Dive into the world of nail-biting suspense and intense storytelling with the best kidnapping movies lineup on Netflix in 2024.
These films are tailor-made for those seeking an exhilarating cinematic experience. From heart-pounding thrillers to emotionally charged dramas, this curated selection guarantees an immersive journey filled with unexpected twists and unforgettable moments.
Settle in for suspenseful narratives, stellar performances, and a rollercoaster of emotions as these movies unfold, offering a perfect escape right from the comfort of your home.
Get ready for a captivating adventure into the realms of mystery and excitement that only Netflix can provide. Here’s the list of the best Kidnapping movies on Netflix 2024.
Note: To access region-restricted content on Netflix from different geographic locations connect to ExpressVPN.
Best Kidnapping Movies on Netflix
1. Savages
In the movie ‘Savages,’ directed by Oliver Stone, we follow Ophelia “O” Sage and her two boyfriends, Chon and Ben, who run a secret marijuana business. A Mexican drug cartel wants to partner with them, but when they refuse, the cartel kidnaps Ophelia. This sets off Chon and Ben on a mission for revenge. With the help of a corrupt DEA agent named Dennis, they plan to take down the cartel in a fierce battle.
2. The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)
‘The Kindergarten Teacher,’ a standout Netflix original from 2018, follows Lisa Spinelli, a teacher who becomes fixated on a young student with a remarkable talent for poetry. Lisa, feeling unfulfilled in her personal life, discovers Jimmy’s poetic gift but faces indifference from his father. Frustrated by the lack of support, Lisa takes drastic action by kidnapping Jimmy. This gripping drama, a remake of an Israeli film, is skillfully directed by Sara Colangelo, with Maggie Gyllenhaal delivering a standout performance in the lead role.
3. The Most Hated Woman in America (2017)
This movie tells the true story of Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s last days. She was famous for talking on TV and fighting for religious freedom. Her parents got angry when she had two kids without getting married. Madalyn got really upset when her son had to say a Christian prayer in school. So, she worked to stop prayers in schools, and the Supreme Court agreed. People didn’t like her because she became known as “The Most Hated Woman in America.” She made money as an anti-religious leader and started the American Atheists. Then, she and her family were kidnapped for a million-dollar ransom by her upset employee, David Waters.
4. Lucid Dream (2017)
A journalist named Dae-ho is desperate to find his son, who was kidnapped three years ago. The search is stuck, but Dae-ho tries a new method: he can relive the day of his son’s abduction through lucid dreaming. ‘Lucid Dream’ is a gripping movie that will keep you hooked. The story weaves between dream investigations and real-world events, with lots of surprising twists. It’s like a clever South Korean version of ‘Inception.’
5. Tallulah (2016)
Elliot Page stars in this movie about Tallulah, a young girl without a home who splits from her boyfriend, Nico. In NYC, she struggles for food by taking leftovers outside hotels. One day, a lady named Carolyn asks her to watch her baby. When Carolyn disappears, Lu takes the baby to Margo, Nico’s mom, pretending it’s theirs. Margo reluctantly lets them in. While it’s technically a kidnapping story, the light tone and dark humor make it an enjoyable watch.
Note: Use ExpressVPN to enhance online privacy and bypass local content restrictions while streaming on Netflix.
6. Forgotten (2017)
One of the most interesting movies on this list is ‘Forgotten.’ It’s about Jin-seok, a young man who wants to know the truth about his brother Yoo-seok’s abduction. Yoo-seok was kidnapped for 19 days and released without remembering anything. Jin-Seok starts doubting his family, feeling they’re not who they seem. Scared for his life, he goes to the police, claiming strangers are holding him captive. The story takes a dark and mysterious turn.
7. The Guilty (2021)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, ‘The Guilty’ is about Joe Baylor, an LAPD officer working the night shift at a 911 call center. The entire movie happens in one night when Joe gets a call from a woman claiming she’s been kidnapped. The call ends abruptly, and Joe must put together the puzzle to help her before something bad happens.
