season debuted on Five. Prior to the start of the third season, [[Sky One]] acquired the rights to broadcast ''Prison Break'', paying £500,000 per episode.<ref name="Guardian-2007jun05">{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Sweney |title=Sky One snatches Prison Break |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/05/broadcasting.bskyb |work=The Guardian |date=June 5, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005022556/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/05/broadcasting.bskyb |archive-date=October 5, 2014 }}</ref> The series premiered in France on August 31, 2006, with an average of 5.5 million viewers.<ref name="M6-2006sep01">{{cite press release |title=Prison Break, la série phénomène, crée l'événement sur M6 |publisher=[[Métropole Télévision|M6]] |date=September 1, 2006 |url=http://www.m6pub.fr/aud_communique_msix_20060901.php |language=fr |access-date=November 12, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126022034/http://www.m6pub.fr/aud_communique_msix_20060901.php |archive-date=November 26, 2006 }}</ref> The second season premiered on September 13, 2007, to 5.3 million viewers.<ref name="LBTN-2007sep14">{{cite news|title=Audience Prison break : retour gagnant pour M6 |url=http://www.leblogtvnews.com/article-12356184.html |work=Le Blog TV News |date=September 14, 2007 |access-date=September 22, 2007 |language=fr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004030224/http://www.leblogtvnews.com/article-12356184.html |archive-date=October 4, 2007 }}</ref>

The first season's broadcast in Hong Kong on [[TVB Pearl]] received the largest audience in the country for a foreign drama. The series premiere obtained an average of 260,000 viewers while the first-season finale obtained an average of 470,000 viewers.<ref name="YahooTV-2007jan23">{{cite news|script-title=zh:59萬觀眾睇《逃》結局 創英文收視紀錄|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070122/12/20fcr.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622144228/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070122/12/20fcr.html|archive-date=June 22, 2007|work=Yahoo! News|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=March 17, 2007|language=zh}}</ref> The second season's premiere received an average of 270,000 viewers.<ref name="YahooTV-2007mar08">{{cite news|script-title=zh:《逃2》首播搶走31萬觀眾|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070307/12/238v6.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226043554/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070307/12/238v6.html|archive-date=December 26, 2007|work=Yahoo! News|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=March 17, 2007|language=zh}}</ref>

===Home media===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2| DVDs
! rowspan=2| Episodes<ref name="Prison Break">{{cite news|title=Prison Break |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455275/episodes |work=Releaselog |date=June 3, 2009 |access-date=June 3, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626070115/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455275/episodes |archive-date=June 26, 2009 }}</ref>
! rowspan=2| Discs
! colspan=3| Release dates
|-
! Region 1!!Region 2!!Region 4
|-
|Season One
|align=center| 22
|align=center| 6
|align=center| August 8, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FKO3GW |title=Prison Break&nbsp;– Season One (2005) |access-date=May 25, 2007 |work=Amazon.com |date=August 8, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905193527/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FKO3GW |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| September 18, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FS9FW6 |title=Prison Break – Season 1 – Complete (2006) |access-date=July 12, 2007 |work=Amazon.co.uk |date=September 18, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905193453/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000FS9FW6 |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| September 13, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/787335 |title=Prison Break – Complete Season 1 (6 Disc Set) |access-date=June 21, 2007 |work=EzyDVD |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601025457/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/787335 |archive-date=June 1, 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|Season Two
|align=center| 22
|align=center| 6
|align=center| September 4, 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Prison-Break/7346 |title=Prison Break DVD news: Season 2 delayed again... |work=TVShowsonDVD.com |date=May 18, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922152538/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Prison-Break/7346 |archive-date=September 22, 2007 }}</ref>
|align=center| August 20, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000QJMSK0 |title=Prison Break – Season 2 – Complete (2007) |work=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=July 12, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905193310/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000QJMSK0 |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| September 17, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/794165 |title=Prison Break – Complete Season 2 (6 Disc Set) |access-date=June 21, 2007 |work=EzyDVD |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705114120/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/794165 |archive-date=July 5, 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|Season Three
|align=center| 13
|align=center| 4
|align=center| August 12, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001934SNM |title=Prison Break – Season 3 |work=Amazon.com |access-date=January 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905193152/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001934SNM |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| May 19, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015YBN9M |title=Prison Break – Complete Season 3 (4 Disk Set) |work=Amazon.co.uk |date=May 19, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905193021/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015YBN9M |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| December 3, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/800308 |title=Prison Break – Season 3 (4 Disc Set) |access-date=December 3, 2008 |work=EzyDVD |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218001313/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/800308 |archive-date=December 18, 2008 }}</ref>
|-
|Season Four
|align=center| 24
|align=center| 6/7
|align=center| June 2, 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024F08RO |title=Prison Break: Season Four |work=Amazon.com |date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=October 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905192841/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024F08RO |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| July 6, 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0023NVA3S |title=Prison Break – Season 4 (plus Final Break) – Complete DVD |work=Amazon.co.uk |date=July 6, 2009 |access-date=October 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905192806/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0023NVA3S |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref>
|align=center| July 16, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/prison-break-4-the-final-season-6-disc-set/dp/816188 |title=Prison Break 4 – The Final Season (7 Disc Box Set) |work=EzyDVD |access-date=October 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718212601/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/prison-break-4-the-final-season-6-disc-set/dp/816188 |archive-date=July 18, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
|The Final Break
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1
|align=center| July 21, 2009
|align=center|
|align=center| 
|-
|Season Five
|align=center| 9
|align=center| 3
|align=center| June 27, 2017
|align=center| 
|align=center| 
|}

