Best movies like Kidnapped
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Plot Summary:
Kidnapped is a two-part BBC television adaptation of the 1893 novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. The show is directed by Brendan Maher and stars James Anthony Pearson as Davie Balfour and Iain Glen as Alan Breck. Attempting to claim his rightful inheritance from his eccentric Uncle Ebenezer, young Davie Balfour is kidnapped and imprisoned in the hold of a slave ship bound for the New World. Soon, Davie joins forces with exiled Highland hero Alan Breck and together, the unlikely pair of outlaw and innocent embark on a treacherous quest across Scotland that will bring them foes too numerous to count, as well as unexpected friends. Among the plot deviations from novel to movie: ⁕The movie added a love interest for Davie in Catriona, the daughter of James of the Glen. This plot element is from the sequel novel, Catriona. ⁕In the novel, Breck and James of the Glen were never arrested by the British; but the movie showed James of the Glen being falsely arrested with the threat of being hanged to force Breck to give himself up. ⁕The movie added the "Long Mile Gang", expert trackers, to track Davie and Breck across Scotland, but the novel only had British troops.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 258
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: UK
Duration: 222 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, exciting, captivating
Best tv shows and movies like Kidnapped (2005):
Similar in 88%
Storm Bound (2007)
Plot Summary:
A ripping adventure yarn about teenage boys who join the crew of a ship of the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. After a dramatic shipwreck and escape from an attack by natives, they must make their way to safety by themselves.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 891
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, serious, captivating
Similar in 87%
The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this globe-trotting adventure, Marco Polo (Don Diamont) plays the famous 13th Century explorer who sets out from Italy to find his missing father, and along the way finds danger, excitement, and amazing discoveries at every turn. The supporting cast includes Oliver Reed, Jack Palance, and Herbert Lom.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 546
Genere: Adventure
Country: Ukraine, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, sentimental, epic, serious, captivating
Similar in 79%
Amongst Vultures (1964)
Plot Summary:
Frontier Hellcat was the fourth in a series of 1960s European westerns based on Karl May's "Winnetou" character. Stewart Granger takes over from Lex Barker in the leading "Anglo"-role of the mysterious maverick who wanders from town to town doing the "Lone Ranger" bit. The hellcat of the title is Elke Sommer, a tempestuous frontierswoman who reluctantly accepts Granger's help in attaining safe passage through the Rocky Mountains ("played" in this film by the Alps).
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Western
Country: West Germany, France, Italy, Yugoslavia
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: spaghetti western, euro western, exciting, rough, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr (1981)
Plot Summary:
In a lake high in the mountains of New Zealand hunter Gibbie Gibson discovers a plane wreck from WW2. When he tells it around, a gang of crooks follows and threatens him and his daughter, because they know there are 50 million dollars in the wreck. Helicopter pilot Barney helps Gibbie against them, risking his life thereby.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: Australia, New Zealand, USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 79%
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1989)
Plot Summary:
Bonnie and cousin Sylvia, two very young children, are left at home in Willoughby Hall while their parents travel overseas. Only the servants and the prowling wolves are their companions. News arrives that Lord and Lady Willoughby are missing and an evil looking governess suddenly arrives at the hall.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 542
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: spooky, independent film, serious
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Marco Polo (2007)
Plot Summary:
Assigned to accompany two priests on a mission to convert the court of Kublai Khan to Christianity, Marco Polo is abandoned in the mountains when the priests, doubting the very existence of China, turn back. Polo eventually pushes bravely forth alone toward the fabled country where he is accepted as an envoy into Khan's court. Marooned on the far side of the world, Polo, accompanied by his servant, Pedro, advances as a Mongol grandee for twenty extraordinary years. What he eventually brings back with him to the West is a chronicle that changed history forever.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, epic, captivating, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 90%
The Littlest Horse Thieves (1976)
Plot Summary:
When the owner of a Yorkshire coal-mine decides to mechanize to increase profits, the mine's pit ponies are scheduled to be destroyed. So, three children plan to steal them to keep them safe. But when they're caught, it's up to the mine owners and the miners themselves to decide what's right.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 441
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: exciting, touching, feel good, serious, realistic
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Flipper's New Adventure (1964)
Plot Summary:
While widowed Porter Ricks is away at school learning to be a park ranger, his teen-aged son, Sandy, under adult supervision from a neighbor, remains at the family home in the Florida Keys with his pet dolphin, Flipper. While Po (as Porter is called by most) is away, Sandy learns that the family home, built on state land, is being torn down to make way for a highway. In turn, Sandy would be sent to live with relatives, while Flipper would be sent to the seaquarium permanently. Not wanting to be separated from Flipper, Sandy, using his skiff, runs away with Flipper. A distraught Po returns home to look for his son. Meanwhile, the Hopewell family from Britain are vacationing in the area. Their sailboat is hijacked by three escaped convicts, who take the father, Halsey, hostage, and set the three Hopewell women - mother Julia, and teen-aged daughters Gwen and Penny - adrift, they who eventually land on the island where Sandy is hiding... Written by Huggo.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 626
