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Ransom

Ransom

Action · Thriller · 1996

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

Movie details

Ransom

“Someone is going to pay.”

1996 Action · Thriller 2h 1m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Ransom?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Cash Out

Cash Out

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Criminal mastermind Mason is about to execute the score of a lifetime when his lover and key member of his crew, Decker, takes the team down and reveals she’s an undercover Interpol agent. Heartbroken, Mason escapes and retires from the life of crime until his younger brother Shawn is out of his league taking on a big bank heist all on his own. Mason has no choice left but to come to the rescue, while Interpol brings Decker in hoping to unnerve him. Before the SWAT teams storm the bank, Mason must use every tool in his arsenal to not only escape with the prize, but also the love of his life.

Inside Man: Most Wanted

Inside Man: Most Wanted

Action · 2019

An NYPD hostage negotiator teams up with a federal agent to rescue dozens of tourists held hostage during a 10-hour seige at the U.S. Federal Reserve.

High Rollers

High Rollers

Action · 2025

A master thief must pull off a dangerous casino heist when his nemesis kidnaps his lover. Caught between rival criminals and FBI pursuit, he risks all to save her and score big.

Hostage

Hostage

Action · 2005

When a mafia accountant is taken hostage on his beat, a police officer – wracked by guilt from a prior stint as a negotiator – must negotiate the standoff, even as his own family is held captive by the mob.

Close

Close

Action · 2019

A counter-terrorism expert takes a job protecting a young heiress. After an attempted kidnapping puts both of their lives in danger, they must flee.

A Working Man

A Working Man

Action · 2025

Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss's daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.

Breaking In

Breaking In

Action · 2018

Shaun Russell takes her son and daughter on a weekend getaway to her late father's secluded, high-tech vacation home in the countryside. The family soon gets an unwelcome surprise when four men break into the house to find hidden money. After managing to escape, Shaun must now figure out a way to turn the tables on the desperate thieves and save her captive children.

Sleepless

Sleepless

Action · 2017

Undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who has a lot of enemies, is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wrong, a crew of homicidal gangsters kidnap Downs’ teenage son T. In one sleepless night, Downs will have to rescue his son, evade an internal affairs investigation, and bring the kidnappers to justice.

Extortion

Extortion

Action · 2017

A doctor desperately tries to save his wife and their 5 year old son after their vacation in the Bahamas takes an unexpected turn.

Die Hard

Die Hard

Action · 1988

High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has manages to escape... An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He's alone, tired... and the only chance anyone has got.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ron Howard

Written by

Richard Price · Alexander Ignon

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Tom Mullen

Rene Russo

Rene Russo

Katherine Mullen

Gary Sinise

Gary Sinise

Det. Jimmy Shaker

Delroy Lindo

Delroy Lindo

Agent Lonnie Hawkins

Lili Taylor

Lili Taylor

Maris

Brawley Nolte

Brawley Nolte

Sean Mullen

Liev Schreiber

Liev Schreiber

Clark Barnes

Court is in session

Put Ransom on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.