Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Held for Ransom

Play trailer 1:43 Poster for Held for Ransom 2021 2h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
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.

Where to Watch

Held for Ransom

Critics Reviews

View More
Beatrice Loayza New York Times 10/14/2021
Should you be willing to overlook certain intrinsic difficulties, "Held for Ransom" is a surprisingly thoughtful hostage drama given the blunt meatheadedness of its title. Go to Full Review Leslie Felperin Guardian 01/12/2021
3/5
This is another film about a white European mixed up in a Middle Eastern war they barely seem to understand, but on its own terms it's a story well told. Go to Full Review Jessica Kiang Variety 07/09/2020
A polished, moving, muscular thriller that never exploits or simplistically reduces its real-life horrors for entertainment value. Go to Full Review Nathaniel Muir AIPT 12/20/2021
The methodical pace almost seems to go against a tense hostage drama. It works since the film does not rely on melodrama while still delivering the full impact of the story. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 10/22/2021
Held for Ransom is brutally straightforward, with no editorializing about the surrounding political complexities. It's hardly a pleasant watch, yet one whose nearly 2.5 hours pass quickly. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 10/22/2021
4/5
...an exhaustive, harrowing but very worthwhile film... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Roger P @RT51744219 04/30/2023 Very moving movie for sure. However, don't they understand that every ransom paid for a hostage produces two more hostages, etc. The Danish non-negotiation policy is the right one. I do not fault the family one bit. But In the long run, martyrdom is better. See more Read all reviews
Held for Ransom

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Niels Arden Oplev

Director

Anders W. Berthelsen

Director

Esben Smed

Daniel

Anders W. Berthelsen

Arthur

Toby Kebbell

James Foley

Ardalan Esmaili

Jeremy
View All

Held for Ransom

Held for Ransom: Trailer 1 Held for Ransom: Trailer 1 1:43 View more videos
View All

Held for Ransom

Held for Ransom (2019) Held for Ransom (2019) Held for Ransom (2019) Held for Ransom (2019) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
Director
Niels Arden Oplev, Anders W. Berthelsen
Producer
Morten Kaufmann, Signe Leick Jensen
Screenwriter
Anders Thomas Jensen
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co
Danish Film Institute, Norsk Filminstitutt, Film i Väst, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Swedish Film Institute, Cinenic Film, Yleisradio, Imaginarium Films, Den Vestdanske Filmpulje, Toolbox Film, Eurimages, Danmarks Radio, Hummelfilm, Deluca Film A/S, Sveriges Television
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Danish
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 15, 2021
Runtime
2h 15m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)