7 Mind-Blowing Movies Like “Prisoners” To Watch
Prisoners is an American thriller film released in 2013. Denis Villeneuve directs it. It is adapted from a screenplay which was written by Aaron Guzikowski. The film features Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano. The movie shows the violence that looks very real, and it becomes disturbing. The movie was chosen as one of the top ten films of 2013 by the National Board of Review. The movie was also nominated for Best Cinematography at the 86th Academy Awards.
The film shows a story with emotional components, panic, desperation, and helplessness that any parent would feel when their children are abducted. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) faces a parent’s worst nightmare as her daughter, and her friend goes missing. The story happens in Pennsylvania. The search begins for the suspected abductor by the police. The policeman (Detective Loki) suspects the driver. Lack of evidence forces him to release the driver. Dover decides that he has no choice but to take the matter into his own hands.
Prisoners is an intense, graphic thriller. It is a high-quality film made by Hollywood. The film was a critical and box office success.
7 Mind-Blowing Films Like Prisoners
- Zodiac – 2007
Zodiac is an American mystery thriller film. It was released in the year 2007. David Fincher directs the film. This movie is adapted from James Vanderbilt’s screenplay, which is based on a non-fiction book with the same title. The book is written by Robert Graysmith.
Zodiac was released by Paramount Pictures in North America and Warner Bros. in other territories.
The film received many positive reviews for its writing, acting, and direction. This film was also nominated for several awards. The movie was declared as the 12th greatest film of the 21st century.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 2011
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a psychological crime thriller film released in 2011. It is based on a novel written by Stieg Larsson. The film is directed by David Fincher and the screenplay by Steven Zaillian. The film stars Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander.
The story is about Blomkvist’s investigation who tries to find a girl who disappeared 40 years ago. For this, he took the help of a computer hacker.
The film was a critical and commercial success. It grossed over $236.6 million.
- Sicario – 2015
Sicario is an American action thriller film released in 2015. The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is written by Taylor Sheridan. The film stars Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin.
Sicario received several praises for its screenplay, direction, cinematography, music, and Blunt and del Toro’s performances.
After rising from the ranks of a male-dominated profession, Kate Macer receives a top assignment. Kate joins a task force for a war against drugs. The team led by Alejandro travels across the border between the U.S and Mexico.
The film grossed $46.9 million.
- Gone Baby Gone – 2007
Gone Baby Gone is an American mystery thriller. It was released in 2007. Gone Baby Gone was directed by Ben Affleck. He co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Stockard. It is based on the 1998 novel Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane. The film stars Casey Affleck (Patrick Kenzie) and Michelle Monaghan (Angie Gennaro). Both of them play the role of two private investigators.
Angie and Patrick were hired by a woman Beatrice to investigate the abduction of a four-year-old girl Amanda. Beatrice is the aunt of Amanda. During the search operations, Angie and Patrick come across pedophiles, gangs, and drug deals.
- Mystic River – 2003
Mystic River is an American crime thriller drama film. It was released in 2003. Clint Eastwood directed the film. The screenplay was written by Brian Helgeland. It is based on the 2001 novel that has the same title written by Denni Lehane.
The film’s story is about a police officer who investigates the case of the murder of Jimmy’s two daughters Katie and Sean. This case leads him to a crime that took place twenty-five years ago.
Mystic River was nominated for some Academy Awards. The film grossed over $150 million.
- Nightcrawler – 2014
Nightcrawler is a psychological thriller film. It was released in the year 2014. The film was written and also directed by Dan Gilroy. It features Jake Gyllenhaal as Louis “Lou” Bloom. He plays the role of a stringer who records violent events late at night and sells the footage to television news stations. The film shows a symbiotic relationship between unethical journalism and consumer demand.
The film was highly praised, and the critics highlighted the screenplay and Gyllenhaal’s performance in the film. Several critics listed this movie as one of the best movies of 2014. It also received various awards including a nomination for the Best Original Screenplay at the 87th Academy Awards.
- Se7en – 1995
Se7en is also an American psychological crime thriller film released in 1995. The film was directed by David Fincher, and it was written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R.b Lee Ermey, and John C. McGinley.
It is a story of David Mills (Brad Pitt), a detective who teams up with William Somerset (Freeman) to track down a serial killer. The serial killer murders people according to seven deadly sins.
Se7en was the seventh highest-grossing film of the year 1995. The film grossed over $327 worldwide. The film was very well praised by the critics. The film was praised for its dark style, and brutality.
Conclusion
Films like prisoners that are thriller and have dark themes are praised by the audience. There are several other movies that are similar to Prisoners. But this article shows some of the best movies that are loved by many.
More on our movie blog: