The “kidnapping” or “Hostage” is one of the most horrific crimes. And definitely, any enjoyment from someone’s kidnapping would be horrible. We, humans, are complicated beings, though. Although we (any good human being) love no kidnapping or crime in real life, there is a rush for adrenaline to watch movies about crime or, in this case, excessive violence. We root the victims more often than not, and we believe that this is what we like watching: the victory of good over bad.
Let’s no longer, in any event, dive into human psychology. Here’s the list of the top kidnapping movies you should ever see if you haven’t. You may also describe them as the finest hostage movies and watch numerous of these on Hulu, YouTube, or Amazon Prime. Many are films based on real stories.
We have handpicked a list of 20 Best Movies about Kidnapping & Hostage that you must watch with that in mind. Let’s round upon them!
20. The Missing
| Director: | Ron Howard |
| cast: | Tommy Lee Jones, Cate Blanchett |
| Released Year: | 2003 |
| Distributed By: | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| IMDB Rating: | 6.5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 58% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
Set in America in the 19th-century, the film follows Maggie Gilkeson, who is left in a shattered state, following an invasion of her small girl, kidnapping her lover. Left helpless, she reconnected with her unusual father and took her daughter on a dangerous quest to recover. In the lead part of Cate Blanchett, The Missing is a western thriller picture, perfectly blended with aspects of the drama. In particular, Tommy Lee Jones, the actor in Samuel, Maggie’s father, will perform effectively. Overall, it is one of the greatest movies based on kidnapping.
19. The Disappearance of Alice Creed
| Director: | J. Blakeson |
| cast: | Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston |
| Released Year: | 2009 |
| Distributed By: | West End Films |
| ThGenre: | Thriller/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 6.7 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 81% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
The young Alice Creed narrative, widely recognized as the finest ever performance of Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man), is abducted by two former prisoners and subjected to thorough torture by her kidnappers. What more are the chronicles of the unforeseen and unforgettable events behind the abductions of Alice, which reveal the hidden reality. Fotos of ‘The Disappearance of Alice Belief,’ in limited space on a small budget, is the most reckless hostage standoff drama, performed by just three casts with a remarkable performance show of intellectual and sophisticated performance. The stunning performance in its most demanding and intricate part by Arterton adds to its profundity.
18. All The Money in the World
| Director: | Ridley Scott |
| cast: | Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg |
| Released Year: | 2017 |
| Distributed By: | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| Genre: | Thriller/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 6.8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 79% |
| Currently Available on: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos |
The circumstances that revolve around the abduction of J. Paul Getty III, a grandson of a business-magnate and once, the wealthiest man in the world, are a genuine tribulation for The Last Duel director Ridley Scott’s ‘all the money in the world.’ The film follows the quest for the 16-year-old Getty III, who publicly rejected his rich grandparents to pay the money his kidnappers wanted to release. “All the Money in the World” is a gripping drama that delights the audience with Sir Scott’s gloomy yet effective tone and the harmful yet heart-rending directing. This is one of the movies about kidnapping on Netflix.
17. Alpha Dog
‘Alpha Dog’ is a youthful and skilled star ensemble that tells the true stories of one of the worst kidnapping occurrences of the century. This movie narrates the story of the 15-year-old Zack Mazrusky, whom a gang of young merchants kidnaped with his half-brother on a drug money rivalry. Zack, who was at first detained until the group’s leader had fulfilled his obligation to his brother, starts to benefit from his kidnappers’ enterprise far away from his difficulty. When the narrative unfolds, group tension increases as they dread the legal consequences of their work, leading Zack to an early and unhappy disappearance.
