Abduction is one of the most popular plot devices used in crime movies. Kidnapping just happens to be fodder for great drama, and thus, we see it on-screen so often. It’s a mix of

action and thriller, and sometimes even humor, which makes it one of the most versatile genres where a story can be told in myriad ways, even if, seemingly, the bottom line remains the same. The thrill of watching an abduction movie unfold makes it one of the more popular genres, and streaming services like Hulu keep a collection of some great films for the viewers.

14. Have You Seen My Son? (2024)

Lifetime’s ‘Have You Seen My Son?’ follows Catherine, a mother who has just been released from prison for doing time for a crime she apparently didn’t commit. What is worse, she finds that her son is missing, and once she starts looking for clues and details that will bring her to him, she realizes that her quest can take away her new freedom. Previously titled ‘My Kidnapped Son’, the Jim Cliffe-directed crime drama stars Sarah Smyth and Catherine Lough Haggquist and falls under Lifetime’s string of thrilling crime dramas incorporating loved ones. You can watch it here.

13. A Kidnapping in Amish Country (2024)

‘A Kidnapping in Amish Country’, directed by Cat Hostick, tells the story of Lena, a happily married Amish woman with a shady past. Her daughter Miriam gets kidnapped, and her orthodox husband Aaron refuses outside interference in their lives, so she reaches out to one of her former peers, Skye, who abandoned her Amish life and is now a social media influencer. This whole situation also involves the stolen cash Miriam has in her possession. Is this money connected to the kidnappers? What life did she lead before “becoming” an Amish woman? ‘A Kidnapping in Amish Country’ stars Jorja Cadence, Elise Bauman, and Benjamin Sutherland. A true-to-form crime thriller fueled by deceit and lies. Stream it here.

12. The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story (2024)

Helmed by Simone Stock, ‘The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story’ is based on a true story of the abduction of 14-year-old Tanya by a guy named Thomas Hose in February 1996. Hose used to work as a security guard at Tanya’s school and lured her to his place through manipulation. She only managed to realize the truth and escape, but by that time, 10 years of torture and sexual abuse had passed. In this film, we get to see the dramatization of what actually happened and how Tanya found her way and courage to escape. ‘The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story’, starring Jordyn Ashley Olson and Robert Baker, is yet another abduction drama based on a true story that showcases the dark side along with the resilience a human being possesses. You can currently stream the movie here.

11. Stolen by Their Father (2022)

Based on Lizbeth Meredith’s memoir ‘Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters,’ ‘Stolen by Their Father’ tells the story of a mother, played by Sarah Drew, who breaks humongous barriers to get back her daughters “taken” by her abusive ex-husband, played by Kimonas Kouris, to Greece. However, each step of hers must be taken with care so that the guy doesn’t find out what she is doing and thus disappear with the kids, seemingly forever. The film, directed by Simone Stock, depicts the true story in a gripping manner underscored by convincing performances. What adds to the narrative is the fact that Lizbeth herself was kidnapped as a child. To find out how she got back her kids, you can watch ‘Stolen by Their Father’ here.

10. Ruthless (2023)

Helmed by Art Camacho, the film ‘Ruthless’ tells the story of Harry, played by Dermot Mulroney, whose daughter gets raped and then murdered. Four years have passed since then, but when he learns that one of his students, Catia (Melissa Diaz), has been sold to a human trafficking ring, he decides that no other girl will meet the same fate as his daughter. Harry thus puts his wrestling skills to the test, hunting down all those who stand in his way and the girls. A typical abduction cum action thriller that falls under the Taken umbrella, ‘Ruthless’ stars Dermot Mulroney as Harry and Melissa Diaz as Catia. You can watch the movie here.

9. Kidnap (2017)

In Luis Prieto’s fast-paced movie ‘Kidnap,’ Halle Berry plays Karla, whose six-year-old son Frankie is kidnapped, and the kidnappers have asked for a ransom. When she finds out at a police station about the string of child kidnappings and that the children were never found, she decides to go after the captors herself, risking her life. How she manages to track them down and rescue her son is what we get to see in the otherwise passable movie, which Berry, through her riveting performance, makes binge-worthy. You can stream ‘Kidnap’ here.

8. Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez (2022)

This nightmare of a movie is inspired by the true story of Abby Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl kidnapped by a man named Nathaniel Kibby while walking home from school in North Conway, New Hampshire, on October 9, 2013. She was kept in captivity for 9 months in a soundproof shipping container on Kibby’s remote property, where she was subjected to all forms of mental and physical abuse. Still, she managed to befriend him, after which he let her go, warning her not to call the cops. Abby arrived home on July 20, 2014, and Nathaniel was arrested on July 28, 2014, from Gorham. Abby’s agony, perseverance, and strength, coupled with the desperation of her mother, Zenya, to get her back home, have been showcased quite dramatically in this film. Abby Hernandez is played by Lindsay Navarro, Nathaniel Kibby by Ben Savage, and Zenya by Erica Durance. ‘Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez’ can be streamed here.

