Missing person movies are a popular sub-genre in the mystery category, and understandably so. Because they provide viewers with an intense adrenaline rush and force them to put their thinking caps on, moviegoers frequently find themselves reaching for these films when they are up for a challenge and plan to see something that will keep them entertained throughout its entirety.
Those who enjoyed hits like Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick‘s Missing have plenty of similar films to choose from. Films such as Prisoners, All Good Things, and Gone Baby Gone are just a few flicks like Missing that every film fanatic should check out after seeing the film.
22
‘I See You’ (2019)
Directed by Adam Randall
Image Via Saban Films
I See You is a twisted missing persons film that is set in a small town where a 12-year-old boy goes missing, and local authorities believe his disappearance may be connected to another boy who went missing several months ago. The lead detective on the case, Greg Harper (Jon Tenney), relentlessly works the case while also trying to cope with marital issues at home with his wife, Jackie (Helen Hunt). As Harper tries to balance his job and personal life, the case takes an unexpected turn that points to a suspect close to home.
I See You is essentially a story within a story that leaves a subtle trail of clues throughout the film, leading audiences to a shocking revelation that will leave them jaw-dropped. Initially, several parts don’t really seem to add up, but as the film progresses, the pieces slowly start to come together, revealing a more complex, deranged missing persons case than anyone could have imagined.
I See You
Release Date
September 11, 2019
Runtime
98 minutes
Director
Adam Randall
21
‘Shutter Island’ (2010)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Image via Paramount Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S. marshal, Teddy Daniels, who travels to an insane asylum on a remote island where a patient has reportedly gone missing. While it looks as though the patient managed to escape from her locked cell, Daniels and his new partner (Mark Ruffalo) begin to uncover disturbing details and occurrences within the walls of the hospital.
Shutter Island is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and also stars Michelle Williams, Ben Kingsley, and Ted Levine. The film effectively lures audiences in with a tedious missing persons case, depicting an unwavering sense of suspense and unpredictability, making it a highly intriguing Scorsese film.
20
‘Breakdown’ (1997)
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Image via Paramount Pictures
While on a cross-country road trip, a married couple, Jeff (Kurt Russell) and Amy (Kathleen Quinlan), experience some car trouble and are stranded in New Mexico. Their luck changes when a passing truck driver offers to drive Amy to a nearby café where she can phone for help. While Amy accepts the ride, Jeff manages to fix their car, but when he arrives at the café, Amy is nowhere to be found.
Breakdown is a thrilling film that depicts almost everyone’s worst nightmare when traveling in unfamiliar territory. It also serves as a reminder that not every monster looks like the ones we imagined hiding under our beds as kids. Russell is a magnetic force in Breakdown, giving an action-packed performance in this highly underrated 90s thriller.
Breakdown
Release Date
May 2, 1997
Director
Jonathan Mostow
Actors
Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh, Kathleen Quinlan
Run Time
93 mins
Watch on Amazon Prime
19
‘Bunny Lake is Missing’ (1965)
Directed by Otto Preminger
Image via Columbia Pictures
Ann Lake (Carol Lynley) is a single mother who moves with her daughter, nicknamed Bunny, to London where her brother, Stephen (Keir Dullea) lives. When Lake leaves Bunny at a local nursery school, she returns to pick her daughter up and discovers she is missing, and the school seems to have no record of her ever being there. As Lake and her brother frantically try to seek help from the public, an investigator with Scotland Yard (Laurence Olivier) takes on the case and uncovers a few unsettling details surrounding Lake.
Bunny Lake is Missing is an exceptional psychological mystery thriller that toys with the audiences’ minds
Otto Preminger‘s Bunny Lake is Missing is an exceptional psychological mystery thriller that toys with the audiences’ minds with unexpected hints and clues that make the child’s disappearance not only questionable but also her entire existence. This particular mystery movie jumps right into the action and as the film plays on, audiences learn little by little about Lake and her missing daughter, forcing audiences to pay close attention to each detail, especially the minor ones.
Watch on Tubi
18
‘The Lovely Bones’ (2009)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Image via Paramount Pictures
When 14-year-old Susie Solomon (Saoirse Ronan) is brutally murdered by her neighbor (Stanley Tucci), she watches her family and friends from heaven as they mourn her disappearance but never gives up hope that they will find her. As Susie observes their daily lives, she struggles with not being able to exact her revenge or communicate with her family to help them find closure, but soon, her family and friends’ efforts lead them to the man who stole her from them.
The Lovely Bones is a unique missing persons movie based on the best-selling novel by the same name written by Alice Sebold. The story essentially unfolds in reverse and while audiences learn of Susie’s unfortunate fate and who is responsible, the mystery of where she is located is still a mystery to her family. As audiences view the events through Susie’s perspective, they find themselves in an unbearable situation, waiting with anticipation as the others slowly begin to piece the clues together.
17
‘What Lies Beneath’ (2000)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Image via DreamWorks Pictures
It has been a year since Claire’s (Michelle Pfeiffer) husband, Dr. Norman Spencer (Harrison Ford) cheated on her, but their marriage appears to be back on track, appearing like any normal, happily married couple. Claire’s bliss is soon interrupted when she starts to experience strange occurrences and hears voices, forcing her to believe that something or someone is trying to tell her something.
