Movies have a knack for depicting real-life situations in a reel-life style that not only tells a story but also entertains. Crime is a favorite genre for filmmakers to explore and retell in various ways. Some add drama, others infuse action, and a few play with the audience’s psyche by twisting the plot. Kidnappings are a popular plotline, and in this list of Kidnapping and Hostage Movies That Will Make You Want to Stay Indoors, we bring you some of the best.
Prisoners
Prisoners is a thrilling kidnapping drama that is not action-packed but riveting in its own way. With a brilliant cast and a well-written script, this movie takes you as close to a kidnapping situation as possible. Based on the kidnapping of two little girls in Pennsylvania, the movie revolves around the parents’ reactions, one of them going beyond the law enforcement agencies to find his daughter. Led by a star cast including Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano, Prisoners is considered one of the best kidnapping thrillers ever.
Room
Based on the Emma Donaghue novel, Room is a kidnapping drama that delves deeper into the psyche of the victim. It begins with a single room where a single mother, Joy “Ma” Newsome, is living with her young son, Jack Newsome. Played by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, the film slowly reveals their kidnapping and their eventual escape. However, the mother’s mental health has suffered permanent damage, causing havoc in her life and that of her son and family. Heartbreaking and realistic, Room takes you on a journey that feels all too real for a Hollywood movie.
Misery
Misery tells the story of a fan who abducts and holds captive a famous author, forcing him to rewrite a novel to her liking. With brilliant performances from James Caan as the author Paul Sheldon and Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes, the fan who turns rogue, Misery showcases the fragile yet forceful nature of the human mind and is a refreshing departure from regular storylines.
The Taken Series
The Taken franchise is all about hostage situations, thrill, and action. Taken, Taken 2, and Taken 3 revolve around the main protagonist Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson, and storylines that involve escaping hostage situations or tackling ones created by antagonists. The franchise has been a hit, although the sequels have received less critical acclaim. Liam Neeson’s iconic line in the film remains immortal and is enough to get you hooked to the Taken franchise.
Captain Phillips
Inspired by the real-life story of Captain Richard Phillips and based on his book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea, the film Captain Phillips is a hostage drama that plays out on the high seas. With Tom Hanks leading the way as Captain Phillips and Barkhad Abdi as the pirate leader, the film was well-received by audiences and critics alike, earning dozens of nominations across several awards platforms, including the Academy Awards.
Gone Baby Gone
Gone Baby Gone recreates the emotions that run when a little girl is kidnapped and shows how not everything is always what it seems. Directed by Ben Affleck and led by a cast including Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, and Titus Welliver, this crime thriller was a hit with critics and did well on the awards circuit.
Phone Booth
Phone Booth is a unique kidnapping thriller where the protagonist is held within the confines of a phone booth in broad daylight. Starring Colin Farrell as Stuart Shepard, the film keeps your attention riveted from the moment he enters the booth and picks up the phone.
Kidnap
In Kidnap, Halle Berry plays a mother who refuses to give up or lose sight of her son when he is abducted in broad daylight. The movie may not have scored high with critics, but Halle’s acting prowess and the fast-paced action make it worth watching.
The Call
The Call is a hard-hitting kidnapping drama led by Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin. The film’s storyline reveals itself in layers, beginning with a failed 911 situation that results in the murder of a young girl due to an error by the operator, followed by a second instance where the operator goes beyond her line of duty to rescue the victim.
Cellular
One of Chris Evans’ earlier films, Cellular is perfect for adrenaline junkies as it dishes out high-voltage sequences filled with drama and thrills. Also starring Kim Basinger, Jason Statham, Eric Christian Olsen, Noah Emmerich, and William H. Macy, the film revolves around abduction and death, coupled with a random cellphone call that turns around the life of a young man in his pursuit of saving a woman in distress.
Let’s Wrap Up This Kidnapping Spree Shall We!
That was quite the lineup of Kidnapping and Hostage Movies That Will Make You Want to Stay Indoors we managed to put together for you. While movies delving into crime provide audiences with the perfect thrills, we hope and pray that no one falls prey to these deliberate acts of crime in real life. As for the storylines that unravel on-screen and are created only to entertain and thrill us, we are all for it!
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