16. An American Crime
| Director: | Tommy O’Haver |
| cast: | Elliot Page, Catherine Keener |
| Released Year: | 2007 |
| Distributed By: | Showtime |
| Genre: | Drama/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.3 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 38% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
Based on a real event, An American Crime is one of Hollywood’s most horrendous and frightening abduction images, forced house arrest, and abduction. The film takes the factual story of the 1965 Indiana statehouse arrest, torture, and horrible killing of Sylvia Likens, a 16-year-old adolescent. The temporary nanny cum babysitter Gertrude Baniszewski had tormented Sylvia Likens to death. The youthful Ellen Page starring Likens as An American Crime, while Baniszewski is playing by Catherine Keener. ‘An American Crime’ is a hard and sad film to see, but Sylvia’s narrative is worth watching.
15. A Perfect World
| Director: | Clint Eastwood |
| Cast: | Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood |
| Released Year: | 1993 |
| Distributed By: | Warner Bros. |
| Genre: | Drama/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 79% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
‘A Perfect World, a 7-yellow child who pulls forth an extraordinary sense of friendship with his Abductor, explores the subject of the Syndrome of Stockholm. The film is not a key thriller but a softcore picture of the genre, in which a fugitive criminal learns the importance of his young victim’s connections and life. While the two proceed on an unforeseen journey to try out a new way of life, a Texas guard brings the guy home. In the shadows of the 90s blockbusters, ‘a perfect world’ is forgotten, despite its rich ensemble and lovely director. The film is loaded with subtle but courageous performances by Kevin Costner, who portrays the escaped convict and kidnaper. With his ambiguous and clever portrayal, a young TJ Lowther courageously marks his presence with a famous cast.
14. Gone Baby Gone
| Director: | Ben Affleck |
| cast: | Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan |
| Released Year: | 2007 |
| Distributed By: | Walt Disney Studios |
| Genre: | Mystery/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.6 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 94% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
This is one of the girl kidnapping movies based on true stories. Dennis Lehane’s novel Gone Baby Gone is adapted by Ben Affleck to feature Casey Affleck as Patrick Kenzie, a private researcher with an affair with an abducted girl from the working class in Boston. The film, a thriller to the crime, is a tense study on morals in our society. ‘Gone Baby Gone’ is not simply tough but also important and heartfelt. When Amanda misses, she employs Angie and Patrick to track her aunt Beatrice. During their search operations, though, they meet pedophiles, gangs, and drug dealing.
13. 12 Years A Slave
| Director: | Steve McQueen |
| cast: | Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o |
| Released Year: | 2013 |
| Distributed By: | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
| Genre: | Historical Drama |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.6 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 95% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
In 1841 New York was abducted and sold by two other men to a white slave dealer, Solomon Northup, a free American who lives there in Washington. ’12 Years A Slave’ follows the next 12 years of Northup’s existence as a forced slave laboring in the cotton plantings in New Orleans, the “property” of a harsh owner. Although mostly biographical, 12 Years A Slave is a genuine representation of the kidnapping and unlawful trafficking of free blacks in America in the 18th century when the nation encouraged the exploitation of blacks and legally supported them, even though they were freely born.
12. Saw
| Director: | James Wan |
| cast: | Stig Frode Henriksen, Vegar Hoel |
| Released Year: | 2004 |
| Distributed By: | Lions Gate Films |
| Genre: | Horror/ Thriller |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.6 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 51% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
Probably the only idea that comes to mind is how well one has lived this life when death knocks at one door, and he waits to welcome. But how many grasped this life’s purpose? On his deathbed, John Kramer reflects on things and decides that no one fully cherishes that life unless placed in severe conditions. He kidnaps a group of persons and then tests their value of living to teach this information to value one’s life. The movie is indeed nasty, but it also delivers plenty of thrills.
11. Blue Velvet
| Director: | David Lynch |
| cast: | Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini |
| Released Year: | 1986 |
| Distributed By: | De Laurentiis |
| Genre: | Mystery/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.7 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 94% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
David Lynch’s Blue Velvet murder thriller is a perilous voyage through psychotic dark tunnels. The movie tells the narrative of a young man trapped in a crime web with a beautiful evening club singer and a sadistic bunch of criminals who abducted her child. The movie’s main thriller is a hallucinogen that examines sadomasochism, corruption, drug addiction, criminality, and depravity on the bright veneer of suburban America. Overall, it is one of the best child kidnapping movies.