What Lies Beneath is a suspense-filled Hitchcockian thriller that centers around a wife trying to find out why her husband is secretly following a missing person’s case. With plenty of jump scares and a jaw-dropping revelation, Ford and Pfeiffer paint the ideal picture of a perfect married couple, giving top-notch performances in this horror mystery without revealing a shocking twist.
Watch on Fubo
16
‘Night Moves’ (1975)
Directed by Arthur Penn
Image via Warner Bros.
Gene Hackman stars as private eye Harry Moseby in Night Moves, where his character is hired by an aging B-movie movie star (Janet Ward) to find her daughter, Delly (Melanie Griffith), who has run away from home. His search eventually leads him to the Florida Keys, where he discovers that Delly is with her stepdad (John Crawford) and his girlfriend, Paula (Jennifer Warren), but as he gets closer to Delly and her situation, he realizes the case also involves a homicide.
Night Moves is a thrilling neo-noir that takes what seems to be an ordinary missing persons case that has a simple resolution only to reveal a much more devious, complex scenario with a major unexpected twist that will leave audiences jaw-dropped. Initially, Night Moves wasn’t a major success, but in recent years, it has gained immense support and is considered to be a cult classic. This top-tier missing persons film also stars James Woods, Kenneth Mars, and North by Northwest star, Edward Binns.
Rent on Amazon
15
‘Kiss the Girls’ (1997)
Directed by Gary Fleder
Image via Paramount Pictures
When a forensic psychologist, Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman), discovers his niece has been kidnapped, he offers his assistance to local detectives, who believe she has been taken by a serial killer known as Casanova. As Cross and the detectives work relentlessly to find Cross’ niece as well as several other missing women they believe have been taken by the deranged killer, one of his victims (Ashley Judd) manages to escape, becoming a crucial part of their investigation.
Kiss the Girls is a neo-noir psychological thriller based on the best-selling 1995 novel written by James Patterson and also stars Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, and Tony Goldwyn. The movie follows an intense breadcrumb trail that ends with a shell-shocking twist that is simply chilling to the core. Between the more than capable cast and Patterson’s unique take on a classic, terrifying serial killer, Kiss the Girls is an essential missing persons film that will keep you up at night.
14
‘Mississippi Burning’ (1988)
Directed by Alan Parker
Image via Orion Pictures
When a group of civil rights activists goes missing in a small Mississippi town, two FBI agents, Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman), are sent to investigate the disturbing disappearance. Once they arrive, they’re met with pushback by the local authorities who refuse to help or cooperate with their investigation, but with or without them, the federal agents are determined to find out what happened to the young activists and who is behind their senseless disappearance.
The Oscar-winning film Mississippi Burning is loosely based on the 1964 murders of three young activists, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. The film gives a raw, gritty portrayal of deep-seated racism as well as providing awareness to three young lives that were unfairly cut short, making it a crucial film that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. The slow-burn mystery movie received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture – it ended up winning the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
Watch on Tubi
13
‘The Girl on the Train’ (2016)
Directed by Tate Taylor
Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is a daily train commuter who soon becomes invested in a seemingly perfect couple, Scott and Megan, catching minor glimpses of them as she passes them by. When Watson witnesses a horrific event, she tells the authorities what she saw and, after learning that Megan has gone missing, she fears that the young woman may be dead. Unable to let the mystery go, Watson starts to conduct her own investigation, which soon turns into an unhealthy obsession that becomes a major concern for those around her.
The Girl on the Train is based on the 2015 novel by the same name written by Paula Hawkins and also stars Luke Evans, Lisa Kudrow, and Allison Janney. The film features unyielding suspense and intensity that effortlessly draw audiences into this intriguing mystery and leads them down a dark path full of unpredictable revelations and mind games that will have them questioning their own recollection of the events by the end credits. The Girl on the Train received mixed reviews, but audiences and film critics praised Blunt’s exceptional performance, which earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Rent on Apple TV
12
‘All Good Things’ (2010)
Directed by Andrew Jarecki
Image via Magnolia Pictures
David is the heir to a real-estate dynasty and has always lived in the shadow of his emotionally distant father. When he meets Katie, he thinks he has found his soulmate as she loves him for who he is and not his wealth. The two plan to get married and start a life together, but their happiness fades when David gives in to his father’s demands and starts to work for the family business.
All Good Things stars Ryan Gosling and is loosely based on real-estate tycoon, Robert Durst, who was the main suspect in his wife’s disappearance in 1982. Durst was a fan of the film and after refusing to talk to any reporters, he agreed to sit down with the film’s director, Andrew Jarecki for his miniseries, The Jinx. The documentary series led to Durst being arrested and convicted for the 2000 murder of his friend, Susan Berman.
11
‘Changeling’ (2008)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Image via Universal Pictures
Christine is a single mother living in Los Angeles who comes home one day to find that her son, Walter, is missing. Several months later, her prayers are answered when she learns that her son has been found but when she goes to meet him, she tells the police that the boy is not Walter.
