Good Kidnapping Movies On Netflix

From Jonathan Demme, starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney, Kasi Lemmons
Rated R

The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme, based on Thomas Harris' 1988 novel of the same name. F.B.I. trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is tasked with tracking down serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) by interviewing the incarcerated Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an infamous and brilliant psychiatrist turned cannibalistic serial killer. Starling must confront her fears and attempt to gain Lecter's trust in order to uncover clues to Buffalo Bill's motives and identity. The film follows Starling's progress as she collects details about the killer and develops a bond with Lecter, all while being pursued by the police, the media, and a vengeful killer. The Silence of the Lambs was a critical and commercial success and was the first film to win Academy Awards in the top five categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Rated R

Fargo is a 1996 crime film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It follows a pregnant police chief named Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) as she investigates a series of grisly murders in her small town of Brainerd, Minnesota. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes apparent that the murders are connected to a series of failed kidnapping attempts and a botched ransom deal between a car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) and a pair of criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare). As Marge continues her investigation, she soon discovers that Jerry had orchestrated the whole plot in order to get money from his wealthy father-in-law. In the end, Marge manages to capture the criminals and recover the ransom money, but not before several more lives are tragically lost. Despite the tragic nature of the story, Fargo is a darkly funny dramedy that features excellent performances from McDormand, Macy, and Buscemi, as well as a brilliant script and direction from the Coen brothers.

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

Taken is a 2008 action thriller directed by Pierre Morel. The film follows Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), a former CIA operative who is trying to rebuild his relationship with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). When Kim and her best friend Amanda are kidnapped by an Albanian human trafficking ring while vacationing in Paris, Bryan is forced to employ his particular set of skills to save the girls and bring the traffickers to justice. With the help of a French intelligence officer, he tracks down the kidnappers and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue his daughter and her friend. In the process, he also uncovers a sinister plot to take over the trafficking trade in Paris.

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

Misery is a psychological thriller film directed by Rob Reiner, based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It follows the story of novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who is rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) after a car accident. Annie is an obsessive fan of Paul's work, and keeps him captive in her home while she forces him to write a novel that follows her demands. As Paul attempts to escape, his situation becomes increasingly desperate as Annie's mental state unravels, culminating in a violent confrontation between the two. The film was critically acclaimed upon its release, with Kathy Bates' performance being particularly praised, with the actress winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Annie.

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, starring Denzel Washington as John Creasy, a former military operative who has given up on life until he takes a job as a bodyguard for nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). When Pita is kidnapped and held for ransom, Creasy finds a renewed purpose in life and sets out to exact revenge on those who have wronged her. With the help of a former colleague (Christopher Walken) and Pita’s godfather (Marc Anthony), Creasy wages a one-man war against the Mexican cartel responsible for her abduction while developing a strong bond with Pita in the process. The film is a thrilling, emotional ride full of intense action sequences and thought-provoking themes of revenge and redemption.

From James Wan, starring Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung
Rated R

Saw is a horror film that centers around two men who are chained up in a dilapidated bathroom and instructed to escape by a sadistic serial killer known as Jigsaw. With their lives on the line, they must work together to find a way out, while also trying to decipher the clues left behind by Jigsaw. Along the way, they uncover a sinister plot that is far more deadly than either of them could have imagined. With time running out, they must fight for their lives and outwit one of the most twisted minds in the history of horror.

From Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer
Rated R

Inside Man is a crime thriller directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster. The movie follows the story of a bank heist gone wrong. A master thief, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and his crew, threaten a New York City bank, taking hostages. As Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) works to negotiate a peaceful end to the situation, he uncovers that the heist may be more than it seems. With the help of Madeline White (Jodie Foster), a power broker with ulterior motives, Frazier must race to solve the mystery before time runs out for the hostages. Ultimately, Frazier is able to unravel the complex scheme and take down the criminals in an explosive climax.

From Phillip Noyce, starring Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Kenneth Branagh, Laura Monaghan
Rated PG

From Marco Kreuzpaintner, starring Kevin Kline, Kathleen Gati, Paulina Gaitan, Cesar Ramos
Rated R

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis
Rated R

From F. Gary Gray, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin
Rated R

From Robert Rodriguez, starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Quentin Tarantino
Rated R

From Len Wiseman, starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q
Rated PG-13

From Paul Andrew Williams, starring Lorraine Stanley, Georgia Groome, Johnny Harris, Nathan Constance
Rated R

From Damian Harris, starring Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins, Tom Arnold
Rated R

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

From Directors: Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen, starring Jason Statham, Shu Qi, Matt Schulze, François Berléand
Rated PG-13

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

From J Blakeson, starring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston
Rated R

From Mark L. Lester, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells
Rated R

From James Watkins, starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis, Jack O'Connell
Rated R

From Gary Fleder, starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Cary Elwes, Alex McArthur
Rated R

From Christopher McQuarrie, starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs
Rated R

From Daniel Petrie Jr., starring Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Keith Coogan, Andrew Divoff
Rated R

From Florent-Emilio Siri, starring Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Serena Scott Thomas, Jimmy Bennett
Rated R