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 to tell a story can be done in myriad ways, even if the bottom line remains the same. The thrill of an abduction movie unfolding makes it one of the more popular genres, and streaming services such as Hulu keep a collection of some great films for viewers.

14. Have You Seen My Son? (2024)

Lifetime’s ‘Have You Seen My Son?’ follows Catherine, a mother released from prison after doing time for a crime she apparently didn’t commit. What’s 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 newfound 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 gripping crime thrillers incorporating loved ones. You can watch it here.

13. A Kidnapping in Amish Country (2024)

Directed by Cat Hostick, ‘A Kidnapping in Amish Country’ tells the story of Lena, a happily married Amish woman with a shady past. When her daughter Miriam is kidnapped, and her orthodox husband Aaron refuses outside interference in their lives, she reaches out to one of her former peers, Skye, who left her Amish life behind 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? Starring Jorja Cadence, Elise Bauman, and Benjamin Sutherland, ‘A Kidnapping in Amish Country’ is a true-to-form crime thriller fueled by deceit and lies. It can be streamed here.

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

Directed by Simone Stock, ‘The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story’ is based on the true story of the abduction of 14-year-old Tanya by a guy named Thomas Hose in February 1996. Hose was a security guard at Tanya’s school, and he lured her to his place through manipulation. She only managed to realize the truth and escape, but by then, 10 years of torture and sexual abuse had passed. The film shows us a dramatized version of what really happened and how Tanya found the way and courage to escape. Starring Jordyn Ashley Olson and Robert Baker, ‘The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story’ is yet another shocking true-story-based abduction drama showcasing both the dark side of a human being and the resilience it possesses. You can watch 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’ follows a mother (Sarah Drew) who breaks humongous barriers to get back her daughters who have been “taken” by her abusive ex-husband 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. Directed by Simone Stock, the film 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, ‘Ruthless’ follows Harry (played by Dermot Mulroney), who loses his daughter to rape and murder. It has been four years since then, and when he comes to know that one of his students, Catia (Melissa Diaz), has been sold to a human trafficking ring, he decides that he will not let any other girl meet the same fate as his beloved 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/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 gets kidnapped, with the abductors asking 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 tracks them down and rescues her son is what we get to see in the otherwise passable movie, which Berry, with her compelling performance, makes bingeworthy. You can stream ‘Kidnap’ here.

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

The horrifying film is based on a true case of kidnapping, that of 14-year-old Abby Hernandez, who was kidnapped by a guy named Nathaniel Kibby when Abby was walking back 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 isolated property, where she was subjected to various forms of mental and physical abuses. Abby succeeded in befriending him, though, and he later released her while warning her not to go to the police. Abby made her way back home on July 20, 2014, and Nathaniel was arrested on July 28, 2014, from Gorham. Abby’s sufferings, endurance, and strength, like her mother Zenya’s desperation for finding her, have been shown powerfully in the movie. Lindsay Navarro plays the character of Abby Hernandez, Ben Savage plays the role of Nathaniel Kibby, and Erica Durance plays Zenya. Here is where ‘Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez’ can be streamed.

7. Girl in the Bunker (2018)

This film is the true story of the 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, back in 2006 (September 6). She escaped after spending ten days in captivity-an 8×8 underground bunker dug by Filyaw-after managing to befriend Filyaw through making conversation. Filyaw even set up booby traps near the entrance of the bunker in case someone came looking. You can get a better account of things as they happened by watching 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 based on the true story of 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 was 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 movie, directed by Simone Stock, is based on the real story of 15-year-old Kara Robinson, who managed to escape from her kidnapper’s apartment after being taken by him from her friend’s yard in West Columbia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002. 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. In the film, Kara Robinson is played by Katie Douglas, and Richard Evonitz is played by Kristian Bruun. To have a clearer idea about what happened and how Kara escaped, you can watch the film here.

4. Disappearance at Clifton Hill (2019)

Helmed by Albert Shin, ‘Disappearance at Clifton Hill’ tells the story of Abby, a young woman who, upon her mother’s death, inherits a motel in the idyllic Niagara Falls tourist town. The incident should have marked a new beginning for her life, but she finds herself investigating the kidnapping that occurred right in front of her eyes when she was a kid. Determined to get to the bottom of it, she ends up exposing the horrific side of her hometown which had remained hidden from her until now. Starring Tuppence Middleton as Abby, ‘Disappearance at Clifton Hill’ is a dark drama that just qualifies fine as a bingeworthy flick. It can be streamed here.

3. 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. Also, it appears she is connected with the mysterious death of Robert’s wife. She died in a hospital along with two other patients. As the plot proceeds, many truths are revealed, including those about Cathy, sending Robert down a rabbit hole of faith and disbelief. Directed by Suzi Ewing, ’10×10′ is an engrossing thriller powered by power-packed performances. You can see it here.

2. No Exit (2022)

‘No Exit’ is a Damien Power-directed thriller based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Taylor Adams. Addict Darby Thorne, played by Havana Rose Liu, has escaped from rehab to meet her mother in the hospital. A blizzard makes her take cover in a visitor center, where things get even more complicated after she discovers that a kid is locked inside a car owned by one of the people inside. Now that the blizzard has compromised any kind of communication with emergency authorities, it’s left up to her to find out who the culprit(s) is, as well as protect the kid. The movie can be streamed here.

1. Run (2020)

This is a thrilling psychological drama that explores an unusual mother-daughter relationship underscored by a secret that goes all the way back to the days right after the daughter was born. Chloe is now a teenager and was born premature, which is why she has lots of issues and has thus been home-schooled 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. Read More: Best Murder Mystery Movies on Hulu