Movies Like Kidnap

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo
Rated R

Prisoners is a 2013 Canadian-American psychological thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film stars Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal as two detectives tasked with finding the abductor of two young girls in a small Pennsylvania town. As the investigation progresses, the detectives become increasingly suspicious of a mysterious, reclusive man living nearby. The tension mounts as the detectives uncover dark secrets about the town, its inhabitants, and the suspect. Along the way, the detectives are forced to confront their own moral and ethical dilemmas, as well as the consequences of their decisions. As the mystery deepens, the detectives must race against time to find the girls and prevent tragedy.

From Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Kagiso Kuypers
Rated R

Blood Diamond is a 2006 American drama film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly. Set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999, the film depicts a smuggler, Danny Archer (DiCaprio), who is trying to obtain a rare pink diamond from a local village in exchange for a better life for a fisherman, Solomon Vandy (Hounsou). Along the way the trio form an unlikely alliance and team up to smuggle the diamond out of Africa while trying to evade the rebel forces, government soldiers, and other groups who are all trying to get their hands on the precious gem. The film explores themes of war, geopolitics, the exploitation of resources, and the international diamond trade. In the end, Solomon and Maddy manage to find a peaceful resolution for their conflict and the diamond is returned to its rightful owners.

From Pierre Morel, starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser
Rated PG-13

Taken is a 2008 French action thriller directed by Pierre Morel. It follows retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) as he embarks on a desperate mission to save his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) after she is kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring while on vacation in Paris. As he tracks her down, Mills finds himself pitted against a ruthless Albanian crime lord who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. With time running out, Mills must use his years of experience and training to save his daughter and bring down the traffickers. Along the way, he discovers a strength and determination he never knew he had.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Angelina Jolie, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan, Gattlin Griffith
Rated R

Changeling is a 2008 drama-mystery film starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is set in 1928 Los Angeles and tells the story of Christine Collins (Jolie), a single mother whose son, Walter, suddenly goes missing. After months of searching, the Los Angeles Police Department eventually claims to have found Walter and returns him to Christine. However, Christine soon realizes that the boy is not her son and begins a relentless search for the truth. The film follows Christine's struggle against corrupt police officers, the Church, and the public as she desperately seeks justice for her missing child. Changeling ultimately reveals a devastating truth about Walter's disappearance and the lengths people will go to conceal it.

From Rob Reiner, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen
Rated R

Misery is a 1990 psychological thriller film directed by Rob Reiner and starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. It is based on the 1987 Stephen King novel of the same name. The story follows a novelist, Paul Sheldon (Caan), who is rescued from a car crash by a deranged fan, Annie Wilkes (Bates). Wilkes, a former nurse, holds Sheldon captive in her remote home and forces him to write a novel centered around her favorite character, Misery Chastain. As Sheldon's health deteriorates, Wilkes' ever-increasing demands and violent behavior become increasingly sinister. Through a series of harrowing events, Sheldon slowly manages to escape Wilkes' grasp and fight off her attempts to keep him captive. In the end, Sheldon is saved by his friend and agent, but not before Wilkes is arrested for her crimes.

From Paul Greengrass, starring Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener
Rated PG-13

Captain Phillips is a 2013 American thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks. It is based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the US container ship Maersk Alabama by a group of Somali pirates. The film follows Captain Richard Phillips (Hanks) and the hijacking crew as they attempt to take control of the ship, and Phillips' efforts to ensure the safety of his crew, despite the pirates' violent attempts to take him and his ship. The film also examines the complex relationship between Phillips and the pirates' leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who, despite his violent and selfish actions, ultimately reveals a depth of character, and a shared humanity, between him and Phillips. Ultimately, the film follows the tense and dramatic rescue of Phillips and his crew, and Phillips' eventual reunion with his family.

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

Man on Fire is a 2004 action thriller directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington as John Creasy, an ex-Marine and former CIA operative who is hired as a bodyguard for a Mexican girl, Pita (Dakota Fanning). When Pita is kidnapped, Creasy goes on a mission of revenge and redemption. With the help of a former colleague, he sets out to track down her captors and exact revenge for the girl's abduction. As he becomes more and more involved in the case and the lives of those around him, his rage and violence become more and more extreme and he is pushed to the brink of destruction. In the end, Creasy discovers that Pita is alive and they are reunited, but he is ultimately willing to sacrifice himself to save her.

From Ben Affleck, starring Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan
Rated R

Gone Baby Gone is a drama-thriller directed by Ben Affleck, based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. The film follows private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro as they try to solve the case of a missing 4-year-old girl, Amanda McCready. The search leads them into the criminal underworld and they must confront the moral dilemma of whether or not they should return the child to her neglectful drug-abusing parents. In the end, Patrick and Angie must decide what is best for the child, even if it means going against the law.

From Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner
Rated R

"The Town" (2010) is a crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, and Blake Lively. Set in working-class Charlestown, Boston, the story follows lifelong criminal Doug MacRay (Affleck) and his gang of bank robbers as they attempt to pull off one last score. After the heist, Doug falls for a bank manager named Claire (Hall) - a complication that leads Doug to attempt to break out of his criminal lifestyle. As he and his crew are pursued by a relentless FBI agent (Hamm), the stakes become increasingly higher for Doug and Claire. With a thrilling blend of action, romance, and suspense, "The Town" is a gripping crime drama that follows one man's desperate attempt to escape a life of crime.

From Michael Mann, starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo
Rated R

Collateral is a crime thriller directed by Michael Mann and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. It follows Max (Cruise), a ruthless contract killer, and taxi driver, Vincent (Foxx), who become unexpectedly connected when Max hires Vincent to drive him around Los Angeles while he carries out his assignments. Throughout the night, Vincent becomes increasingly aware of Max's sinister intentions and is soon forced to take drastic measures to protect himself and the people he meets as Max continues to pursue his mission of destruction. As their night progresses, the two men must battle each other through the dark streets of Los Angeles, leading to an ultimate showdown with life-altering consequences.

From Shane Black, starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen
Rated R

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 neo-noir black comedy crime film written and directed by Shane Black. The film follows Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring actor from New York City who is thrown into the world of private detective work following a chance encounter with a mysterious figure (Val Kilmer). With the help of his new partner, Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), Harry must stay one step ahead of the criminals and cops who are after him as they search for a missing girl and unravel a major criminal conspiracy. As they dive deeper into the case, they discover that nothing is as it seems and that everyone is hiding something. Featuring sharp dialogue and a great mix of comedy and action, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a hilarious and thrilling ride.

From Wayne Kramer, starring Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Chazz Palminteri, Vera Farmiga
Rated R

From Jan de Bont, starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton
Rated R

From Nick Cassavetes, starring Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Gabriela Oltean, Kimberly Elise
Rated PG-13

From Joel Schumacher, starring Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Jim Caviezel, Val Kilmer
Rated PG-13

From Martin McDonagh, starring Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken
Rated R

From Peter Berg, starring Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Rated R

From J.J. Abrams, starring Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan, Ving Rhames, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Rated PG-13

From Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery
Rated PG-13

From David Fincher, starring Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam
Rated R

From D.J. Caruso, starring Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss, Sarah Roemer
Rated PG-13

From Phillip Noyce, starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar
Rated R

From Michael Bay, starring Scarlett Johansson, Ewan McGregor, Djimon Hounsou, Steve Buscemi
Rated PG-13

From Ron Howard, starring Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Rene Russo, Brawley Nolte
Rated R