8. Tau (2018)
‘TAU’ is a sci-fi thriller about Julia, who gets kidnapped and wakes up with an implant in her neck. Trying to escape, she accidentally destroys the lab. Alex, her kidnapper, needs her alive for his work. Julia befriends Tau, an artificial intelligence, and they exchange info.
9. Nyara: The Kidnapping (2020)
Netflix lets us discover films we might have missed, like ‘Nyara: The Kidnapping,’ a Swahili movie from Tanzania. The story is about Rehema, a rich businessman’s daughter, kidnapped by a notorious gang. The anxious father is warned not to involve the police, but Rehema’s aunt works with them secretly. The plot becomes a thrilling chase as the police race against time to rescue the girl.
10. Missing (2023)
A follow-up to ‘Searching’ and a kind of continuation from ‘Run,’ ‘Missing’ is directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson. The story is about an 18-year-old girl named June. Her mother, Grace, goes missing during a trip to Colombia with her new boyfriend. June is worried when they don’t return after a week. She calls the hotel but finds only her mom’s luggage. Since she can’t go to Colombia, she starts investigating from home.
Note: To secure your internet connection and prevent potential throttling Use ExpressVPN while streaming on Netflix.
11. Extraction (2020)
In ‘Extraction,’ happening in India and Bangladesh, ex-SAS operative Tyler Rake is hired to rescue Ovi, the son of a drug lord. The story starts with Ovi’s kidnapping by corrupt police working for a rival drug lord. Rake successfully saves Ovi but faces betrayal, leading to a dangerous situation. With Ovi on the run, the entire city is locked down, setting the stage for an intense battle between Rake and Dhaka’s underworld.
12. Kidnapping Stella (2019)
‘Kidnapping Stella,’ a German thriller by Thomas Sieben, is a redo of the 2009 film ‘The Disappearance of Alice Creed.’ If you’re curious about minimalistic movies, give ‘Kidnapping Stella’ a watch. It revolves around three characters – two criminals, Tom and Vic, and the girl they kidnap, Stella. The movie shows how Stella, despite being tied up, uses her strength to try and free herself. With only a few settings and three actors, Sieben crafts an exciting story that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
13. The Beast (2020)
‘The Beast’ mainly focuses on Leonida Riva, a former special forces captain dealing with PTSD from past combat. Riva lives a secluded life, estranged from his wife and kids. Despite trying to connect with his children, his son dislikes him, while his daughter appreciates him more. When his daughter Teresa is kidnapped, Riva, determined to save her, battles his PTSD, uses his military skills, and risks his life for a solo rescue mission. Inspired by films like ‘Taken,’ ‘The Beast’ is a wild and thrilling ride that keeps you cheering for Riva until the end.
14. Apostle (2018)
In the excellent horror movie ‘Apostle’ from 2018, set in the early 1900s, a man named Thomas learns that a dangerous religious cult has kidnapped his sister on a well-guarded island. Determined to rescue her, Thomas disguises himself as a cult member and infiltrates the island. There, he discovers the cult’s brutal actions and the dark reality of the supposed haven. What makes this movie stand out is its high production quality. Writer-director Gareth Evans skillfully creates a sinister atmosphere, immersing the audience in a chilling and imaginative world. If you love horror films and haven’t seen ‘Apostle’ yet.
15. Secret Obsession
In ‘Secret Obsession,’ a woman’s identity is a mystery after she flees from an unknown person and has a car crash. She wakes up with a man, Russell, claiming to be her husband. Russell says she’s Jennifer, and he helps her remember through photos. But when she leaves the hospital, Jennifer has flashbacks, suggesting her past is different. As a police officer investigates her disappearance and her parents are found dead, the truth gets unclear.
