15 Best Kidnap Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Kidnap Movies

The use of kidnappings as a plot device in films is common because of the distinct atmosphere they generate. It creates tension and evokes emotion in the audience even before the individuals’ identities are revealed. From a documentary, to sci-fi, to thrillers, our list of the top Netflix kidnapping movies encompasses a wide range of genres. On this list, we’ll also look at films that cover a larger range of themes than only “kidnapping.”

Since kidnapping is such a broad topic, there aren’t many Netflix movies on the issue, but we were able to find the best ones for you to watch. Action, grit, and sometimes dazzling CGI may all be found in kidnapping movies, along with the performances that are essential to such films. That said, here is a list of 10 excellent kidnapping movies on Netflix that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a taste of the adrenaline rush. Several of these kidnapping films are also available on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

15. Everybody Knows (2018)

Everybody Knows (2018)

With Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem at the front, Asghar Farhadi directs and writes this Spanish-language film. To the spectators’ amazement, this thriller does not feel like a thriller at all. Laura and Paco, played by Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, are expertly cast as ex-lovers, which is clear by their chemistry and also makes an essential point in the film.

Laura and her family return to their hometown to celebrate the nuptials of her younger sister. Laura’s daughter Irene (Carla Campra) goes missing on the night of the wedding. Suspicions fly and no one can be trusted as a succession of discoveries are sparked.

14. Alpha Dog (2006)

The true incident of the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz is the inspiration for this American criminal thriller film. Film stars Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Willis, and Sharon Stone are all in the cast of the movie.

Alpha Dog is the story of Zack Mizursky (Anton Yelchin), who is kidnapped because his half-brother Jake (Ben Foster) cannot pay back Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) or the “alpha dog.” For the Markowitz family, seeing a video detailing their son’s murder and revealing their personal pain to the world was a terrible experience. However, they did attend the premiere of the film and were moved by Yelchin’s portrayal of their son Nicholas (named Zach Muzursky in the film).

13. Kidnapping Stella (2019)

Thomas Sieben’s German thriller “Kidnapping Stella” is a remake of “The Disappearance of Alice Creed,” which came out in 2009. ‘Kidnapping Stella’ is a good place to start if you want to see what a minimalist film is like. Tom and Vic are two robbers who go by the names of “Tom” and “Vic,” and Stella is the victim they kidnap.” As her captors shackled and gagged her, Stella utilizes her little strength to extricate herself. Sieben tries to tell a gripping story with just three performers and a limited number of settings, but he gets into trouble when he stays too close to the original source material. To be successful, a remake must provide something fresh and original in addition to the familiar plot twists and turns that have made the original so popular.

12. Abducted in Plain Sight (2018)

Abducted in Plain Sight (2018)

Forever B. is a true-crime documentary film directed by Skye Borgman. The unusual kidnapping and rape of 12-year-old Jan Broberg by their neighbor Robert Berchtold is recounted by the several people involved in the actual incident. Our sense of helplessness and frustration is compounded by the perpetrator’s closeness to Jan’s family. For many viewers, the documentary’s appearance by Jan Broberg is a major draw. That a little child and her family could be brainwashed into thinking something so unpleasant occurred before the era of the internet, social media, lightning-fast communication, and the availability of information.

11. The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)

In ‘The Kindergarten Teacher,’ one of the year’s best Netflix original films, a teacher named Lisa Spinelli falls in love with one of her students after he exhibits an extraordinary gift for poetry writing. Lisa is married, but she and her husband and children do not have a good connection. Poetry class is her only vacation from her daily routine. The teacher labels her work “derivative” even though she strives to compose something original. Here, Lisa discovers that this young boy named Jimmy has a gift for poetry, and she goes so far as to inform Jimmy’s father about his enormous potential.

Jimmy’s father, on the other hand, isn’t interested in nurturing his son’s artistic abilities and isn’t even aware of them. Ultimately, Lisa ends up kidnapping Jimmy in order to get her point across. Even while filmmaker Sara Colangelo manages to recreate the essence of the original Israeli picture, ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’ nevertheless has a distinct tone. The film’s star, Maggie Gyllenhaal, gives an outstanding performance as the title character.

10. The Frozen Ground (2013)

He is a serial killer who abducts, tortures, and sexually assaulted women before murdering them. Robert Hansen Sgt. Jack Holcombe (Nicolas Cage), an Alaskan Trooper, suspects Hansen, but lacks evidence to support his suspicions. Cindy Paulson (Vanessa Hudgens), a young prostitute, is now facing the hardship of testifying in the trial of her attackers.

According to the book, ‘The Frozen Ground’ is the true account of an Alaskan serial murderer who was responsible for the rape and death of many women, but the exact number is unclear and will remain so because many of their bodies have not been located. People liked him because he was a married man with children, a quiet baker, and kept to himself most of the time. Inaccessible patches of terrain where he chased the abducted women like a game kept him out of the public eye for years. He was sentenced to a total of 461 years in jail, with no chance of release.

9. Apostle (2018)

Apostle (2018)

When Thomas Richardson learns that his sister has been taken by a religious cult and imprisoned on a tightly guarded island, he sets out to find her and bring her back to safety. This homicidal cult is holding his sister hostage, and so Thomas resolves to invade the island pretending to be a member of the group. Thomas is startled by the crimes committed by the cult’s leaders and the terrible treatment of their captives after he arrives on the island. Even more evil and cruel is this island that was supposed to be an escape from societal corruption….

