Best Kidnapping Movies Like Split
The best kidnapping movies like Split are usually thrilling but not limited to dramas and mysteries. It could be a biopic, horror, or even a love story like Proof of Life. Whatever the sub-genre, movies about kidnapping and similar tropes like abduction movies cater to the thrill-seeking movie fan. Any movie about kidnapping is definitely going to be an edge-of-your-seat suspense thriller as captives will most likely try to escape at any point in the movie. Let’s begin!
Split (2016)
Split is a 2016 psychological horror film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Betty Buckley. The film follows the story of a man with 23 personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls. Will McAvoy’s character find redemption in the arms of one of the girls? We may never know. However, we will find out why he’s so ruthless.
James McAvoy’s performance may be seen as silly, but it is not. His performance as Kevin is quite affecting, despite the fact that he doesn’t do much with his character. McAvoy’s performance could have easily earned him an Oscar nomination, especially if Split had been released a few months earlier. Known for his role as Professor X in the X-Men films, McAvoy has the ability to show a wide range of emotions in this film.
Despite its name, Split is a standalone sequel to Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable. Although the film wasn’t marketed as such, it featured Bruce Willis as an uncredited cameo. It was considered a “stealth sequel” and the first solo supervillain origin film. In 2015, it was followed by Glass, which brought together the casts of Split and Unbreakable. In a manner similar to Split, Glass was a highly successful sequel to Unbreakable, with a combined cast of the two films.
All The Money in The World (2017)
The dark humor in All the Money in the World comes from the attitude of John Paul Getty towards his fortune. The 88-year-old actor does an excellent job of convincingly resembling Ebenezer Scrooge. In real life, Getty is a middle-class single parent who turned down the family’s offer of funds in exchange for custody of his children. The film is not without its problems, though.
A kidnapping incident in the real world prompted the making of this film, which chronicles the rescue of John Paul Getty III by an international gang. It also tells the story of the elder Getty, who lived for three years after his grandson’s rescue. The film’s premise is interesting, and it’s easy to get caught up in the drama and the intrigue behind the story. While the movie is a thriller, there is a deeper critique of capitalism and the super-rich that is present. This movie about kidnapping has been retold a number of times in different shows and films.
Proof of Life (2000)
The tense thriller Proof of Life stars Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe. The story revolves around a woman named Alice who must save her husband from a criminal. While working as a team to save her husband, the two soon discover that they have feelings for one another. In the end, both of them have to decide what they want from their relationships. And the film has a lot to offer.
The two lead actors have great chemistry and share a lot of humor in the film. Their romance is real-life reflects their friendship and attraction to each other. But is it too real to be true? That remains to be seen. And how realistic is the romance between Ryan and Crowe? The answer is complicated. The film’s director, Taylor Hackford, prefers understated suspense over overt romantic chemistry.
The film’s budget was about $65 million but was closer to $80 million. The movie was co-financed by Warner Bros Castle Rock and Bel-Air Entertainment, a joint venture between the two companies. While Warner Bros retained the global rights, Canal Plus kept the Spanish and French territories. After that, the film opened in Germany and France. It earned $32.4 million worldwide.
Ryan and Crowe were rumored to be dating when they filmed Proof of Life in 2000. Although there was no formal relationship between the two, the actors were photographed having an intimate affair in London. Their relationship with Russell was not permanent. However, their relationship has a unique connection. Russell Crowe may have been a “once in a lifetime” romantic interest, but Ryan was already married to Dennis Quaid.
Alpha Dog (2006)
Alpha Dog is a drama that is based on a true story of a group of friends living the American dream. Emil Hirsch plays Johnny Truelove, one of his friends, who is accused of kidnapping a man who owes him money for drugs. The kidnapping will result in him facing time in jail. However, he quickly overcomes the guilt and proves himself to be the real hero of the movie.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)
The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a 2009 British neo-noir thriller that tells the story of a young woman who goes missing on the Isle of Man. It is the debut feature film by director J. Blakeson and stars Gemma Arterton.
Despite the low budget, this thriller still manages to stay intense, despite playing with audience expectations throughout. Arterton’s tenacious performance and Marsan’s villainous baddie make it work as a thriller. This is one of the kidnapping movies like split that play tricks on your mind and keep you guessing what happens next.
Victor and Danny met in prison and soon set out to kidnap a young heiress. They lock Alice in a soundproof room and tie her up, gagged, and stripped. The captors then send pictures of the heiress to her father to demand ransom money. When her father refuses to pay, Vic waits for the ransom money, but Danny becomes uncomfortable with the situation.
