Old Lifetime Movies About Kidnapping

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

Prisoners is a 2013 psychological thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film follows two families whose daughters have gone missing without a trace. When the police fail to find any leads, a desperate father (Hugh Jackman) takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps and tortures the prime suspect (Paul Dano) in order to get information about the whereabouts of his daughter. Meanwhile, a detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) investigates the case and uncovers a dark and twisted conspiracy. With no evidence to go on, Jackman and Gyllenhaal race against time to find the two missing girls before it's too late.

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

Blood Diamond is a 2006 American war adventure drama film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou. Set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1999, the film centers on a smuggler, Danny Archer (DiCaprio), who is desperate to obtain a rare pink diamond that has become embroiled in the conflict while a fisherman, Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), is searching for his family who were taken away by the rebel forces. The two men are brought together by their shared drive to find the diamond and make a profit by selling it on the international market. Along the way, they face numerous obstacles and violence as they battle against the rebels, government forces, and corporate interests that are all vying for control of the diamond. Ultimately, the film is a story of redemption, as both Danny and Solomon must decide what is more important - money or justice.

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

Taken is an action-packed thriller film directed by Pierre Morel and starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, and Famke Janssen. The story follows retired CIA agent Bryan Mills, who is suddenly forced back into action when his daughter, Kim, is kidnapped by a human trafficking ring in Paris. With his particular set of skills, he sets off on a relentless quest to save her, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Along the way, he must outwit a mysterious and wealthy figure behind the whole operation. In the end, Bryan is able to rescue his daughter and bring justice to the criminals responsible.

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

Changeling is a 2008 American mystery drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by J. Michael Straczynski, based on real-life events. Set in Los Angeles during the 1920s, the film follows single mother Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), whose nine-year-old son, Walter, disappears without a trace one day. When a boy claiming to be her son comes forward five months later, Christine begins to suspect that the boy is not Walter and sets out to uncover the truth. The film follows Christine's journey to prove the impostor's identity, as well as her fight against the Los Angeles Police Department and its corrupt criminal justice system, which has tried to cover up the truth behind Walter's disappearance. Throughout the film, Christine's courage and determination to fight for justice and find her son is both inspiring and heartbreaking. In the end, the truth is revealed, and justice is served.

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 the Stephen King novel of the same name. The film follows novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) who, after a near fatal car crash, is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). Wilkes is a fan of Sheldon's novels, but when she discovers that the author has killed off her favorite character, she holds him captive and forces him to write a novel that brings the character back to life. As tensions escalate and Sheldon's attempts to escape fail, he is left to confront his captor in a terrifying face-off. The film was a commercial and critical success and earned Kathy Bates an Academy Award for Best Actress.

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

Captain Phillips is a thrilling action-drama based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama. Tom Hanks stars as Captain Richard Phillips, the brave captain of the Maersk Alabama, who is taken hostage by the leader of a band of Somali pirates, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). In an effort to protect his crew, Phillips offers himself as a hostage in exchange for their freedom. As the pirates take control of the ship, Phillips finds himself in a desperate battle for survival. The story unfolds with gripping intensity as Phillips and Muse form an unexpected bond and Phillips tries to outwit the pirates in order to secure the safe release of his crew.

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. The film stars Denzel Washington as John Creasy, a former Marine and CIA operative who is hired as a bodyguard for Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of wealthy Mexican industrialist Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony). Creasy of course becomes Pita’s protector and close confidante. After Pita is kidnapped, Creasy embarks on a mission to rescue her and exact revenge on the kidnappers, who are thought to be members of a powerful Mexican crime syndicate. As the film progresses Creasy’s character evolves and he is pushed to extremes as he takes on the syndicate with a relentless pursuit of justice and vengeance. In the end, Creasy is able to rescue Pita and his bravery and courage ultimately prevail over the villains.

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

Gone Baby Gone is a 2007 American neo-noir mystery drama film directed by Ben Affleck, based on the 1998 novel by Dennis Lehane. The film follows private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro as they investigate the disappearance of a four-year-old girl from a working-class neighborhood in Boston. As they navigate the dangerous and often corrupt world of Boston's underworld, they come to realize that finding the missing girl is only the beginning of their troubles. The film features an ensemble cast including Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, and Amy Madigan. It was a critical and commercial success, earning a 95% approval rating from critics, and grossing over $34 million at the box office.

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

The Town is a 2010 crime thriller directed by Ben Affleck and starring Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, and Jon Hamm. The film follows bank robber Doug MacRay (Affleck) and his crew as they attempt to pull off one final job in the working-class neighborhood they grew up in. Doug falls for an unwitting hostage, Claire (Hall), during the robbery and he attempts to protect her from his criminal past. The job turns out to be more complicated than expected and Doug and his crew find themselves pushed to the limit as they face off with a Boston FBI agent (Hamm). In the end, Doug must decide between his loyalty to his friends and his love for Claire.

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

Collateral (2004) is a crime thriller directed by Michael Mann and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. The film follows Max (Cruise), a professional hitman, who forces taxi driver Vincent (Foxx) to be his driver for a night of dangerous criminal activities. Despite his attempts to remain neutral and uninvolved, Vincent finds himself increasingly involved in Max's mission as he is forced to drive Max to numerous locations and help him eliminate his targets. As the night progresses and Max's violence escalates, Vincent begins to realize the severity of the situation and decides to take a stand against Max. The film follows Vincent's struggle to protect himself and others against Max's increasing ruthlessness.

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

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an American neo-noir black comedy crime film directed by Shane Black and written by Black and Gregg Araki. It stars Robert Downey Jr. as a thief-turned-actor who, while preparing for an acting role, gets caught up in a murder investigation alongside a private eye played by Val Kilmer. The film also features Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen, and Dash Mihok. The film follows the misadventures of a crook named Harry Lockhart (Downey Jr.) as he teams up with a struggling actor-turned-private investigator named Perry (Kilmer) to clear his name in a murder mystery. Along the way, Harry and Perry find themselves in an array of comedic and dangerous situations as they attempt to solve the mystery. In the end, they uncover a much bigger, more sinister plot that puts both of their lives in danger.

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