The crime and mystery genre has drawn large audiences to mystery thrillers due to a combination of elements that are both alluring and threatening. I started watching different kidnapping movies on Netflix last week to investigate the genre further, and fortunately, I was able to watch the best ones they had in stock. I’ve put together a list of the Best Kidnapping Movies on Netflix that I heartily endorse to let my readers know which ones I thought were the finest.
Best Kidnapping Movies on Netflix To Watch in 2023
We have compiled a selection of the top 20 kidnapping movies on Netflix, carefully ranked based on their IMDb ratings. So, dive in and start your thrilling cinematic experience today!
- Nocturnal Animals (2016) – 7.5/10
- Forgotten (2017) – 7.4/10
- Abducted In Plain Sight (2017) – 6.8/10
- Lucid Dream (2017) – 6.7/10
- Extraction (2020) – 6.7/10
- The Kindergarten Teacher (2018) – 6.7/10
- Extremely Wicked: Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) – 6.7/10
- Hush (2016) – 6.6/10
- Savages (2012) – 6.4/10
- The Frozen Ground (2013) – 6.4/10
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
The ideal life of a prosperous Los Angeles art gallery owner is ruined by her attractive second husband’s incessant travel. She is shocked when a manuscript written by her first spouse, whom she hasn’t seen in years, arrives when he is overseas. The scenario of the book is about a teacher who discovers that a vacation with his family is turning into a nightmare. Susan is forced to look back on her life and face some unpleasant facts as she reads the book.
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
- Starring cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Director: Tom Ford
- Release Year: 2016
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Writer: Tom Ford
- Runtime: 1h 56m
Forgotten (2017)
The family of 21-year-old Jin-seok, his parents, and older brother Yoo-seok relocated to a new home. Jin-seok thinks something is wrong in their new house. He sees Yoo-seok being taken hostage and hauled into a car one stormy night. Yoo Seok unexpectedly returns home after being gone for nineteen days, but he has no memory of his disappearance. On the other hand, Jin Seok begins to notice certain changes in his older brother.
- IMDb rating: 7.4/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Starring cast: Kang Ha-Neul, Yeon Je Hyung, Mu-Yeol Kim
- Director: Hang-jun Jang
- Release Year: 2020
- Genre: Thriller, Mystery
- Writer: Hang-jun Jang
- Runtime: 1h 48m
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Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
You’ll be in awe after watching the true crime film Abducted in Plain Sight. The kidnapping of Jan Broberg is the main subject of the film. Robert Berchtold, a trusted member of her family, abducted Jan. When it is revealed that Jan was sexually assaulted by Berchtold when she was 12 years old, the plot thickens. If you enjoy watching true crime dramas and films, you must see this documentary.
- IMDb rating: 6.8/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
- Starring cast: Jan Broberg, Bob Broberg, Mary Ann Broberg
- Director: Skye Borgman
- Release Year: 2017
- Genre: Documentary, Crime
- Writer: Vicky Jewson, Rupert Whitaker
- Runtime: 1h 31m
Lucid Dreams (2017)
The main character of the film is a parent who makes extraordinary efforts to locate his kidnapped son. He learns his technique and starts to experience lucid dreams. The father quickly realizes that the distinction between reality and dreams is fading, and he needs to find a method to save son before it’s too late. One of the top superhero movies on Netflix is Lucid Dreams.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Starring cast: Sol Kyung-gu, Kang Hye-jeong, Go Soo
- Director: Joon-Sung Kim
- Release Year: 2017
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Writer: Joon-Sung Kim
- Runtime: 1h 41m
Extraction (2020)
“Extraction” stands as a remarkable action-packed kidnapping film in the Netflix collection. The story revolves around a black-market mercenary who is recruited to undertake the perilous mission of rescuing the kidnapped son of a powerful international crime lord currently incarcerated. As the mercenary delves deeper into the dangerous rescue operation, he quickly becomes aware of the immense challenges ahead, prompting him to employ every skill at his disposal to save the young boy.
