“Prisoners” is a 2013 American thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The story follows the police investigation into the abduction of two young girls in Pennsylvania. It is a thriller about a desperate father crossing all the lines to protect his family. It’s an intense experience where the suspense never lets up.

In the movie, Keller Dover’s daughter and her friend go missing; the actor takes matters into his own hands since the law enforcement authorities are pursuing numerous possibilities, and the pressure rises. The film was a box office success, grossing over $122 million worldwide.

The plot is tense and suspenseful, and the movie never lets up; instead, it portrays the struggle of a desperate father crossing all his limits to protect the family.

He takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads. It is an intense experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’re in the mood for gripping and mind-boggling crime thriller movies, you’ll want to check out our list of movies like “Prisoners.”

From suspenseful tales of kidnapping and murder to psychological mind-benders, these movies keep you guessing until the end.

So pop some popcorn, get comfortable, and prepare to be entertained!

Se7en (1995)

When “Se7en” was released in 1995, it quickly became one of the most talked-about films of the year.

Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, the movie is a dark, psychological thriller that keeps audiences engaged and excited from beginning to end. Seven tells the story of two detectives trying to solve a series of brutal murders that all seem connected.

As they get closer to finding the killer, they realize they may be in over their heads. With its magnetic cast, tense plotting, and unique visual style, Seven is a genuinely captivating cinematic experience.

“Se7en” grossed $327 million worldwide and received critical acclaim from critics, who praised its writing, direction, acting, cinematography, and soundtrack. The movie was nominated for Best Film Editing at the 68th Academy Awards.

Its reputation has grown over the years. It is now considered by many to be one of the best movies of the 1990s. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to add it to your watch list because it is one of the best movies like “Prisoners.”

Along Came a Spider (2001)

If you’re a fan of neo-noir psychological thrillers, you’ll want to check out “Along Came a Spider.” The movie picks up where the previous installment, “Kiss the Girls,” left off, with Morgan Freeman reprising his role as the brave police officer and criminal profiler Alex Cross.

This time around, Cross is on the hunt for a missing senator’s daughter, and he quickly finds himself up against a diabolical mastermind known as the Spider.

With tension mounting and the clock ticking, Cross must use his skills to outwit the Spider and save the day.

It was successful in both critical and commercial terms, grossing over $100 million worldwide. The movie received positive reviews from critics, who praised Freeman’s performance and its suspenseful plot and twists.

If you’re looking for a heart-pounding thriller, “Along Came a Spider” is worth checking out.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

“Gone Baby Gone” is a 2007 American mystery drama movie directed by Ben Affleck. The screenplay by Affleck and Aaron Stockard is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane.

It stars Casey Affleck as Patrick Kenzie, a private detective who investigates the kidnapping of a four-year-old girl from her home in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. Amy Ryan plays the child’s mother, Helene McCandless, while Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman co-star as detectives Reese and Lionel. 

Ben Affleck’s directorial debut “Gone Baby Gone” was praised by critics, and Amy Ryan received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. 

The outstanding performances from the cast, particularly from Casey Affleck and Amy Ryan, drive this movie. While the plot is pretty straightforward, the characters hold your attention and keep you invested in their story.

It grossed $34 million worldwide against a $19 million budget. “Gone Baby Gone” is an outstanding film you should not miss.

The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo (2011 )

“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” is a psychological thriller released in 2011. The movie is based on the 2005 novel by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson.

David Fincher directed the movie, and it stars Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander.

The story is about Blomkvist’s investigation to find out what happened to a girl from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years prior. He recruits the help of Salander, a computer hacker, to help him with his investigation.

The movie grossed $232.6 million on a $90 million budget and received highly positive reviews from critics. Critics praised Craig and Mara’s outstanding performances and the film’s somber tone. “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo” was named one of the best movies of 2011 by the National Board of Review.

If you want to watch a movie that is not only suspenseful but also dark and gritty, then “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo” is perfect.

Secret in Their Eyes (2015)

The film “Secret in Their Eyes (2015)” is a thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The story follows a tight-knit team of FBI investigators who have suddenly torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered.

They must put aside their feelings and work together to solve the case. The strong performances by the cast make it an enjoyable and suspenseful experience.

Billy Ray, the movie’s writer and director, has adapted it for a remake of a 2009 Argentine movie of the same title.

“Secret in Their Eyes” was not a box office success, grossing only $34 million against its $29 million budget. However, if you want to watch movies like “Prisoners,” this movie is worth checking out.

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

“You Were Never Really Here” is a 2017 movie by Lynne Ramsay. Based on the 2013 novella of the same title by Jonathan Ames, it stars Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Manette, John Doman, and Judith Roberts.

A politician hires a disturbed mercenary named Joe (Matt Damon) to find and rescue his daughter, who a human trafficking network has kidnaped.

Joe is a vigilante who tracks down a missing child, exacting the sort of vengeance only a vigilante can offer. He is sent to a brothel looking for a missing girl when he becomes involved in a conspiracy that destroys his life. “You Were Never Really Here” was produced by the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Ramsey’s direction, Phoenix’s performance, and the script received excellent reviews from critics.

The film has received positive reviews from critics, who praised Ramsey’s directing, Phoenix’s performance, and the screenplay. It is one of 2017’s best movies, according to some experts.

It won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay and was nominated for four British Academy Film Awards.

Zodiac (2007)

“Zodiac” is a serial killer thriller based on the case of the Zodiac Killer. The killings terrorized the San Francisco bay area in the late 60s. The film follows the people trying to crack the case: police detectives David Toschi and William Armstrong, writer Paul Avery, and cartoonist Robert Graysmith. We witness how the investigation dominated their lives in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Like Prisoners, a civilian (Gyllenhaal’s cartoonist) takes it upon himself to get involved in the hunt for the perpetrator. The film is exciting, suspenseful, and ultimately frustrating as the killer remains at large. But it’s a fascinating portrait of an obsessed detective and a community living in fear.