Danny and Vic kidnap the girl, Alice Creed, from her family. Danny ties Alice to her bed and ball-gags her for the camera. Then, they send the pictures to Alice’s father, demanding a ransom. They also threaten her with the possibility of dying in the process. Ultimately, they escape with the money. The film is a hit, and audiences will likely watch it again.
The Missing (2003)
The Missing is one of the best movies about kidnapping. It is classified as a western thriller with an interesting central character – a woman whose husband and family disappeared 20 years ago. The movie shows her resolve to survive, as well as her distant family reunion.
It also showcases gorgeous scenery and features great performances by Jones and Blanchett. Ultimately, it is a good movie, but it does have a long runtime. The Missing is worth a look if you love western movies and want to watch some exceptional acting.
Although a bleak political thriller, The Missing has some positive aspects. For example, Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones play mothers and single mothers, respectively. The film’s storyline follows a father-daughter duo searching for their missing daughter.
While the plot of the film is conventional, it does feature a strong moral implication that would reshape the movie’s tone and make it more uplifting. But as is, The Missing is not a cathartic movie. It is an exhausting story about perseverance.
A Perfect World (1993)
A Perfect World is a 1993 thriller film about a Texas Ranger who goes on a mission to rescue a kidnapped child. A group of escaped convicts kidnaps a child from a suburban home. The child eventually becomes friends with one of the criminals and they all have the same goal of reaching Alaska. The Texas Ranger must solve the case to rescue the child, and his journey to Alaska will be filled with twists and turns, politics, blind stupidity, and rugged feds.
The plot of A Perfect World is a familiar one. A kidnapped boy makes friends with his captor and meets a convicted killer while on his journey to save his daughter. A kidnapping turns deadly when Phillip misinterprets the gift of a gun and uses it to kill the boy. This tragedy ends the “perfect world.” Clint Eastwood’s direction is masterful, finding quiet moments of truth while telling the story.
While Eastwood’s work frequently focuses on themes of regret and destiny, A Perfect World is one of his most affecting films. While Phillip’s dangerous experience doesn’t have the effect of softening Butch’s heart, it enables the two characters to bond. Despite the gruesome nature of the story, it’s a touching moment of character development for Butch and is one of the highlights of this film.
This is one of the most heartwarming and sad kidnapping movies on this list.
The Captive (2014)
The Captive is a suspense thriller directed by Atom Egoyan. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, Scott Speedman, Mireille Enos, and Kevin Durand. It’s a film with a puzzle-like structure that veers between the present and the past, but it manages to stay tight with dialogue and action. Moreover, the cast of The Captive is strong, with some standout performances.
The Captive is a chilling thriller about a young girl who is held hostage for years by a ring of child abusers. This movie will probably be too grim for younger viewers, as it involves strong swearing and disturbing scenes of child abuse. Also, there are a few scary sequences with adults being held against their will. Besides, there are high-speed car chases and shootings. Although the subject matter is not overly disturbing, it may cause a few shocks.
Fargo (1996)
The Fargo 1996 movie is a dark, kidnapping comedy with a strong female lead, played by Frances McDormand. A car salesman in Minneapolis, Jerry Lundegaard is bad at crime and cursed with an awareness of it. He desperately needs money to purchase a used car for his parking lot and for darker reasons, but he cannot borrow it from his self-made millionaire Father-in-Law.
In the town of Brainerd, Minnesota, pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson is called to investigate a series of murders. In the middle of the investigation, struggling car salesman Jerry Lundegaard hires criminals to kidnap his wife. But Jerry’s crime fails because of the bungling of his henchmen and the perseverance of Marge. She is forced to investigate the crimes.
A self-described “homespun murder story” set in the white-washed Upper Midwest wilderness, Fargo is a contemporary masterpiece. As a movie noir, it is a satirical comedy, a crime drama, and a gloomy, violent mystery thriller. Its film noir and satire are both fascinating, and surprisingly accessible. But perhaps the most compelling quality of the film is its premise.
The plot revolves around the characters and their relationships. Marge’s arc is reminiscent of a medieval religious allegory. Her optimistic outlook is mismatched by the grim realities of human nature. She discovers that people are liars, greedy, and short-sighted. This reality depresses her. In the end, she is left to question her faith in herself and the people around her. The movie’s plot is as complex as the characters themselves.
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
A worthy watch. Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane, Gone Baby Gone offers strong performances by Michelle Monaghan and Casey Affleck. Its supporting cast includes Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and Amy Ryan. The film has received great reviews and earned an Oscar nomination for Amy Ryan. It was also one of the last movies produced by The Ladd Company, which is now a private production company.
