Captive

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2:24

Captive

PG-13

2015

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt after breaking out of a courthouse jail and killing four people. His frantic escape brings him to the apartment of Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a single mother and recovering methamphetamine addict. Held hostage by Nichols in her own home, the scared woman looks for guidance from "The Purpose Driven Life," Rick Warren's best-selling, inspirational book. As she reads aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer come to a crossroad.

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Critics Consensus

Captive undermines committed performances from Kate Mara and David Oyelowo -- and the real-life story they're dramatizing -- with a thin script doubling as an ad for a self-help book.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Mar 2, 2016

2/5

Captive is TV veteran Jerry Jameson's first theatrical feature since Airport '77. That's by far the most interesting thing about it.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Sep 27, 2015

2/5

Committed performances from the two leads provide ballast, although the inevitable Oprah coda feels a little too much like a sales pitch.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Sep 25, 2015

There is a moral somewhere in Captive but it is hard to work out what it is.

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James Clay

Fresh Fiction

Dec 14, 2018

B-

CAPTIVE won't dazzle you in the way the masters of mystery will, but the uncannily consistent work from Oyelowo and its positive outlook will indeed keep you captivated.

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Alison Rowat

The Herald (Scotland)

Aug 23, 2018

2/5

An odd, and not in a good way, preachy piece.

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Mae Abdulbaki

Punch Drunk Critics

Aug 14, 2018

3/5

The film is underwhelming but does carry strong performances.

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Robert P

@Superbad Nov 1, 2026

Captive is a *2* star Movie so why are some people giving this a *5* star rating???

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Sep 1, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $2,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kirsten W

@kirght Aug 16, 2024

I thought this movie was pretty great. I would give it an 80%. More star power may have helped it but the acting was great.

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Alexandra H

@RT99463632 May 16, 2024

Acting is terrific! Story is engaging and seemed realistic to me. I don't usually watch movies with violence, but the real subject of this movie was interpersonal relationships. There's a focus on God towards the end, but people who say this is a "Christian movie" are assuming that if you mention God, it's the God of Christianity. Of course, large numbers of people have a relationship with God but are not Christian.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Oct 28, 2023

Too obsessed with moralizing to take advantage of its strong leads.

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Apr 19, 2020

This was great movie.

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Jerry Jameson

Director

David Oyelowo

Brian Nichols

Kate Mara

Ashley Smith

Michael Kenneth Williams

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Leonor Varela

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Captive: Trailer 1

2:24

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Synopsis

Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) becomes the subject of a citywide manhunt after breaking out of a courthouse jail and killing four people. His frantic escape brings him to the apartment of Ashley Smith (Kate Mara), a single mother and recovering methamphetamine addict. Held hostage by Nichols in her own home, the scared woman looks for guidance from "The Purpose Driven Life," Rick Warren's best-selling, inspirational book. As she reads aloud, Ashley and her would-be killer come to a crossroad.

Director: Jerry Jameson
Producer: Terry Botwick, Jerry Jameson, Lucas Akoskin, Alex Garcia, Katrina Wolfe, David Oyelowo, Ken Wales
Screenwriter: Brian Bird
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Yoruba Saxon, BN Films, 1019 Entertainment, Brightside Entertainment, Itaca Films
Rating: PG-13 (Substance Abuse|Mature Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.6M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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