The [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc]] sets of each season were released after their television broadcast in various regions. At the 2006 [[Consumer Electronics Show|International Consumer Electronics Show]], 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment announced that the complete first season of ''Prison Break'' was to be released on Blu-ray in early 2007.<ref name="IGN-2007jan08">{{cite web|url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/753/753701p1.html |title=CES 2007: 24, Prison Break Hit Blu-ray |access-date=January 10, 2007 |date=January 8, 2007 |work=IGN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110142130/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/753/753701p1.html |archive-date=January 10, 2007 }}</ref> The release date was later announced to be November 13, 2007, and ''Prison Break'' became the first television show to be released on Blu-ray Disc by Fox. The Blu-ray box set contains six discs and includes all the DVD box set's special features.<ref name="TVShowsOnDVD-2007sep05">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Prison-Break-Season-1-Bluray-Date-Cost-Extras-Specs/8010 |title=Prison Break – Exclusive Info for Season Sets on Blu-ray: Date, Cost, Contents, Specs |access-date=September 13, 2007 |last=Lambert |first=David |date=September 5, 2007 |work=IGN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012214713/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Prison-Break-Season-1-Bluray-Date-Cost-Extras-Specs/8010 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref> A DVD set containing the first three seasons was released on May 19, 2008, in Region 2.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Prison Break''&nbsp;- Series 1–3&nbsp;- Complete [DVD] [2005] |website=Amazon UK |date=May 19, 2008 |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prison-Break-1-3-Complete-DVD/dp/B0016LSFDG |access-date=July 19, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718225139/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prison-Break-1-3-Complete-DVD/dp/B0016LSFDG |archive-date=July 18, 2009 }}</ref> The television movie, ''[[Prison Break: The Final Break]]'', was included in the Season 4 set in Regions 2 and 4, but was released separately in Region 1. ''The Final Break'' was later released separately in Regions 2 and 4. In France, Germany and the United Kingdom, a Blu-ray package of all four seasons including ''The Final Break'' has been released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B002P9K9YG |title=Prison Break, Seasons 1 to 4 + Plus The Final Break |work=Amazon.fr |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905192105/https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B002P9K9YG |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B003ZVJJX0 |title=Prison Break – Complete Box |work=Amazon.de |date=October 29, 2010 |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905192002/https://www.amazon.de/dp/B003ZVJJX0 |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005AIO0PS |title=Prison Break – Complete Season 1–4 |work=Amazon.co.uk |date=September 19, 2011 |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905191841/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005AIO0PS |archive-date=September 5, 2016 }}</ref> Over a year after its initial release, Season 4 was later re-issued in Region 4 without ''The Final Break'' included.