Genere: Family, Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, suspenseful, semi serious, cult film
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White Wolves II: Legend of the Wild (1996)
Plot Summary:
As a plea-bargain to clear their school records, a group of misfit teens ventures into the majestic but unforgiving wilderness to help a young naturalist save the vanishing wolves. After they encountered unexpected incident, they are aided by the mysterious white wolf of myth and legend, who shows up to guide the way throughout the movie.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 367
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, serious, realistic
Similar in 81%
Call of the Wild (1992)
Plot Summary:
A young boy heads off to the Yukon after hearing tales about the Gold Rush, and he forms an unwavering friendship with a heroic Alsatian dog called Buck.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 422
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic
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Stranded (2002)
Plot Summary:
A retelling of the classic Swiss Family Robinson story.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 833
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, serious, captivating, period drama
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Silver Wolf (1999)
Plot Summary:
A ranger (Michael Biehn) and his 16 year old nephew (Shane Meier) struggle to save a wolf from a rancher (Roy Scheider), who is out to kill it.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 596
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, feel good, independent film, serious, realistic
Similar in 87%
Captains Courageous (1996)
Plot Summary:
Harvey Cheyne, Jr., second richest person in the world, orphaned and spoiled rotten, encounters a cigar and the sea on his way to England for boarding school. Seasick, over the rail for real, rescued by Dan Troop of a Gloucester fishing sailboat. Three months at sea, under a firm but fair Captain Troop (fair wages of $10.50 a month, if you don't work you don't eat). A hard life and a dangerous one, and a lot of growing up to do through hardship and tragedy.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Drama, Family
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic
Similar in 75%
Deadliest Sea (2009)
Plot Summary:
Based on the book Working on the Edge by Spike Walker, Deadliest Sea tells the story of a young man who joins the crew of a King Crab trawler in Alaska seeking to make some real money. The captain of the vessel plays a hunch about where to set traps in the Bering Sea, but the boat and crew are soon victims of a powerful and relentless storm.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 259
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious
Similar in 75%
Shipwrecked (1990)
Plot Summary:
A young Norwegian boy in 1850s England goes to work as a cabin boy and discovers some of his shipmates are actually pirates.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: Norway, Sweden, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: action adventure, exciting, feel good, serious
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Jumping Ship (2001)
Plot Summary:
Joseph, Matthew and Andrew Lawrence (TV's Brotherly Love) star in this thrilling, action-packed sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Horse Sense. It's first-class adventure on the high seas for Michael Woods (Joseph Lawrence) and his cousin (Andrew Lawrence) when they charter a private yacht for a fun-filled cruise off the coast of Australia. But the yacht turns out to be a broken-down fishing boat complete with rusting hull! When they find themselves being chased by modern-day pirates, they decide that Jumping Ship with the boat's captain Jake Hunter (Matthew Lawrence) is the only option. Stranded on a desert island without any conveniences from home, these three castaways must work together as a team if they hope to survive and be rescued.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: Australia, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: exciting, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, talky
Similar in 77%
Treasure Island (2007)
Plot Summary:
A terrible storm is raging the night it all begins - with a knock on the door. 17-year-old Jim Hawkins helps his widowed mother run their little tavern on the coast of 19th century England. When the door is opened they are startled by a sight that makes their blood run cold.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 439
Genere: Adventure
Country: Germany
Duration: 186 min
Plot tags: serious, exciting, captivating, intense, talky
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Sea Wolf: The Pirate's Curse (2005)
Plot Summary:
Sea of Danger, Sea of Desire.
IMDB Rating: 3.3
IMDB Votes: 147
Genere: Action, Adventure, Romance, Thriller
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, tense, entertaining, serious, suspenseful
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Kidnapped (1971)
Plot Summary:
Scottish orphan David Balfour (Lawrence Douglas) is betrayed by his wicked uncle Ebeneezer (Donald Pleasance), who arranges for David to be kidnapped and sold into slavery so that Unk can claim his inheritance. The boy is rescued and befriended by Alan Breck (Michael Caine), a Scottish rebel fighting on behalf of his country's independence from the British (did we tell you that the film takes place during late 18th century?) Both David and Alan undergo several exhilarating adventures before Alan comes to realize that the rebellion is doomed from the start, and David foils his uncle's greedy machinations. (AllMovie).
