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Held for Ransom

2019·Movie
2h 18min
69
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Metacritic69–Rotten Tomatoes100%72%
IMDb7.6Metacritic69–Rotten Tomatoes100%72%

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Held for Ransom fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Tense and fast-paced

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension8
  • Fast Pace7
  • Violence7

Heart

Deeply moving and cathartic

  • Pathos9
  • Catharsis8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, a real life story, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting mood

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

HELD FOR RANSOM tells the true story of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organization ISIS along with several other foreign nationals including the American journalist, James Foley. The film follows Daniel’s struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to do everything in their power to save their son. At the center of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing Daniel’s release.
ISIS Hostage DramaTrue StorySyrian CaptivityPsychological SurvivalDanish PhotojournalistTerrorismHostage NegotiationFriendship in CaptivityBleak Realism

Crew

Directed by:
Niels Arden Oplev, Anders W. Berthelsen
Written by:
Anders Thomas Jensen, Puk Damsgaard Andersen
Produced by:
Niels Arden Oplev, Anders W. Berthelsen, Nathalie Chéron
Composed by:
Johan Söderqvist

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Held for Ransom

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Held for Ransom legally?

PrimeThe RokuKanopyHooplaPluto TVPlexViaplayTubi TV

Held for Ransom is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Held for Ransom worth watching?

69
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 69). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Held for Ransom rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Held for Ransom?

2 h 18 min

Held for Ransom runs 2 h 18 min.

Is Held for Ransom based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Held for Ransom?

Critics85
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate Held for Ransom higher (85) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Held for Ransom in?

DanishEnglish

It was made in Danish, with some English. Produced in Denmark, Norway, Sweden.

In how many countries can I watch Held for Ransom?

40ARATAUBEBOBRBYCACHCLCOCRCZDE+26

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Held for Ransom in 40 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.