Where was Prison Break filmed? All filming locations of the show explored 

Prison Break
Prison Break was filmed in various locations throughout the five seasons (Image Source: Fox)

Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcells' acclaimed drama series Prison Break is having a good run on Netflix as both erstwhile fans and a new generation discovering the show have helped it rank high.

It has been years since the action-packed series ended with season 5 in 2017, and to date, its filming locations are igniting curiosity among viewers.

So, if you think that the drama was only filmed in the USA, then know that Prison Break had multiple filming locations beyond Illinois, Texas, and Canada as some parts of the series were also filmed in various cities in Morocco.

Read more to explore every location the TV series was filmed in.


List of the filming locations of Prison Break TV series

Lincoln and his younger brother Michael (Image Source: Fox)
Lincoln and his younger brother Michael (Image Source: Fox)

When Prison Break ended in 2017, there was significant speculation that another season was on the way, but it was later confirmed that the show was canceled after the fifth installment.

However, the series was followed by spin-offs, but none of them was as engaging as the original series which focused on how Michael Scofield (played by Miller), a structural engineer, is determined to free his elder brother Lincoln from prison after he was wrongly accused of a high-profile murder.

Throughout the five seasons, Michael and Lincoln find themselves in challenging situations as they continue their quest to break free.

1) Joliet Prison, Joliet, Illinois

In the first season of Prison Break, Michael gets himself into the Fox River Prison to get his brother out, and viewers also see notable clashes taking place inside the prison.

The season is set in the fictional Fox River State Penitentiary near Chicago but was actually filmed at the historical Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois. The prison is known for hosting some of the most formidable criminals in America and ran for more than 140 years until it was closed in 2002.

The exterior of the old prison was extensively utilized in the first season when Michael initiated his escape plan from the jail.


2) O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois

Another location in Illinois is the O'Hare International Airport which was used to capture the brothers' plan to flee. The production team impressively utilized the airport's terminal and arrival areas, ensuring authenticity and engaging escape scenes.

It serves as one of the major airports in the United States, and its addition to the TV series highlights its significance.


3) Chicago, Illinois

Similar to Michael's escape plan, the urban settings were also crucial to Prison Break. The neighborhoods in Chicago provided the makers with perfect backdrops to shoot the private meeting held between the leading characters and also the chase sequences.


4) Woodstock, Illinois

If you wish to explore the spots where the community gatherings and the representation of small-town America were shot, then Woodstock in Illinois is the place you must visit.

Prison Break also featured Woodstock Square, which is a great tourist attraction spot in the state, and was used to film various scenes of the TV series.


5) Mercury Studios, Irving, Texas

Various scenes could not be shot outdoors. Mercury Studios provided a controlled environment for the production team to film some of the supporting scenes to progress the story arcs of the characters.


6) Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Various scenes of the famous TV series were captured in Toronto. These spots were used in filming the backdrops for Prison Break.

The spots in Toronto added to the geographical diversity of the show.

Additionally, the railway station scenes in the show were shot around the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.


7) Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

Another historical tourist spot utilized in the series is Casco Viejo. Its rich history and incredible structure added authenticity and depth in portraying the challenges faced by the two brothers as they navigated various places through the five seasons.

Viewers can see Michael and Lincoln encountering notable problems while trying to escape through the foreign landscapes.


8) Pensacola, Florida

Since Prison Break Season 2 was set in the US and Panama, several shots of this season were filmed in Pensacola. This location helped the production team represent Panama where the season was set.


9) Various Moroccan Cities

As previously mentioned, the filming locations for Prison Break went beyond the borders of North America, capturing the landscapes in Moroccan cities like Rabat, Casablanca, and Ouarzazate.

The fifth season is set in Yemen and parts of the USA, but in reality, the scenes were filmed in Morocco.

The Yemeni penitentiary that fans and viewers have seen in the final parts of the TV series, was strategically filmed at the Ibn Al-Haytham Technical School in Ouarzazate, Morocco.


10) Los Angeles, California

The Iron Mountain Central Jail in California served as a significant location for the TV series to make the prison scenes as realistic as possible.

Also to ensure maximum authenticity and engagement during the action scenes, parts of Los Angeles were used in filming the backdrops of Prison Break.


Prison Break is available on Netflix.

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Edited by Yesha Srivastava