1988年，为了应对不时翻倍的立功增长率，联邦将曼哈顿岛改建成一座庞大的监狱，囚犯们被扔到其中自生自灭，纽约城变成了立功之城。转眼已是1997年，代号“大卫14”的美国空军一号被美国国度束缚阵线劫持，最后坠毁在监狱城内，美国总统独自深陷城中。曾经的空军英雄、勋绩特种队员普林斯肯中校（库尔特•拉塞尔 Kurt Russell 饰）由于抢劫银行入狱，政府决议应用普林斯肯潜入监狱城，救出总统。普林斯肯的义务时间只要二十四小时，他在城中找到了自己昔日的战友、如今监狱地下统治者“公爵”的部下瑟翁，他们协作陷害总统，而要面对的是无处不在的疯狂犯人…… In 1988, in order to deal with the constant double crime growth rate federal Manhattan Island converted into a huge prison, prisoners were thrown to them to fend for themselves, New York City into the city of crime. It is already 1997, code named David 14 of the United States Air Force one was hijacked by the United States National Liberation Front, and finally crashed in prison City, the United States President alone in the city. Once the air force hero, the meritorious service special team Pulinsiken Lieutenant Colonel (Kurt Raser Kurt Russell decoration) because of a bank robbery in prison, the government decided to use Pulinsiken sneaked into the city jail and rescued the president. Only 24 hours Pulinsiken task time, he in the city to find the his former comrades, now underground prison rulers "Duke" men Seweng, their cooperation to rescue the president, and to face the ubiquitous crazy prisoner......