Although a typical cop-action thriller, Gone Baby isn’t your average thriller. This film plays up the moral debates surrounding police murdering and framing civilians. It’s a movie that’s worth seeing if you’re a fan of tough mysteries. And despite its bleak ending, Michelle Monaghan doesn’t put in a bad performance.
One of the best kidnapping movies is Gone Baby Gone. It stars Ben Affleck as a private investigator who becomes involved in the case of a kidnapped girl. Affleck and his crew used a series of tricks to get people to not notice the camera. They would wait until the people around them became bored and then pose as an actor in the middle of the street.
The plot is a tense and twisty one. This is a crime, drama, and mystery movie with a kidnapping theme. It is a true cult classic. There aren’t many kidnapping movies that are as gripping and as suspenseful as this one. So, whether you want a thriller, crime movie, or mystery, Gone Baby Gone should be on your watch list.
Prisoners (2013)
The prisoners 2013 movie is a harrowing psychological thriller, with a compelling cast and a complex plot. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki, a man who struggles with bureaucracy while trying to catch a notorious sex offender. This one-man investigation leads to a series of skeletons that Dover must discover. But the case will be far from over once Loki discovers the identity of the man who killed his wife.
The movie’s title may be misleading, but that’s part of the appeal. The title refers to the “prisoner” who is held captive by Keller Dover, a notorious prison warden. Alex’s “aunt” Holly Jones is also held captive. This prison drama delves into the workings of prisons and asks viewers to consider their own responses. Its strong cast includes Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano.
While Prisoners’ ending is not particularly surprising, it’s important to understand the movie’s symbolic underpinnings and the events leading up to it. Interestingly, the film was loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Both stories explore themes of repentance, guilt, and paranoia. In the end, we are left with more questions than answers, but a movie that is sure to make you think.
Aside from this, there are some other details in the film that make it stand out from other crime thrillers. One such example is Bob Taylor, who reacts to the abduction as if it were his own. Although Bob Taylor is thematically important in Prisoners, his role is not particularly pivotal. For instance, in the final scene of the film, Holly does not confess to abducting the girls without her husband. As a result, it wouldn’t have been meaningful if she’d abducted the girls.
Big Bad Wolves (2013)
The Israeli film industry takes a step forward with Big Bad Wolves, a thoughtful, action-packed thriller. The film, however, lacks the excitement and surprise that American thrillers possess. Unlike the recent pot-boiler Prisoners, Big Bad Wolves lacks a certain melodrama or humor that makes it a worthwhile watch. For all of its awe-inspiring moments, Big Bad Wolves still falls short of its goal of entertaining and provoking audiences.
While Big Bad Wolves offers a solid storyline and a satisfying resolution, it suffers from a few flaws. Its characterization of human sexuality is clumsy and underdeveloped. The storyline, which involves a human family, is far too simplistic and cliched. It fails to capture the unique character complexities of the female sex in a meaningful way. It also lacks the depth that would have made it an emotional hit.
The story is fairly standard in terms of its violence, but it does have its share of twists and turns. One of the best things about this movie is that it’s not overly graphic or exploitative. The only gore that we see in “Big Bad Wolves” is the trail of pulled-up panties and gummy worms that trail after Dror. While this may be a cliché, it’s effective nonetheless.
Life of Crime (2013)
“Life of Crime” centers on the criminals holding a wealthy tycoon’s wife hostage. The tycoon, played by Tim Robbins, would rather have a young girlfriend. The film features creepy animal masks and Jennifer Aniston falling into the ocean. Life of Crime will attract some attention at the box office thanks to its impressive cast.
The Life of Crime is a well-made crime comedy, based on the novel The Switch by the late Elmore Leonard. The film is entertaining, finely acted, and slow-moving. The plot involves two common criminals kidnapping a woman and demanding $1 million for her return. A corrupt real estate developer refuses to pay. The kidnappers use a clever scheme to gain control of the real estate, but it is not as easy as they make it out to be.
While the movie is entertaining enough, it doesn’t surpass the novel. Although the novel was written by Elmore Leonard, the film has very strong sexual content, including brief scenes with topless women. It also features a married man cheating on his wife. The plot also involves a shooting spree and a kidnapping. However, there are no real consequences to the crimes committed in this film, and the actors do a good job of capturing the essence of their characters.
Conclusion
There are lots of kidnapping movies like split which we might’ve overlooked. There are so many abduction movies like split in the past 20 years that we might’ve overlooked some of the best. We will try to update this list from time to time to provide you with more movies about kidnapping in the months to come. We hope you enjoyed this slew of quality kidnapping movies and we assure you that all of these are great abduction movies.