This film has a higher production value than most other horror films. Gareth Evans, the film’s writer and director, does a masterful job of conjuring us the eerie landscape on which the cult operates and transports us there. For horror film fans, Apostle is a must-see. Those who haven’t seen it are doing themselves a disservice.

8. Fargo (1996)

At the Cannes Film Festival in 1996, Joel Coen won the Best Director Award for his critically praised thriller. In addition to the BAFTA Award for Best Direction and the seven Academy Award nominations, the film took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. When Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is buried in debt, he employs two goons to kidnap his own wife. A state policeman was shot by the criminals who kidnapped his wife, and he believes that the ransom his father-in-law will pay for her will ease his financial woes.

7. Forgotten (2017)

‘Forgotten’ tells the narrative of a young man, Jin-seok, who sets out to uncover the truth behind his brother’s kidnapping.

For 19 days, his brother Yoo-seok was kidnapped and then unexpectedly released. Since Yoo-seok has no recollection of anything that happened in those days, his family has no idea what happened. His brother and family are not who they appear to be after a few days of doubt, and it dawns on Jin-seok that they are lying. Jin-seok goes to the police because he is afraid for his life and wants to report that he has been kidnapped. After that, the story takes a turn for the worst and becomes much more fascinating.

6. Tau (2018)

Tau (2018)

Tua, an artificial intelligence named Tau, is a science fiction thriller about a lady and her relationship with Tau (Gary Oldman). After being kidnapped, Julia (Maika Monroe) wakes up to discover an implant in the back of her neck. She destroys the cell she was confined in and the lab next door in an attempt to flee. As a result of the destruction of his facility, Alex (Ed Skrein), her kidnapper, is desperate to keep her alive. As she is held captive, she gets an understanding of the mansion and Alex’s experiments from Tau, who exchanges knowledge with her.

5. Hush (2016)

Maddie is deaf and mute and a stay-at-home writer who lives in a secluded area at the beginning of the story. Deaf and silent for about half of her life, she’s become used to the situation. Sarah, a friend of hers, is a regular visitor to her home and checks in on her. This is a scene from a day in the life of Maddie and Sarah in which Maddie appears to be completely unfazed while Sarah is brutally slain in the kitchen. He falls enamored with Maddie when he knocks on the door and she doesn’t answer, so he grabs her phone, takes images of her, and sends her back. As expected, she overpowers him and murders the murderer in a bizarre twist of events. With its amazing sound design, “Hush” is able to scare you to the point where your heart is pumping, despite the film’s light scares.

4. The Most Hated Woman in America (2017)

In the dying days of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, a talk show host and advocate for religious liberty, this true story is based on the final days of her life. Having two children out of wedlock angered her devout Christian parents. As a result of her kid being compelled to recite the Lord’s prayer in school, she began a campaign to outlaw religious instruction in schools. As a result, the Supreme Court ruled that schools cannot make students pray as a requirement of attendance. She gained the moniker “The Most Hated Woman in America” after founding the American Atheists and becoming a wealthy anti-religious leader. No one took Madalyn’s (Melissa Leo) kidnapping for a $1 million ransom by her unhappy employee David Waters seriously because of her history of publicity stunts (Josh Lucas).

3. Tallulah (2016)

Tallulah (2016)

Tallulah, a young homeless woman who lives with her boyfriend Nico on the road, is played by Ellen (Elliot) Page, who plays an important role in the film. No matter how different their approaches are, they decide to part ways, and Lu (Tallulah) flies to New York City in search of food and lodging. To make ends meet, she’d scavenge outside hotel rooms for food that hadn’t been properly disposed of. A woman named Carolyn wants Lu to care over her infant while she’s committing one of her heists. As the police converge on the hotel and no sign of Carolyn can be found, Lu presents the baby to Nico’s mother, Margo, and declares the child to be theirs. At first Margo is hesitant to accept their presence in her home, but she eventually agrees. Although it’s an abduction film, the lighter subject matter and dark humor make it a fun viewing.

2. Secuestro (2016) [Also released as ‘Boy Missing’]

The Spanish thriller “Secuestro” (or “Boy Missing”) centers on a mother’s efforts to rescue her stolen son from a gang. The plot isn’t particularly original, but the way it’s carried out sets this Spanish film apart from the competition. Oriol Paulo has created a film that is both atmospheric and suspenseful, thanks to a few unexpected turns. Intriguing plot twists and interesting directing choices make this a gripping action thriller. Despite the subtitles, I encourage you to give it a shot.

1. Lucid Dream (2017)

Lucid Dream (2017)

Dae-ho, a journalist, is on a mission to find his kidnapped son of three years, who is still at large. The case has been closed, but Dae-ho is able to relive the day his kid was abducted through lucid dreaming thanks to an unusual technique. ‘Lucid Dream’ will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s fascinating to see the ways in which the investigations taking place in the dreams and the actual world interact, and the plot is full of unexpected turns. Inception is cleverly reimagined by the South Koreans in this film.