===Online distribution===
In addition to the television broadcast of the show, episodes of ''Prison Break'' have also been released on the Internet. Towards the end of the first season, episodes of ''Prison Break'' were made available for purchase online at the [[iTunes Store]], which began on May 9, 2006. After the premiere of the second season of ''Prison Break'', Fox began allowing online streaming of the current episode for free via more than 50 websites including [[AOL]], Google, and Yahoo!, as well as its own extensive network. However, this was restricted to the United States. The first three episodes of the second season were broadcast commercial free, available for a week after their television broadcast date.<ref name="C21Media-2006aug23">{{cite web|url=http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&article=31823 |title=Fox frees Prison Break without ads |access-date=August 25, 2006 |work=C21Media |date=August 25, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204554/http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&article=31823 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> Online streaming of episodes was postponed after the third episode. However, due to the show's three-week broadcast hiatus prompted by Fox's broadcast of the [[Major League Baseball]] playoff games in October, a strategy was developed by [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] (the parent company of Fox Broadcasting Company and [[MySpace]]) in an attempt to maintain their viewers' interest in the show. Starting in October, Fox began to stream past episodes of the second season on the social networking site MySpace and websites of the network's [[Owned-and-operated station|owned and operated stations]] (the stations are part of the [[Fox Television Stations|Fox Television Stations Group]]). Although commercials were aired throughout the broadcast, the episodes were free of charge.<ref>{{cite press release|title=FOX Fall TV Line Up Launches on FOX Interactive Media's Myspace.com and FOX Television Station Group's Myfoxlocal Sites|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/10/03/fox-fall-tv-line-up-launches-on-fox-interactive-medias-myspacecom-and-fox-television-station-groups-myfoxlocal-sites--22424/20061003fox01/|publisher=Fox|date=October 3, 2006|access-date=February 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Other media==

===Spin-off series===

A spin-off series, ''[[Prison Break: Proof of Innocence]]'', was produced exclusively for mobile phones and was broadcast first to [[Sprint Nextel|Sprint]] customers in April 2006 on SprintTV's Fox station. The first episode of ''Proof of Innocence'' became available on the Internet for viewing on May 8, 2006. This was an exclusive deal made between [[Toyota Motor]] and [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]'s [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network, allowing Toyota to sponsor exclusive content of the show and to obtain advertising exclusivity.<ref name="TWSJ-2006apr24">{{cite news|first=Brooks |last=Barnes |title=Toyota aims young, sponsors Fox spin-off for cellphone screens |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114583117772033567 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=May 21, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428014756/http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114583117772033567-vvpaZDx7KpFZqMArFIo7Ju7Oep0_20070423.html |archive-date=April 28, 2006 }}</ref>

During the show's third season, a series of six online shorts, collectively known as ''Prison Break: Visitations'', were made exclusively for Fox. They feature the characters Lechero, Sammy, McGrady, T-Bag, and Bellick. They were distributed on the Internet and are available for free from iTunes.

On October 24, 2007, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' reported that a full spin-off series was under development, tentatively titled ''Prison Break: Cherry Hill''. The series was to revolve around an upper-middle-class housewife, Molly, and her stint in a women's prison.<ref name="THR-2007oct24">{{cite news|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|title=Fox eyes break for women's 'Prison'|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/h/content_display/television/news/e3id43663c7eb7ece8edda14f728d28c1e8|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 24, 2007|access-date=January 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026002217/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h/content_display/television/news/e3id43663c7eb7ece8edda14f728d28c1e8|archive-date=October 26, 2007}}</ref> However, the producers' original idea to introduce Molly in the third season of ''Prison Break'' was later dropped due to the writers' strike. The new series was planned to instead begin under the ''Prison Break'' brand similar to ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' and ''[[CSI: NY]]'',<ref name="IGN-2008jul15">{{cite news|first=Travis |last=Fickett |title=Prison Break Spin-Off Details |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/890/890208p1.html |work=IGN |date=July 15, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411203840/http://tv.ign.com/articles/890/890208p1.html |archive-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> but ultimately did not go into production.