Bringing a relentless barrage of thrilling action, “Extraction” comes highly recommended for anyone seeking the ultimate spy movie experience on Netflix.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
- Starring cast: Chris Hemsworth, Ryder Lerum, Bryon Lerum
- Director: Sam Hargrave
- Release Year: 2020
- Genre: Action, Thriller
- Writer: Joe Russo, Ande Parks , Anthony Russo
- Runtime: 1h 56m
The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)
Staten Island teacher Lisa Spinelli is remarkably committed to her pupils. She becomes obsessed with the boy after learning that one of her five-year-olds is a genius and ultimately puts her family and freedom in danger in order to develop his gift. We witnessed how teachers sometimes get so attached to their students that they even ignore their own needs for it.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
- Starring cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ato Blankson-Wood, Gael Garcia Bernal
- Director: Sara Colangelo
- Release Year: 2018
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Writer: Nadav Lapid, Sara Colangelo
- Runtime: 1h 36m
Extremely Wicked: Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
“Extremely Wicked: Shockingly Evil and Vile” presents yet another true crime narrative, drawing from the biography of Ted Bundy. The film takes a unique perspective, centering on the life of Ted Bundy as seen through the eyes of Elizabeth Kendall, his longtime girlfriend. It explores how Bundy managed to deceive those around him, showcasing his skill at manipulating others and evading the police’s grasp. Prepare to be drawn into this gripping portrayal of Bundy’s chilling abilities and the astonishing ways he managed to escape justice, leaving audiences both intrigued and unsettled.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
- Starring cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario
- Director: Joe Berlinger
- Release Year: 2019
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
- Writer: Michael Werwie, Elizabeth Kendall
- Runtime: 1h 50m
Hush (2016)
When a masked assassin knocks on her window, a deaf and mute writer who had retired to the woods to live alone must battle for her life in silence.
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
- Starring cast: Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Release Year: 2016
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Writer: Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel
- Runtime: 1h 22m
Savages (2012)
“Savages” is an intense crime drama and thriller that revolves around the tale of two inseparable best friends who are involved in the cultivation of marijuana. Their lives are seemingly prosperous until one of them faces the devastating abduction of his girlfriend at the hands of a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. Fueled by their shared expertise in marijuana cultivation, the two friends embark on a daring mission to rescue her.
With its gripping narrative and thrilling plot, “Savages” will undoubtedly keep you fully engaged from start to finish.
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
- Starring cast: Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively, John Travolta
- Director: Oliver Stone
- Release Year: 2012
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
- Writer: Shane Salerno, Don Winslow (novel)
- Runtime: 2h 11m
The Frozen Ground (2013)
Robert Hansen, according to Alaska State Trooper Jack Halcombe, is a serial killer who kidnaps young girls, tortures and sexually assaults them, and then murders them. He lacks the proof to obtain a search warrant for Hansen’s property, though. He chooses to ask Cindy Paulsen for assistance because he knows that one victim, Cindy Paulsen, managed to live. However, he discovers that she is now a junkie with trust issues. Holcombe must gain her trust while Hansen continues to pursue and murder young women.
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
- Starring cast: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens
- Director: Scott Walker
- Release Year: 2013
- Genre: Thriller, Crime
- Writer: Scott Walker
- Runtime: 1h 45m
He Never Died (2015)
Jack feels stuck. His life has been reduced to sleeping and watching TV due to depression and serious antisocial conduct. He sleeps, plays church bingo, and spends his days in a diner. When some hired thugs arrive, Jack’s existence is questioned and his life is upended.
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
- Starring cast: Booboo Steward, Henry Rollins, Steven Ogg
- Director: Jason Krawczyk
- Release Year: 2015
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
- Writer: Jason Krawczyk
- Runtime: 1h 25m
- Awards won: None
Conclusion
The Kidnapping Movies on Netflix delve into the darker aspects of human behavior, showcasing the extraordinary measures people undertake to protect their loved ones or seek justice. With their masterful storytelling and compelling characters, the top kidnapping movies on Netflix stand as a testament to the genre’s power, offering hours of gripping entertainment for those who crave intense and suspenseful narratives.
