Kidnapping Movies

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 and released in 1991. It follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI trainee who seeks the advice of the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to catch a serial killer, "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine). With the help of Lecter's insights, Starling is able to pursue the killer and uncover the disturbing truth about his identity and motives. The film follows Clarice's journey as she struggles with her own demons while trying to outwit a brilliant and dangerous adversary. It's an intense exploration of the human capacity for evil, and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

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

Fargo is a dark comedy-crime film from 1996, directed by the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan Coen). The movie follows the story of Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman who has gotten himself into financial troubles and decides to hire two criminals (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife in order to extort a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. However, things quickly spiral out of control when a chain of unexpected events lead to a series of bloody murders. The movie follows the investigation of the local police chief, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), as she unravels the mysterious events that have occurred in her small Minnesota town. As Marge pieces together the case, the audience is taken on a suspenseful and entertaining journey that culminates in a shocking and unforgettable conclusion.

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

Taken is a 2008 action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel and starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen and Leland Orser. It follows retired CIA agent Bryan Mills as he sets out to rescue his daughter, Kim, who has been kidnapped in Paris by a group of human traffickers while on vacation. Bryan uses his particular set of skills to track Kim and her captors, and he soon discovers that her captors are part of an Albanian sex trafficking ring. Despite being outmatched and outnumbered, Bryan uses his experience to outwit and overpower the criminals, as he finds himself in ever more dangerous and violent situations. In the end, Bryan succeeds in rescuing Kim and bringing her back home safely.

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

Misery is a psychological horror film directed by Rob Reiner and based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. The film follows the story of romance novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who is rescued from a car crash by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a deranged fan of his work. She then holds him captive in her home and forces him to write a novel to her liking. As Paul's mental and physical health deteriorate, he realizes that he must find a way to escape from Annie's grip and regain his freedom. The film also stars Richard Farnsworth and Frances Sternhagen.

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

Man on Fire is an action-packed thriller starring Denzel Washington as John Creasy, a former CIA operative who is struggling with alcoholism and depression. Creasy is hired as a bodyguard to protect nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of a wealthy industrialist in Mexico City. When Pita is kidnapped by a criminal gang, Creasy is determined to get her back, no matter the cost. With the help of his friend and mentor, a former police officer, Creasy unleashes his own brand of justice on the Mexican underworld and will stop at nothing to find Pita and bring her home safely.

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

Saw is a 2004 psychological horror film directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell. It follows two men who wake up in a dilapidated bathroom chained to pipes, with a dead body lying between them. They soon learn that they are part of a sadistic game orchestrated by the serial killer, Jigsaw. Jigsaw has been abducting people and putting them in dangerous situations as a form of punishment for those who he believes have wasted their lives. The men must work together to find a way out before the game's time limit runs out, or they will face unspeakable consequences. With twists and turns that leave viewers guessing until the very end, Saw is an intense and suspenseful film that remains one of the most successful horror films of all time.

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

Inside Man is a 2006 crime thriller directed by Spike Lee. It tells the story of a daring bank heist pulled off in broad daylight by a mysterious mastermind, and the Detective, played by Denzel Washington, who is tasked with finding out what the criminals are after. As the Detective and his team start to investigate, they uncover a complicated web of schemes and betrayals that go far beyond money. The criminals, led by Clive Owen, are after something far more valuable than money, and the Detective must race against the clock to figure out what it is before the bank is destroyed. With an unexpected twist in the end, Inside Man is an exciting and riveting crime thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

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