====Connection to ''Breakout Kings''====
[[Robert Knepper]] reprised his role as [[Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell|T-Bag]] in the 2011 [[A&E Network]] television series, ''[[Breakout Kings]]'', which was created by ''Prison Break'' writers [[Matt Olmstead]] and [[Nick Santora]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/11/05/exclusive-prison-break-baddie-confirms-hes-doing-breakout-kings-for-ae-in-early-2011/ |title=Exclusive: 'Prison Break' baddie confirms he's doing 'Breakout Kings' for A&E in early 2011 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=November 5, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123185739/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/11/05/exclusive-prison-break-baddie-confirms-hes-doing-breakout-kings-for-ae-in-early-2011/ |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref>

===Magazine, novel, book and comic===
In printed media, the show's tie-in products include an official magazine and a tie-in novel. The official magazine, published by Titan Publishing, was launched on November 21, 2006. Each issue contains interviews with selected cast and crew members with other feature stories.

The tie-in novel, ''Prison Break: The Classified FBI Files'' ({{ISBN|1-4165-3845-3}}), contains details of the show's characters pertaining to the second season's storyline. Written by Paul Ruditis, the book is published by [[Simon & Schuster]] and was released on May 8, 2007.<ref>{{cite book|title=''Prison Break'': The Classified FBI Files |isbn=978-1416538455 |last1=Ruditis |first1=Paul |year=2007 |publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref>

In September 2009, Insight Editions published ''Prison Break: Behind the Scenes'', a companion book featuring production photography, in which writers Christian Trokey and Kalinda Vazquez, as well as [[Paul Scheuring]], [[Matt Olmstead]], and director of photography Fernando Arguelles comment on the show's four-season run.<ref>{{cite book |title=Prison Break: Behind the Scenes |isbn=1933784660 }}</ref>

An official [[manga]] adaptation of the series became available on the online service [[Piccoma]] beginning June 23, 2019. Artwork is done by Hikosuke Soyama and the adaptation is under the supervision of Twentieth Century Fox.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-23/u.s-fox-tv-drama-show-prison-break-gets-manga/.148191 |title=U.S. Fox TV Drama Show Prison Break Gets Manga |website=Anime News Network |first=Egan |last=Loo |date=June 23, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Attraction tour===
There is also a live feature called "Prison Break LIVE!", created by The [[Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company]], which is an interactive experience aimed at bringing to life the atmosphere from the television series. The attraction toured the US, Australia, UK, China, Germany and Mexico from 2006 to 2008.<ref name="PBLive">{{cite web |url=http://www.prisonbreaklive.com/ |title=Prison Break LIVE! |access-date=February 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312054323/http://www.prisonbreaklive.com/ |archive-date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref>

===Video games===
A mobile game for [[Java Platform, Micro Edition|J2ME]] was released by [[Vivendi Games Mobile]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/01/vivendi-games-mobile-announces-strong-h1-2008-lineup |title=Vivendi Games Mobile Announces Strong H1 2008 Lineup |website=IGN |date=February 1, 2008 |accessdate=August 3, 2022}}</ref>

A video game based on ''Prison Break'' was in development for [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] for release in February 2009, but was cancelled when Brash Entertainment shut down.<ref name="GameSpot-2008aug15">{{cite news|first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |title=Brash plans Prison Break |url=http://gamespot.com/news/6195921.html |work=GameSpot |date=August 15, 2008 |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312005617/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6195921.html |archive-date=March 12, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/11/brash-hit-up-fo.html |title=Game company Brash Entertainment sued by two developers |last=Pham |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 29, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525155957/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/11/brash-hit-up-fo.html |archive-date=May 25, 2009 }}</ref>