The film was nominated for the best picture award from Toronto Film Critics Association. Director David Fincher won the best director award at the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle Awards.

Even though the film has a great storyline and good casting, it did not do well at the box office. It only grossed $84 million on a $65 million budget.

However, “Zodiac” is still a great film and worth watching if you are looking for movies like “Prisoners.”

Gone Girl (2014)

“Gone Girl” is one of the most suspenseful and thrilling movies of 2014. The story follows Nick Dunne, who becomes the prime suspect after his wife’s disappearance, Amy, and an intense media circus that follows them later. The movie is set in Missouri and is full of postmodern mystery.

Pike’s performance as Amy is chilling, and her nomination for Best Actress is well deserved. The adaptation of Flynn’s novel by Fincher is excellent, and the movie is definitely worth watching.

Channeling the real-life case of Laci and Scott Peterson, which gripped the country in the mid-2000s, “Gone Girl” is a complex labyrinth that leads viewers down a dark and twisting road until it reaches an unexpected conclusion.

The film managed to gross over $369.3 million at the Box office and is one of the most successful films of 2014. “Gone Girl” is one of the best movies of 2014 and is worth watching if you are looking for movies like “Prisoners.”

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JjRoh13vzY

A drug kingpin hires private investigator Matthew Scudder to discover who kidnapped and murdered his wife in the movie “A Walk Among the Tombstones.”

The story takes place in New York City and follows Scudder as he tries to decipher who is responsible for the crime.

Along the way, he comes up against some dangerous characters and discovers that the city is full of corruption.

Scott Frank directed and wrote the movie, based on the 1992 novel of the same title by Lawrence Block, making the film an exciting thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

The movie is exciting, suspenseful, and well-acted, with Liam Neeson giving an excellent performance as Scudder. If you’re looking for a good thriller, “A Walk Among the Tombstones” is worth checking out.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut movie “Nightcrawler” stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom, a man desperate for work that blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.

Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV news veteran played by Rene Russo. The story took place in the world of L.A. crime journalism and was shot on a production budget of $8.5 million.

The film was well-received and received various awards, including a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the 87th Academy Awards.

It grossed 50.3 million dollars and premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Dan Gilroy did an excellent job writing and directing the movie, and Jake Gyllenhaal gave an outstanding performance.

If you’re looking for exciting and suspenseful movies like Prisoners, I highly recommend “Nightcrawler.”

Mystic River (2003)

The 2003 film “Mystic River” is a crime drama film directed, co-produced, and scored by Clint Eastwood and starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon.

The film was a super hit and got nominated for six Academy Awards at the 76th Academy Awards, winning Best Actor for Penn and Best Supporting Actress for Laura Linney.

The story of the “Mystic River” is set in Boston, Massachusetts, and follows the stories of three men whose lives are connected by a tragic event of child abuse in their childhood. The film’s storyline focuses on a murder investigation, trust, and betrayal and explores the loss of innocence and the quest for revenge.

“Mystic River” is a powerful and emotionally charged film that will leave audiences hooked from beginning to end.

Shutter Island (2010)

Shutter Island is a 2010 American psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, and Michelle Williams.

The film is based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same title, published in 2003. The story is set in 1954 and follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) as he investigates the disappearance of a patient from Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital.

Teddy soon discovers that there is more to the hospital than meets the eye and that the patients are not what they seem. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Teddy realizes he may be over his head. The character development in the film is excellent, and the story will keep you guessing until the end.

The film was a box office success, grossing over $294 million worldwide, and received positive reviews from critics. The film is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good suspenseful thriller.

Wind River (2017)

FBI agent Elizabeth Olsen teams up with tracker Jeremy Renner to investigate the murder of a young woman on a Native American reservation in this murder mystery film was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan

The case quickly becomes personal for Elizabeth, who is haunted by memories of her sister’s mysterious death. Despite the hostile terrain and the danger the killer poses, Elizabeth and Jeremy are determined to solve the case.

Together, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that will have far-reaching consequences for everyone involved. Wind River is a thrilling murder mystery that highlights the stark realities of life on the reservation.

With solid performances from its two leads, Wind River is a must-see film for all fans of crime dramas.

Sicario (2015)

In the 2015 film “Sicario”, Emily Blunt stars as Kate Macer, an idealistic FBI agent recruited by a government task force to help track down a Mexican drug lord.

The film also stars Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro, giving terrific performances. The story is set in the brutal world of the Mexican drug cartels, a gripping tale of revenge and betrayal.

Kate is tasked with leading a team of agents in raids on cartel safe houses, but she soon discovers that Graver is using extreme measures, including torture, to extract information. When one of her team members is killed in a raid, Kate begins questioning Graver’s methods and her involvement in the operation.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro), a mysterious figure with a dark past, becomes increasingly involved in the fight against the cartels. The film follows Kate’s struggle to come to terms with the increasingly brutal methods used in the war on drugs and Gillick’s quest for revenge. “Sicario” was a box office success, grossing $85 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million. 

“Sicario” is a gritty and realistic film that will leave audiences guessing until the end. If you’re looking for a suspenseful and action-packed movie, Sicario is worth checking out.

More Thriller Movies Like “Prisoner”

All of the films listed above are excellent examples of how to keep an audience hooked from beginning to end. These movies will keep you guessing with solid plot lines and well-developed characters until the end.

If you’re looking for a good suspenseful thriller or a film about a serial killer, I highly recommend any of the films listed above.

Looking for more great movie suggestions from BuddyTV? Check out other movie lists below:

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