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The Best Thriller Movies with a Kidnapping

Updated May 12, 2020 622 votes 150 voters 14.9k views29 items

List RulesVote up the top thrillers that feature someone who has been kidnapped.

Imagine being held against your will by kidnappers looking to do you or your family harm. It's a terrifying scenario that provides plenty of fodder for screenwriters. The best thriller movies about kidnapping feature brave heroes risking their lives to save innocent people from high-stakes hostage situations. This is a list of the top kidnapping thrillers including everything from Man on Fire to Ransom to The Taking of Pelham 123.

What films will you find on this list of kidnapping thriller movies? The 2008 hit Taken, starring Liam Neeson, features a father who will stop at nothing to save his daughter from human traffickers. The film grossed over $200 million and led to several sequels. Fargo is another acclaimed movie featuring a kidnapping. The River Wild brings the tension of the thriller drama to the great outdoors as a family finds themselves at the mercy of violent criminals. Other good films featured on this list include Saw, Along Came A Spider, and Captain Phillips.

Do you have a favorite kidnapping film? Give the best movies a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

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Red Eye
Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy
Released: 2005
Directed by: Wes Craven
Red Eye is a 2005 American thriller film directed by Wes Craven and starring Rachel McAdams as... more on Wikipedia
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Prisoners
Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal
Released: 2013
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Prisoners is a 2013 American drama thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve. Two young girls... more on Wikipedia
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Taken
Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen
Released: 2008
Directed by: Pierre Morel
Taken is a 2008 French action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel. A former CIA operative... more on Wikipedia
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The Call
Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin
Released: 2013
Directed by: Brad Anderson
The Hive is a 2013 thriller film written by Richard D'Ovidio and directed by Brad Anderson.
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And Soon the Darkness
Amber Heard, Odette Annable
Released: 2010
Directed by: Marcos Efron
And Soon the Darkness is a 2010 thriller film directed by Marcos Efron, starring Karl Urban,... more on Wikipedia
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Panic Room
Kristen Stewart, Nicole Kidman
Released: 2002
Directed by: David Fincher
Panic Room is a 2002 American thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by David... more on Wikipedia
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Saw
Danny Glover, Monica Potter
Released: 2004
Directed by: James Wan
Saw is a 2004 horror film written by Leigh Whannell and directed by James Wan, in Wan's... more on Wikipedia
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Man on Fire
Mickey Rourke, Denzel Washington
Released: 2004
Directed by: Tony Scott
Man on Fire is a 2004 American thriller film and the second adaptation of A. J. Quinnell's... more on Wikipedia
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Double Jeopardy
Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones
Released: 1999
Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Double Jeopardy is a 1999 American mystery-thriller film directed by Bruce Beresford and... more on Wikipedia
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Close
Noomi Rapace, Sophie Nélisse
Released: 2019
Directed by: Vicky Jewson
Close is a 2019 British-American action thriller film directed by Vicky Jewson. To protect an... more on Wikipedia
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Along Came a Spider
Morgan Freeman, Monica Potter
Released: 2001
Directed by: Lee Tamahori
Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American psychological thriller film directed by Lee Tamahori.... more on Wikipedia
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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Bae Doona, Song Kang-Ho
Released: 2002
Directed by: Park Chan-wook
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean drama thriller film directed by Park... more on Wikipedia
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Trespass
Nicole Kidman, Nicolas Cage
Released: 2011
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Trespass is a 2011 American thriller film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film stars Nicolas... more on Wikipedia
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The River Wild
Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon
Released: 1994
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
The River Wild is a 1994 adventure thriller film directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Meryl... more on Wikipedia
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Point Blank
Frank Grillo, Anthony Mackie
Released: 2019
Directed by: Joe Lynch
Point Blank is a 2019 action thriller directed by Joe Lynch and a remake of the 2010 film of... more on Wikipedia
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Hunter Killer
Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman
Released: 2018
Directed by: Donovan Marsh
Hunter Killer is a 2018 American action thriller film directed by Donovan Marsh, based on the... more on Wikipedia
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Extraction
Chris Hemsworth, David Harbour
Released: 2020
Directed by: Sam Hargrave
Extraction (a.k.a. Out of the Fire) is a 2020 American action thriller film directed by Sam... more on Wikipedia
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Rambo V: Last Blood
Sylvester Stallone, Adriana Barraza
Released: 2019
Directed by: Adrian Grunberg
Rambo V: Last Blood is a 2019 American action thriller film directed by Adrian Grunberg, and... more on Wikipedia
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The Fanatic
John Travolta, Devon Sawa
Released: 2019
Directed by: Fred Durst
The Fanatic is a 2019 American thriller film directed by Fred Durst. A rabid film fan (John... more on Wikipedia
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Firewall
Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany
Released: 2006
Directed by: Richard Loncraine
Firewall is a 2006 British-American thriller film directed by Richard Loncraine and written by... more on Wikipedia
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Furie
Ngô Thanh Vân, Cát Vy
Released: 2019
Directed by: Lê Văn Kiệt
Furie is a 2019 Vietnamese action film directed by Lê Văn Kiệt. An ex-gangster, Hai Phuong... more on Wikipedia
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Come to Daddy
Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie
Released: 2020
Directed by: Ant Timpson
Come to Daddy is a 2020 Canadian thriller film directed by Ant Timpson. A privileged musician... more on Wikipedia
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Beneath Us
Lynn Collins, Rigo Sanchez
Released: 2020
Directed by: Max Pachman
Beneath Us is a 2019 American horror-thriller film directed by Max Pachman. A group of... more on Wikipedia
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The Taking of Pelham 123
John Travolta, Denzel Washington
Released: 2009
Directed by: Tony Scott
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a 2009 American thriller film directed by Tony Scott, and starring... more on Wikipedia
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Trapped
Charlize Theron, Courtney Love
Released: 2002
Directed by: Luis Mandoki
edTrapped is a 2002 American-German crime thriller film starring Charlize Theron, Courtney... more on Wikipedia

Trapped