Development of ''[[Prison Break: The Conspiracy]]'' restarted when the game's developer, [[ZootFly]], found a new publisher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/05/prison-break-game-to-bust-out-this-fall.html |title=Prison Break video game to bust out this fall |last=Fritz |first=Ben |date=May 28, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 29, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531190626/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/05/prison-break-game-to-bust-out-this-fall.html |archive-date=May 31, 2009 }}</ref> The video game was released on March 30, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/games/prison-break-the-conspiracy/|title=Prison Break: The Conspiracy for PS3|work=GameSpot|access-date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> The game's protagonist is Tom Paxton, a {{proper name|Com|pany}} employee who is sent inside of Fox River to observe and report every move of [[Michael Scofield]]. The game features voices from the original cast members with the exception of [[Sarah Wayne Callies]] ([[Dr. Sara Tancredi]]).

===International adaptation===
In April 2010, it was announced that the series would be adapted for Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/russian-prison-break-development-22376 |title=Russian 'Prison Break' in development |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025230142/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/russian-prison-break-development-22376 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 }}</ref> The Russian adaptation was entitled, ''Pobeg'' (''Побег)'', which premiered on September 20, 2010, on [[Channel One (Russia)|Channel One]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Announcement of "Escape" series on the official website of Channel One, Russia |url=http://www.1tv.ru/anons/id=161345 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921012240/http://www.1tv.ru/anons/id%3D161345 |archive-date=September 21, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garnett |first=Henry |date=2022-06-06 |title=Russia Actually Has Its Own Low Budget Remake of 'Prison Break' |url=https://www.bosshunting.com.au/entertainment/tv/russian-prison-break-remake/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Boss Hunting |language=en-US}}</ref> This adaptation uses many of the features of the original series, with some scenes and dialogue copied completely, but also introduces new storylines and characters which reflect the Russian reality.

===Reboot===
In November 2023, it was reported that a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] written by [[Elgin James]] for [[Hulu]] was in development. The series will not feature the same characters from the original series but would be set in the same world.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/prison-break-reboot-locked-down-mayans-mc-creator-elgin-james-hulu/ |title=New spin on Prison Break coming to Hulu from Mayans M.C. creator |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |first=Shania |last=Russell |date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref> In December 2024, Hulu ordered a [[Television pilot|pilot]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/prison-break-reboot-elgin-james-hulu-pilot-1236201680/ |title=‘Prison Break’: New Chapter From Elgin James Gets Hulu Pilot Order |website=Deadline |first1=Rosy |last1=Cordero |first2=Nellie |last2=Andreeva |date=December 12, 2024 |access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref> Casting announcements began in March 2025, with [[Emily Browning]], [[Lukas Gage]], Drake Rodger, Clayton Cardenas, [[JR Bourne]], Georgie Flores and Myles Bullock cast in series regulars roles for the pilot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/prison-break-reboot-pilot-cast-emily-browning-lukas-gage-1236336690/ |title=‘Prison Break’ Reboot Pilot Casts Emily Browning, Lukas Gage, Drake Rodger |website=Variety |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=March 13, 2025 |access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/prison-break-clayton-cardenas-jr-bourne-myles-bullock-1236346685/ |title=‘Prison Break’ To Reunite ‘Mayans M.C.’ Stars Clayton Cardenas & JR Bourne With Elgin James; Myles Bullock & Georgie Flores Also Board |website=Deadline |first=Rosy |last=Cordero |date=March 21, 2025 |access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Ray McKinnon (actor)|Ray McKinnon]], [[Margo Martindale]], [[Donal Logue]], [[Lili Taylor]] and Sylvester Powell were cast in guest roles. Production is set to begin in June 2025 in [[West Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2025/06/elgin-james-prison-break-pilot-supporting-cast-1236423500/ |title=Ray McKinnon, Margo Martindale & Donal Logue Among 5 Rounding Out Guest Stars In Elgin James’ ‘Prison Break’ Pilot |website=Deadline |first=Rosy |last=Cordero |date=June 4, 2025 |access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0455275}}
<!-- Please do not add links to fansites -->

{{Prison Break}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Prison Break| ]]
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