Movieo
Poster for Ransom

Ransom

Someone is going to pay.

1996 · 2h 1m · R Action, Thriller
Directed by Ron Howard

Seen it?

Overview

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
75%
Tomatometer
Fresh

The special nature of this story is its many climaxes that border on false endings and also how Gibson's character responds to the ransom demand of $2 million.... it is Gibson who sells us on it and sells it well.

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
Rotten

There are more climaxes in here than in a Swedish blue movie. This is not to say you won't be thrilled, charged up and put through the ringer at times, but your intelligence will need to be shoved under your seat like warm, flat soda.

Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Rotten

That's interesting stuff, but it doesn't play out with a lot of smarts. And the opportunity to end Ransom on a creepy note of unpredictability is forsaken for the usual glass-shattering, bullets-flying finale.

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Rotten

With a mechanical movie like this, filmmakers -- male or female -- can't take chances. Howard and company are hostages to their own conception.

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh

Mel Gibson and Rene Russo put an edgy 1990s spin on the roles originally played by Glenn Ford and Donna Reed.

John Hartl, Seattle Times

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films