Captive

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2:24

Captive

PG-13

2015

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt after breaking out of a courthouse jail and killing four people. His frantic escape brings him to the apartment of Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a single mother and recovering methamphetamine addict. Held hostage by Nichols in her own home, the scared woman looks for guidance from "The Purpose Driven Life," Rick Warren's best-selling, inspirational book. As she reads aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer come to a crossroad.

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Critics Consensus

Captive undermines committed performances from Kate Mara and David Oyelowo -- and the real-life story they're dramatizing -- with a thin script doubling as an ad for a self-help book.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Captive is TV veteran Jerry Jameson's first theatrical feature since Airport '77. That's by far the most interesting thing about it.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 2, 2016

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Committed performances from the two leads provide ballast, although the inevitable Oprah coda feels a little too much like a sales pitch.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 27, 2015

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

There is a moral somewhere in Captive but it is hard to work out what it is.

Sep 25, 2015

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James Clay

Fresh Fiction

CAPTIVE won't dazzle you in the way the masters of mystery will, but the uncannily consistent work from Oyelowo and its positive outlook will indeed keep you captivated.

Rated: B-

Dec 14, 2018

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Alison Rowat

The Herald (Scotland)

An odd, and not in a good way, preachy piece.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 23, 2018

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Mae Abdulbaki

Punch Drunk Critics

The film is underwhelming but does carry strong performances.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 14, 2018

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

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Kirsten W

I thought this movie was pretty great. I would give it an 80%. More star power may have helped it but the acting was great.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/16/24

Full Review

Alexandra H

Acting is terrific! Story is engaging and seemed realistic to me. I don't usually watch movies with violence, but the real subject of this movie was interpersonal relationships. There's a focus on God towards the end, but people who say this is a "Christian movie" are assuming that if you mention God, it's the God of Christianity. Of course, large numbers of people have a relationship with God but are not Christian.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/16/24

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Steve D

Too obsessed with moralizing to take advantage of its strong leads.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

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Audience Member

This was great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

At first, had a difficult time staying with the story-line. Had to remind myself that is a "True Life Occurrence"...I have not read the book, so I don't know how close it was played. With the time limitation of film, I feel that the characters were developed as best as they could. This is a hard core, in your face, look at addictions & mental illnesses; that is presented at a level many families may be comfortable allowing their children to watch. Not knowing the ultimate outcome I have admit I choked-up and shouted AMEN when Ashley said, "No!" It was a hard movie to watch, as it should be. I do recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Jerry Jameson

Director

David Oyelowo

Brian Nichols

Kate Mara

Ashley Smith

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Captive: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt after breaking out of a courthouse jail and killing four people. His frantic escape brings him to the apartment of Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a single mother and recovering methamphetamine addict. Held hostage by Nichols in her own home, the scared woman looks for guidance from "The Purpose Driven Life," Rick Warren's best-selling, inspirational book. As she reads aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer come to a crossroad.

Director: Jerry Jameson
Producer: Terry Botwick, Jerry Jameson, Lucas Akoskin, Alex Garcia, Katrina Wolfe, David Oyelowo, Ken Wales
Screenwriter: Brian Bird
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Yoruba Saxon, BN Films, 1019 Entertainment, Brightside Entertainment, Itaca Films
Rating: PG-13 (Substance Abuse|Mature Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.6M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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