Top VPNs to Watch Best Kidnapping Movies on Netflix
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a good option for Netflix to watch the best kidnapping movies. It has a special Netflix page, and some VPN server locations reliably access restricted content. These servers may change, so it’s best to ask their live chat support for the current one. We found their speeds good for streaming in HD without buffering.
ExpressVPN works well with Netflix on various devices like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and some routers. You can connect up to five devices at once. Also, each subscription includes the MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy, which lets you access Netflix on devices like Apple TV and gaming consoles that don’t usually support VPNs, such as Xbox One and PS4.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is great for watching the best kidnapping movies on Netflix. Unlike some others, all of SurfShark’s servers can access Netflix and other streaming sites. Most servers will take you to the US Netflix, but it also works with Netflix in some other countries like France, Canada, and Japan. It’s fast enough to stream in high quality without interruptions and keeps your connection secure.
You can use Surfshark on Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android, and you can connect as many devices as you want at the same time. It’s a good and affordable choice if you want to watch Netflix on different devices with just one plan.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is another good choice for watching the best kidnapping movies on Netflix. Right from the beginning, NordVPN has been working hard to beat the Netflix VPN restrictions.
It aims to make all of its servers compatible with Netflix, and in our recent check, all servers worked well with Netflix. It doesn’t matter which Netflix library you want; NordVPN promises to make it work.
NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries worldwide. You can even pick a specific server, giving you flexibility if Netflix ever tries to block the VPN.
Apart from fast speeds and Netflix compatibility, NordVPN offers double-hop connections and Meshnet. NordVPN also uses the WireGuard protocol by default, but it’s customized to be more user-friendly and private, called NordLynx.
In terms of speed, NordVPN is among the top 5 for both downloading and uploading. With its high success rate in avoiding bans, you should have no problem using NordVPN to stream Netflix from anywhere in the world.
4. FastestVPN
FastestVPN is quite a reliable choice to watch the best kidnapping movies on Netflix. Its affordability makes it suitable for streaming the movies and shows available on Netflix.
While testing its performance for Netflix, I encountered an upload speed of 72.89 Mbps and a download speed of 78.44 Mbps on its Dallas server. Despite slightly slower server speeds, FastestVPN ensures robust security, making it more recommendable for general online safety rather than as a dedicated streaming-friendly VPN.
FastestVPN stands out as a budget-friendly option to access Netflix content, effectively overcoming geo-restrictions for streaming favorite shows. Consider its limitations and evaluate whether it aligns with your specific streaming and privacy requirements before deciding.
With features like affordable pricing, good streaming support, and a no-logs policy, it offers value for those prioritizing budget-conscious VPN solutions. Currently, it is available with a starting price of $1.66/month.
5. PureVPN
PureVPN consistently delivers a reliable and secure solution for accessing Netflix, making it an attractive option for watching the best kidnapping movies. During my usage, their servers provided impressive download speeds of 85.6 Mbps and upload speeds of 79.2 Mbps, especially on their US servers.
Boasting a vast global server network, PureVPN ensures seamless HD streaming and prioritizes robust security features to safeguard user privacy. The VPN’s compatibility across various devices and responsive customer support contribute to its overall appeal.
PureVPN stands as a dependable choice for enjoying Netflix content regardless of your location, offering a blend of good streaming support, extensive device compatibility, and a global server network.
While acknowledging occasional inconsistencies in speeds and past privacy controversies, its starting price of $1.32 per month adds to its affordability.
Final Words
This curated list of the best kidnapping movies on Netflix for 2024 offers a gripping journey into the realm of suspense and intrigue. Each film on the list brings its unique narrative and cinematic excellence, providing a diverse range of perspectives on the theme of kidnapping. From heart-pounding thrillers to emotionally charged dramas, these movies showcase the versatility of the genre, promising entertainment for various tastes. As viewers embark on this cinematic exploration, they can anticipate a captivating blend of storytelling, exceptional performances, and unexpected twists.
