9 Captive Thrillers That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat

The Black Phone

Prepare to be captivated by the supernatural abduction story in The Black Phone. This chilling thriller follows the harrowing experience of a young boy, Finney, who is kidnapped and held in a basement by a mask-donning villain known only as 'The Grabber'. The gripping narrative takes a supernatural twist, with Finney's only hope lying in a solitary black phone that connects him to the voices of the Grabber's past victims.

Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in The Black Phone

Ethan Hawke delivers a haunting performance as the unsettling Grabber, making The Black Phone a truly engrossing and terrifying watch. The film offers genuine scares and a supernatural premise that sets it apart in the captive thriller genre.

The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) sitting shirtless in a dark room in The Black Phone.

Panic Room

David Fincher's Panic Room is a taut and intense home invasion thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. When a mother and daughter seek refuge from intruders by hiding in the titular panic room of their home, they find themselves in a life-or-death struggle to protect what the thieves are after. This gripping film delves into the invasion of evil into the home, creating a charged atmosphere of fear and suspense.

Anne reading a book to Paul in the film Misery.

Featuring an all-star cast including Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, and Kristen Stewart, Panic Room is a powerhouse of tension and control that will keep you riveted from start to finish.

Kathy Bates as Anne Wilkes, with a cruel look, in the film Misery.

Misery

Based on Stephen King's classic novel, Misery is a captivating portrayal of captivity and the chilling psychology of a captor caught up in feelings of love, wrath, and possession. The story follows novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car wreck by an avid fan, Annie Wilkes. What ensues is a gripping tale of obsession and survival as Paul realizes the depths of Annie's dangerous fixation.

Annie with a sledgehammer in the movie Misery. 

Kathy Bates delivers an iconic performance as Annie Wilkes, earning her an Oscar for her portrayal of the deeply unnerving captor. Misery is a classic in the captive thriller genre, offering a compelling and chilling exploration of captivity and the unyielding human spirit.

Brie Larson holding Jacob Tremblay in Room.

Run

Run is a powerhouse of tension and control, offering a gripping portrayal of a teenage girl's struggle to escape her overbearing and sinister mother. With an incredible momentum and deeply unnerving performance from Sarah Paulson, Run takes viewers on a heart-pounding journey of survival and determination.

Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen in Run

Kiera Allen delivers a captivating performance as Chloe, the wheelchair-using teenager who improvises her way out of increasingly steep odds using only her wits. Clocking in at a tight 90 minutes, Run is a must-watch for fans of captive thrillers.

Don't Breathe poster excerpt

Split

M. Night Shyamalan's Split is a twisty and inventive thriller that holds a familiar premise to captive thrillers. The movie follows three teenagers kidnapped and held in an underground complex by a mentally unstable stranger, who harbors 24 distinct personalities within his mind. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a compelling performance as Casey, one of the imprisoned teenagers who seeks to escape by maneuvering the different personalities to her advantage.

Casey running through the tunnels in Split

While its inventive premise is compelling, Split has been a controversial film due to its portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID). Nevertheless, it remains a captivating and gripping addition to the captive thriller genre.

James McAvoy standing in the street at night in Split

Room

Room offers a powerful and moving portrayal of captivity and resilience, following the story of a young boy, Jack, and his mother who are trapped in a basement by their captor. Brie Larson delivers a compelling performance as the mother, capturing the trauma and resilience of her character as she navigates the challenges of captivity and motherhood.

Thoughtful, beautiful, and often tense, Room is a potent examination of innocence, isolation, and the unyielding human spirit in the face of captivity. The film is a must-watch for those seeking a poignant and gripping captive thriller.

10 Cloverfield Lane

When Michelle wakes up at 10 Cloverfield Lane, she finds herself in a tense and enigmatic situation where two men claim there has been a massive attack on the United States, and they cannot leave the underground bunker. As she searches for the truth behind the supposed attack, Michelle navigates the charged, dangerous dynamic between herself, fellow survivor Emmett, and the bunker's unstable owner, Howard.

John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead delivers an intrepid and instantly likable performance as Michelle, while John Goodman's powerful portrayal of Howard crackles with sinister energy. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a gripping and enigmatic thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Don't Breathe

Don't Breathe follows a trio of young thieves who break into the house of a visually impaired man, only to discover he is a ruthless killing machine with a horrifying secret. This tense and twisted film delves into the darkness lurking in the suburbs, transforming the seemingly ordinary home into a palace of horrors.

With an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Don't Breathe is a critical and commercial success that will leave you breathless with its relentless tension and terrifying revelations.