7. Girl in the Bunker (2018)

This film is based on the real-life tragic kidnapping, torture, and rape of 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf (Julia Lalonde) by Vinson Filyaw (Henry Thomas), a construction worker, in Lugoff, South Carolina, in 2006 (September 6). She managed to escape after having spent ten days in captivity-in an 8×8 underground bunker dug by Filyaw-after having managed to befriend Filyaw by making conversation. Filyaw even set booby traps near the entrance of the bunker in case someone came looking. To get a better account of things as they happened, you can watch the film here. Read More: Best Sad Movies on Hulu

6. Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018)

Directed by Jim Donovan, this is a true story about the kidnapping of 17-year-old Lisa McVey (Katie Douglas) by serial killer Bobby Joe Long (Rossif Sutherland) from Tampa, Florida, in 1984 (November 3). She was raped for 26 hours before Long decided to get rid of her and brought her to the woods to kill her but upon pleading let her go as she had managed to gain his trust. However, in the 26 hours she was held at his apartment, she left evidence and memorized as much as she could. This is what allowed the police to locate Long, who was finally arrested (on November 16, 1984).

By the time he got arrested, he had already killed two more women, and his total known female victims became 12 in number, out of which ten he had killed. He received the death penalty and was executed on May 23, 2019, in front of the two survivors, Lisa McVey and Linda Nuttall. It is also revealed that Lisa’s family tortured her. When she returned home after escaping, they didn’t believe her at first. Lisa refused to return to her home and agreed to be put in protective housing. You can watch the film here.

5. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story (2023)

This film by Simone Stock is based on the true story of the 15-year-old Kara Robinson, who, after being taken by her kidnapper from her friend’s yard in West Columbia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, managed to escape from her kidnapper’s apartment. She was held for 18 hours before she strategized her escape, managed to do so while the guy, later identified as 38-year-old Richard Evonitz, was sleeping, and went to the police station to inform them about Evonitz. The man couldn’t be arrested because he shot himself to death during a car chase in Sarasota, Florida, on June 27, 2002. Kara Robinson is played by Katie Douglas, while Richard Evonitz is played by Kristian Bruun. To have a clearer idea of what happened and how Kara escaped, you can see the film here.

4. 10×10 (2018)

Starring Kelly Reilly and Luke Evans, ’10×10′ explores the unlikely dynamic between the kidnapped and the kidnapper. Robert kidnaps Cathy and puts her in a 10×10-foot room. She will be there until she reveals her real name. Moreover, it seems she is also connected to Robert’s wife’s mysterious death. She died in a hospital along with two other patients. As the plot proceeds, numerous truths are revealed, including some about Cathy, sending Robert down a rabbit hole of faith and disbelief. Directed by Suzi Ewing, ’10×10′ is an engrossing thriller fueled by power-packed performances. You can watch it here.

3. No Exit (2022)

Helmed by Damien Power, ‘No Exit’ is a thriller based on Taylor Adams’ 2017 book of the same name. The story is about an addict, Darby Thorne, played by Havana Rose Liu, who runs away from rehab to meet her mother in the hospital but ends up in a visitor’s center because of a blizzard. That’s when things get complicated. She finds a kid locked inside a car that belongs to one of the people inside the center. The blizzard has compromised any kind of communication with emergency authorities, and it is up to her to find out who the culprit(s) is, as well as protect the kid. To know how she figures all this out, you can stream the movie here.

2. Run (2020)

This thrilling psychological drama explores an unusual mother-daughter relationship underscored by a secret that goes back to the days right after the daughter was born. Chloe is now a teenager and was born premature, which is why she has a lot of issues and has thus been homeschooled by her mother, Diane. But Chloe slowly finds out that Diane has falsely imprisoned her. Eventually, after numerous harrowing events, Chloe comes across an article in the house basement of a couple whose baby was stolen from the hospital where she was born. Is Diane even her real mom? If not, then who is she? ‘Run’ offers a brilliant piece of acting by Sarah Paulson, who plays Diane. Chloe is played by Kiera Allen. Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, ‘Run’ can be watched right here.

1. Taken (2008)

Pierre Morel’s ‘Taken’ truly established Liam Neeson as an action star big time. The gripping action thriller shows how retired CIA officer Bryan Mills tracks down her daughter Kim, who was kidnapped by an Albanian sex-trafficking ring while she was in Paris on a trip. The strings Bryan pulls to find Kim, who has been hidden somewhere halfway across the world, within a fast-closing window, are shown in an engrossing and tactical manner-one that is bound to get the viewers glued to their screens. And thanks to Neeson’s aura and iconic voice, ‘Taken’ is a must-watch. It can be streamed here. Read More: Best Murder Mystery Movies on Hulu