Changeling is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Angelina Jolie along with John Malkovich and House of Cards star, Michael Kelly. The movie was inspired by the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, which involved the abduction and murder of young boys in California between 1926 and 1928. Changeling earned several Oscar nominations including Jolie for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
10
‘Lost Girls’ (2020)
Directed by Liz Garbus
Image via Netflix
When Mari’s daughter, Shannan, goes missing, she’s ignored by the police and decides to conduct her own investigation into her daughter’s disappearance. Her search leads her to a wealthy, gated community on the south shore of Long Island and ends up shedding light on other young women who have also disappeared from the area.
Lost Girls is an overlooked film about true crime based on the book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker which explores the unsolved murder cases of young women who are believed to have been victims of a suspect known as the Long Island serial killer. The movie features Amy Ryan along with Jojo Rabbit star, Thomasin McKenzie and Gabriel Byrne.
Watch on Netflix
9
‘Missing’ (2023)
Directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
When her mom vanishes while on vacation in Columbia with her new boyfriend, June tries to locate her but is blocked by international laws. She turns to the internet for help, but as she starts her search, she ends up having more questions than answers about her mom’s mysterious disappearance.
Missing stars Storm Reid, Ken Leung, and Nia Long, and is filmed using screen life or a computer screen as its primary form of storytelling similar to the popular techno horror movie, Unfriended. The movie’s written and directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson who announced in 2019 that Missing would be an anthology sequel to their 2018 movie, Searching.
8
‘Prisoners’ (2013)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Image via Warner Bros
Keller and Franklin end up living every parent’s worst nightmare when their daughters go missing while playing outside. When a suspect is questioned by police, they don’t have enough to charge him and let him go. Unconvinced of the suspect’s innocence, Keller decides to take matters into their own hands.
If you’re looking for movies like Missing on Netflix, Prisoners is a gripping and chilling thriller starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, and Paul Dano. The movie is an intense look into not only a parent’s immense grief but also the extreme lengths that they are willing to go to for their child. While Prisoners appears to be a basic missing persons movie, there’s an unexpected twist that turns the entire story upside down.
7
‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)
Directed by David Fincher
Image via 20th Century Studios
Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a fantastic exhibit of David Fincher‘s talents. The crime mystery drama follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist who attempts to find a woman missing for 40 years with the help of computer hacker Lisabeth Salander, who has a troubled.
Also based on a book of the same name (by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson), this edge-of-your-seat film is guaranteed to provide audiences with an unforgettable time. It is intense, thought-provoking, and sends out powerful messages on violence against women.
6
‘Searching’ (2018)
Directed by Aneesh Chaganty
Image via Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group
David has a strained relationship with his daughter, Margot who has always been responsible but when David can’t get in touch with her, he starts to panic and reports her missing. As police investigate Margot’s disappearance, David resorts to searching through her laptop hoping to find her by retracing her digital footprints.
Movies like Searching are often the most entertaining; this is another screen life mystery starring John Cho, Debra Messing, and Michelle La. Cho had originally turned the part down but after talking to Merrick and Johnson, he had a better understanding of their vision and obviously, changed his mind. According to the film’s commentary, Messing’s character, Rosemary Vic, is a homage to Rosemary’s Baby and Michael Chiklis‘ character, Vic Makey, from the television series The Shield.
5
‘Gone Baby Gone’ (2007)
Directed by Ben Affleck
Image via Miramax
Patrick’s a private eye who is hired to look into the missing person’s case of a 4-year-old named Amanda. As he starts his investigation, he thinks it’ll be an open-and-shut case but as he runs down leads, he learns that the little girl’s closer to home than he thought.
Gone Baby Gone stars Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris, and is based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. This kidnapping neo-noir film is set up as a classic child abduction case that at the same time, addresses the moral obligations of law enforcement as Affleck’s character follows the rules only to realize that the right choice isn’t always the best choice.
4
‘Winter’s Bone’ (2010)
Directed by Debra Granik
Image via Roadside Attractions
With an unresponsive mother and an outlaw for a father, Ozark teen, Ree must manage the household and care for her younger siblings. Ree is informed by the sheriff that her father put their house up as collateral for bond and has since disappeared. With the fate of her family in her hands, Ree risks her life and sets out to find her father and save their home.
Winter’s Bone is based on the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell and stars Jennifer Lawrence who received universal praise for her performance in this nail-biting thriller. Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout role earned the actress her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress as well as several other Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
3
‘Gone Girl’ (2014)
Directed by David Fincher
Image via 20th Century Studios
Based on the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl is a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller film directed by the gifted David Fincher. It illustrates a seemingly happy marriage’s wild turn of events: when the wife (Rosamund Pike) goes suddenly missing, and her disappearance becomes highly mediatic, everyone starts to suspect the husband (Ben Affleck).
No doubt, the atmospheric Gone Girl is one of the greatest and most memorable picks for those who enjoy the thrilling suspense of a missing person movie. Much like in many of his works, Fincher’s direction is masterful, making for a fantastic adaptation of an already absorbing book. Additionally, it features Oscar-worthy, remarkable performances from those involved, particularly Pike who earned a nod.
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