The hit action-drama Prison Break aired a total of over five seasons from 2005 to 2017. While many long-running network shows follow a strict 22-episode format, Prison Break experienced several shifts in its season structure due to real-world events like the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike and its eventual return as a limited revival series. Quick Breakdown of Episode Counts Total Episodes Original Air Dates Season 1 Aug 2005 – May 2006 Season 2 Aug 2006 – Apr 2007 Season 3 Sep 2007 – Feb 2008 Season 4 Sep 2008 – May 2009 Season 5 Apr 2017 – May 2017 *Includes the two-part television movie "The Final Break." Season-by-Season Episode Details Season 1: The Fox River Breakout (22 Episodes)

Season 3 is the shortest original-run season because filming was halted by the Hollywood writers' strike.

This was a standalone wrap-up feature. It was released straight to DVD in some regions but aired as the series finale in others.

In total, there were $$22 + 22 + 13 + 13 + 9 = 79$$ episodes of Prison Break.

The journey was long and arduous, but with each passing episode, they drew closer to their goal. Here's a breakdown of their journey by season:

After the strike, Fox returned to a standard 22-episode order for Season 4. This season was marketed as the "final season," following the team as they shifted from prisoners to covert operatives working to take down the sinister "Company." However, the story was so dense that after Episode 22 ( "Killing Your Number" ), Fox aired two additional . The first, "The Old Ball and Chain," served as a direct epilogue. The second, "Free" (often called The Final Break ), functioned as a proper series finale, resolving the fates of the main characters. For counting purposes, most streaming services and DVD sets list Season 4 as 22 episodes plus a separate 2-part finale.

Prison Break follows the story of Michael Scofield, an engineer who enters a maximum-security prison to break out his wrongfully convicted brother. Over its run, the series varied its season lengths significantly due to production schedules, industry strikes, and its eventual revival. The series consists of across five seasons. 📊 Episode Breakdown by Season Season 1 (2005–2006): 22 Episodes