10. Taken
| Director: | Pierre Morel |
| cast: | Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace |
| Released Year: | 2009 |
| Distributed By: | 20th Century Fox |
| Genre: | Action/ Thriller |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 59% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
Taken movie is going around, and ex-soldiers who travel over Europe begin a frantic attempt to rescue their daughter after this modern drama is taken by slave smugglers. In particular, because of the glorious presence of Liam Neeson, this rapidly moving film offers a whole payload of action. During a visit to Paris, human traffickers kidnap the little daughter of a former Secret Service member. He flies to Paris to discover and save her with absolutely little knowledge regarding her location. It is worth watching movies, so we placed it on number seven in our list.
9. Captain Phillips
| Director: | Paul Greengrass |
| cast: | Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi (Castle Rock) |
| Released Year: | 2013 |
| Distributed By: | Sony Pictures Releasing |
| Genre: | Action/ Thriller |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 93% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos, Netflix |
Captain Phillips is a story you can debate over. And it’s that. But the pirates abduct Captain Philips and take him as their captive ends as an abduction drama. A filmmaker who is fully conscious that the believable story of crises involves clashing interests and passions, in the hands of Paul Greengrass (see the finest hostage movie ever produced, United 93), Captain Phillips never loses the audience’s grasp. Somali pirates are on their way to Kenya while attacking Maersk Alabama, a container ship. The ship’s captain, Richard Phillips, utilizes his wisdom to bargain with them to save his men.
8. Misery
| Director: | Rob Reiner |
| cast: | James Caan, Kathy Bates |
| Released Year: | 1990 |
| Distributed By: | Columbia Pictures |
| Genre: | Thriller/Crime |
| IMDB Rating: | 7.8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 90% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
When it comes to Stephen King’s flicks, you can always expect a great exciting experience. Misery is a book like this that follows a renowned author saved from a car wreck by one of his admirers to learn that the sympathetic nature of her psychotic admirer is just the beginning of tough abuses and captivity. Directed by Rob Reiner, ‘Misery’ is a terrible yet amazing picture, boosted by James Caan’s and Kathy Bates’ stunning performances. Many of the episodes of the film have been recognized for their intensity and artistic realism. Ao, we must recommend you to watch this movie.
7. Fargo
| Director: | Joel Coen, Ethan Coen |
| cast: | Frances McDormand, William H. Macy |
| Released Year: | 1996 |
| Distributed By: | Gramercy Pictures |
| Genre: | Crime/Thriller |
| IMDB Rating: | 8.1 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 94% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
When you look at this masterpiece, again and again, the artistry is gone in crafting it evident. Remember the noir epics of the ’40s and how they gain immense tension and how they skilfully employed black to depict gloom in their history and the characters? Well, “Fargo,” but with white, does the same. The plot is complex, but the storytelling isn’t; the situations are complex, but the characters aren’t. That’s film-making gold for you, and that is how you make a kidnapping comic-thriller.
6. Prisoners
| Director: | Denis Villeneuve |
| cast: | Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal |
| Released Year: | 2013 |
| Distributed By: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Genre: | Thriller/Mystery |
| IMDB Rating: | 8.1 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 81% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
Fear has power over brains, such that, like a tarantula, it may paralyze them. The ‘Prisoners’ of Denis Villeneuve tackles, in fact, the fear of the unknown, the limits of moralism, and the challenges of human conscience. Allow me to tell you immediately it’s troubling and making you shudder. What if it occurs to me, you wonder? When the police take a long time to discover the daughter and friend of Keller Dover, they decide to search for themselves. His despair motivates him to investigate the truth and also puts his own life at risk.