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, independent film, period drama
Similar in 78%
A High Wind in Jamaica (1965)
Plot Summary:
In 1870, a Jamaican colonial family sends its children to Britain for proper schooling, but their ship is taken over by pirates, who become fond of the kids.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, serious, captivating, stylized, vintage
Similar in 87%
Lionheart (1987)
Plot Summary:
A young knight sets out to join King Richards crusaders. Along the way, he encounters The Black Prince who captures children and sells them as slaves to the Muslims. It is Robert Narra's sworn duty to protect the children and lead them to safety.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 969
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Hungary, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: captivating, exciting, serious, disturbing
Similar in 75%
Kidnapped (1995)
Plot Summary:
When Scottish young gentleman David Balfour's father dies, he leaves school to collect his inheritance from uncle Ebenezer, who in turn sells the boy as a future slave to a pirate ship. When staunch Stuart dynasty supporter Alan Breck Stewart accidentally boards the ship, he takes David along on his escape back to Edinburgh. They part and meet again repeatedly, mutually helpful against the Redcoats and respectful, although David is loyal to the English crown, but learns about its cruel oppression. Both ultimately face their adversaries.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 508
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 155 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, period drama
Similar in 89%
Treasure Island (1999)
Plot Summary:
Young Jim Hawkins and peg-legged Long John Silver set sail for adventure in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of dastardly pirates, swashbuckling heroes, buried treasure and a young boy's amazing courage. The narrative diverges from that of the novel in that Captain Smollett convinces Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey to cut Jim out of his rightful share of the treasure and so Jim then teams up with Silver.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 607
Genere: Adventure, Family
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, semi serious, surprise ending, baroque
Similar in 85%
Treasure Guards (2011)
Plot Summary:
On a dig in the remote Jordanian desert, maverick archaeologist Victoria Carter (Anna Friel) discovers an ancient scroll buried in the ruins of an old temple. It is encrypted with the location of the long lost Seal of Solomon, which, according to legend, was given to King Solomon by God himself. But this mighty treasure is also being sought by, amongst others, Victoria’s estranged father, renowned archaeologist Teddy Carter, who’s soon hot on its trail.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure
Country: Germany
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, semi serious, captivating
Similar in 86%
Crusade of Vengeance (2002)
Plot Summary:
In 1190, the knight Elizabeth leaves her young son Peter in England, battles, and is wounded in the Third Holy Crusade. She must return to her village, where she is informed by the local priest that Peter was abducted by the wicked tyrant Grekkor and his powerful knights. Elizabeth decides to build an army to fight against Grekkor, but all the local men are afraid to join. For her crusade of revenge, Elizabeth only counts with the support of three other women: Hunter and her bow and arrows; the prostitute Eve; and the gypsy Sybil and her powders and herbs. Later, the strong Luke also joins her desperate struggle against Grekkor.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 385
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA, Ireland, Lithuania
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, disturbing
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The Whale (2013)
Plot Summary:
Dramatic retelling of the fateful last voyage of the Nantucket whaleship Essex. When the Essex is attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in November 1820, her crew take to three fragile whalers. Alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the men must decide whether to head for the nearest islands - a thousand miles downwind to the west - or set out on an epic journey of almost three thousand miles to reach the South American mainland. Fear of cannibals forces them to choose South America. Almost three months later, the first whaler is rescued by another whaleship. Only three men are still alive. A week later the captain's whaler is also rescued, with just two men aboard. The third whaler is never found. This is a story of human endurance and what men in extremis will do to survive.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 531
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, suspense, scenic, intense, factual, realistic, stylized
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Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)
Plot Summary:
They're two best friends, a million miles from home. On an incredible adventure, beyond the boundaries of space and time. A fantasy about a lonely boy who is transferred from his dull life with his adoptive parents to the land where his real father is the king.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Sweden, Soviet Union, Norway
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: fairy tale, light, captivating, entertaining, exciting, cult classic, humorous, stylized, semi serious, crying
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Hornblower: Duty (2003)
Plot Summary:
The Hornblower series is based on C.S. Forester's classic maritime adventures - the story of one young man's struggle to become a leader of men. Set against the back drop of the 18th century Anglo-French wars, the bloodiest time in British naval history. Admiral Pellew interrupts Hornblower's wedding reception and tasks him to locate a British ship which has disappeared off the French coast, where Napoleon's troops are engaged in covert activities.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, feel good, period piece, realistic, period drama
Similar in 82%
Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999)
Plot Summary:
Horatio Homblower, now promoted to Acting Lieutenant, captures the French ship Le Reve off the Spanish coast. The Captain of the French ship is furious that such a youngster has pulled off such a coup. But far more daunting is Hornblower's first taste of the high life, when he is invited to dine with the Governor of Gibraltar and his wife. The prospect of this is frightening enough, but an unexpected guest, the glamorous Duchess of Wharfedale, adds another spin to his evening.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: feel good, period piece, exciting, serious, period drama
Similar in 79%
Horatio Hornblower: The Wrong War (1999)
Plot Summary:
The Hornblower series is based on C.S. Forester's classic maritime adventures - the story of one young man's struggle to become a leader of men. Set against the back drop of the 18th century Anglo-French wars, the bloodiest time in British naval history.Lt. Hornblower and his mates are sent to accompany a doomed royalist invasion of revolutionary France.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, War
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: feel good, period piece, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, period drama