Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the best movies that feature a kidnapped hostage.
Once a hostage enters the picture the stakes of any situation go up exponentially. The best hostage thriller movies feature brave lead characters who risk their lives to save innocent victims. This is a list of the top hostage thriller movies including everything from The Silence of the Lambs to From Dusk Till Dawn to Captain Phillips.
What films will you find on this list of great hostage thrillers? You won't be surprised to find Die Hard here. The staff at the Nakatomi Corporation were held hostage by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his gang of thieves until John McClane (Bruce Willis) enlisted the help of local police and sheer nerve to save the day. Dog Day Afternoon is another thrilling film featuring a hostage situation. Retired CIA field operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) would stop at nothing to retrieve his daughter in the 2008 thriller Taken. Other top thrillers with a hostage that appear on this list include John Q, Kiss the Girls, and Inside Man.
Do you have a favorite hostage thriller? Give the best movies a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.1
2510John Q
Denzel Washington, Robert DuvallReleased: 2002
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
John Q is a 2002 American thriller film directed by Nick Cassavetes. The film follows John... more2
2411Breaking In
Gabrielle Union, Billy BurkeReleased: 2018
Directed by: James McTeigue
Breaking In is a 2018 thriller film directed by James McTeigue. After the sudden death of her... more3
2315Taken
Liam Neeson, Famke JanssenReleased: 2008
Directed by: Pierre Morel
Taken is a 2008 French action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel. A former CIA operative... more4
2418From Dusk till Dawn
Salma Hayek, George ClooneyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez, Sarah Kelly
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 American horror-crime thriller film directed by Robert Rodriguez... more5
1710Speed
Sandra Bullock, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1994
Directed by: Jan de Bont
Speed is a 1994 American action film directed by Jan de Bont in his feature film directorial... more6
146The Purge
Lena Headey, Ethan HawkeReleased: 2013
Directed by: James DeMonaco
The Purge is a 2013 American social science fiction action horror film written and directed by... more7
159Inside Man
Jodie Foster, Denzel WashingtonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Spike Lee
Inside Man is a 2006 American thriller film directed by Spike Lee, and written by Russell... more8
159Room
Brie Larson, Jacob TremblayReleased: 2015
Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson
Room is a 2015 independent drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson, based on the novel by Emma... more9
1410Trespass
Nicole Kidman, Nicolas CageReleased: 2011
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Trespass is a 2011 American thriller film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film stars Nicolas... more10
2524The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster, Anthony HopkinsReleased: 1991
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime... more11
118The Taking of Pelham 123
John Travolta, Denzel WashingtonReleased: 2009
Directed by: Tony Scott
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a 2009 American thriller film directed by Tony Scott, and starring... more12
2223Die Hard
Bruce Willis, Alan RickmanReleased: 1988
Directed by: John McTiernan
Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Steven E. de... more13
1110Split
James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy14
97Dog Day Afternoon
Al Pacino, Carol KaneReleased: 1975
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Frank... more15
22Vivarium
Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen PootsReleased: 2020
Directed by: Lorcan Finnegan
Vivarium is a 2020 international sci-fi mystery film directed by Lorcan Finnegan. A young... more16
1011Captain Phillips
Tom Hanks, Catherine KeenerReleased: 2013
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and... more17
1011Collateral
Tom Cruise, Jamie FoxxReleased: 2004
Directed by: Michael Mann
Collateral is a 2004 American neo-noir film directed by Michael Mann from a screenplay written... more18
55Bad Samaritan
David Tennant, Robert SheehanReleased: 2018
Directed by: Dean Devlin
Bad Samaritan is a 2018 American horror-thriller film directed by Dean Devlin. A valet (Robert... more19
11Extraction
Chris Hemsworth, David HarbourReleased: 2020
Directed by: Sam Hargrave
Extraction (a.k.a. Out of the Fire) is a 2020 American action thriller film directed by Sam... more20
32Close
Noomi Rapace, Sophie NélisseReleased: 2019
Directed by: Vicky Jewson
Close is a 2019 British-American action thriller film directed by Vicky Jewson. To protect an... more21
67Kiss the Girls
Morgan Freeman, Ashley JuddReleased: 1997
Directed by: Gary Fleder
Kiss the Girls is a 1997 American psychological thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and... more22
47Trapped
Charlize Theron, Courtney LoveReleased: 2002
Directed by: Luis Mandoki
edTrapped is a 2002 American-German crime thriller film starring Charlize Theron, Courtney... more23
610Ransom
Mel Gibson, Liev SchreiberReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ron Howard
Ransom is a 1996 American thriller film written by Richard Price & Alexander Ignon and... more24
610Hostage
Bruce Willis, Rumer WillisReleased: 2005
Directed by: Florent Emilio Siri
Hostage is a 2005 American action thriller drama film starring Bruce Willis and directed by... more25
39Sudden Death
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Markus NäslundReleased: 1995
Directed by: Peter Hyams
Sudden Death is a 1995 American action film directed by Peter Hyams, and starring Jean-Claude... more
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