5. V for Vendetta
| Director: | James McTeigue |
| cast: | Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, William Rookwood, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, James Purefoy |
| Released Year: | 2005 |
| Distributed By: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Genre: | Thriller/Mystery |
| IMDB Rating: | 8.2 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 73% |
| Currently Available on: | Netflix |
V for Vendetta is a thrilling dystopian political action film, released in 2005, directed by James McTeigue, and written by the Wachowskis. The film is based on the DC Vertigo Comics limited series of the same name, written by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare, in 1988. It takes place in a future where a fascist totalitarian regime has enslaved the UK.
It focuses on V (played by Hugo Weaving), an anarchist and masked freedom-fighter who endeavors to ignite a revolution by executing elaborate terrorist strategies, and on Evey Hammond (played by Natalie Portman), a young woman who gets tangled up in V’s mission. The film’s plot is further complicated by the presence of Stephen Rea, who plays a detective leading a desperate pursuit to catch V.
4. Oldboy
| Director: | Park Chan-wook |
| cast: | Choi Min-Sik, Yoo Ji-Tae |
| Released Year: | 2003 |
| Distributed By: | Show East |
| Genre: | Thriller/Mystery |
| IMDB Rating: | 8.4 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 81% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos, Netflix |
Think of the individual who may unknowingly have given you life misery. What are you going to do? Are you going to forgive and go on? Or are you going to let him suffer and be scarred by hell till the end of time? Lee Woo Jin picked the second, and it may be regarded as horrible, dreadful, and tragic, which went on over fifteen years and five days after.
Once avenged, Lee Woo Jin honors the pledge and dies and retires from thinking about Oh Dae Su, who remains alive and curses himself forever. In this epic tale of retribution, Yoo-Ji Tae is playing Lee Woo Jin.
3. High and Low
| Director: | Akira Kurosawa |
| cast: | Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai |
| Released Year: | 1963 |
| Distributed By: | Kurosawa Films |
| Genre: | Crime/Drama |
| IMDB Rating: | 8.4 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: | 95% |
| Currently Available on: | Amazon Prime Videos |
A wealthy son of an industrialist is abducted, but he quickly discovers that the chauffeur’s son kidnaps him, and he begins to refrain from paying the sum of money he demands. This movie is more a moral test of how one human life is more valued than others. This is a theatrical moral game that could only be played out by a huge, nuanced filmmaker such as Akira Kurosawa.
The story is all about Gondo, a rich manager who wants to purchase a shoe firm. But when his driver’s son is abducted, he encounters problems and has to pay an enormous ransom to free him. The storyline of the whole movie is so well maintained that it will stick you by the end to reveal the suspense.
2. The Silence of the Lambs
1. Inception
Inception, Christopher Nolan’s 2010 sci-fi action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was a mind-bending trip into the dream world. The film also stars Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine. DiCaprio plays a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets.
He is offered a chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious. The ensemble cast includes Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine.
Conclusion!
The genre of abduction and hostage existed for many decades, and histories of this genre were made in several ways. Some recount the narrative from the point of view of the abducted while others cast the characters on the captive. This list contains good kidnapping films, and you could find some of them even on Netflix.
Some of the flims in the kidnap movies list are also comedy movies about hostage-taking and kidnapping. Abducting someone against their will can be funny. Who knew? But all these above mentioned are the best kidnapping movies based on true stories that you must watch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which is the best Kidnapping and Hostage movie of all time streaming on Amazon Prime Video?
The mystery-crime 2007 movie Gone Baby Gone is the best kidnapping and hostage movie that stream on Amazon Prime with an 18+ rating.
Is there any good Kidnapping and Hostage movies available on Netflix?
The Silence of The Lambs is the best movie about kidnapping and hostage on Netflix with 96% Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Which is the best lifetime movies about kidnapping?
The best lifetime movie about kidnapping is a thriller movie Kidnapped in Paradise which is based upon a couple who is searching for their daughter.
What are the recent kidnapping movies?
Some recent kidnapping movies are The Beast (2020), Extraction (2020), Kidnapping Stella, and Seized (2020).
