Films about missing children often delve into the heart-wrenching and suspenseful narratives of families and communities searching for the truth. These films explore the emotional turmoil, the desperate search for answers, and the impact on those left behind. Here are some existing films about missing children:
“Prisoners”, 2013
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this intense thriller follows the story of two young girls who go missing in a suburban neighborhood. The film explores the lengths to which a father (played by Hugh Jackman) will go to find his daughter, even if it means crossing moral boundaries.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano, Dylan Minnette, Zoë Soul, Erin Gerasimovich, Kyla-Drew, Wayne Duvall, Len Cariou, David Dastmalchian, Brad James, Anthony Reynolds, Robert C. Treveiler, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Victoria Staley, Todd Truley, Brian Daye, Alisa Harris, Robert Mello, Jeff Pope, Roderick Goins, Mark Drum, Lana Yoo, Pamela Smith, Gloria Webber, Michelle Keller, John Atwood, Stacy Melich, J. Omar Castro, Jane McNeill, Chance Bartels, Vernon Beckstrom, Becky Boyd, Melvin Breedlove, Frederick Carpenter, Dennis Christopher, Takara Clark, Jason Davis, Katrina Despain, Faith Dillon, Andrew Fincher, John Fleischmann, Reeva Forrester, Micky Francis, Nyah Gantt, Mike Gassaway;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 153 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “Prisoners” on the website imdb.com
“Changeling”, 2008
Director: Clint Eastwood
Directed by Clint Eastwood, this period drama is based on the true story of a woman whose son goes missing. When the police return a boy to her claiming he is her son, she insists that they have the wrong child, leading to a harrowing battle against corruption and deceit.
Starring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Gattlin Griffith, Michael Kelly, Peter Gerety, Colm Feore, Jason Butler Harner, Amy Ryan, Denis O'Hare, Michelle Martin, Jan Devereaux, Erica Grant, Antonia Bennett, Kerri Randles, Frank Wood, Morgan Eastwood, Madison Hodges, Devin Conti, Ric Sarabia, J.P. Bumstead, Debra Christofferson, Russell Edge, Stephen W. Alvarez, Pete Rockwell, John Harrington Bland, Pamela Dunlap, Roger Hewlett, Jim Cantafio, Maria J. Rockwell, Wendy Worthington, Riki Lindhome, Dawn Flood, Dale Dickey, Eddie Alderson, Sterling Wolfe, Michael McCafferty, David Goldman, Anthony De Marco, Joshua Logan Moore, Joe Kaprielian, Muriel Minot, Kevin Glikmann, Drew Richards, Hope Shapiro, Caleb Campbell, Jeff Cockey, Zach Mills, Kelly Lynn Warren, Colby French;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 141 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Changeling” on the website imdb.com
“The Deep End of the Ocean”, 1999
Director: Ulu Grosbard
This film, directed by Ulu Grosbard, tells the story of a mother whose son goes missing and the impact it has on her family. As the years pass, they must navigate the emotional turmoil of loss and hope.
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Jackson, Cory Buck, Ryan Merriman, Alexa PenaVega, Michael McGrady, Brenda Strong, Michael McElroy, Tony Musante, Rose Gregorio, John Kapelos, Lucinda Jenney, John Roselius, K.K. Dodds, Joey Simmrin, Holly Towne, Olivia Summers, Susie Spear Purcell, Lisa Maris, Daniel Hagen, McNally Sagal, Robert Cicchini, Frank Marocco, Alison McMillan, Stephanie Feury, Wayne Duvall, Gerald McSorley, Mickey Swenson, Todd Jeffries, Steve Ireland, Scott W. McKinlay, Wylie Small, Ana Gabriel, Nancy Sullivan, Timothy Davis-Reed, Robert Clotworthy, Ken Magee, Van Epperson, Jennifer Reznikoff, Ron von Gober, Steve Blalock, Mike Watson, Robert «Bobby Z» Zajonc, Jim James, Emidio Antonio, Patricia M. Leahy, Pete Sutton, Joan M. Blair;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 106 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “The Deep End of the Ocean” on the website imdb.com
“Gone Baby Gone”, 2007
Director: Ben Affleck
Directed by Ben Affleck, this crime drama follows the investigation of a young girl's disappearance in a working-class Boston neighborhood. It delves into the moral dilemmas and ethical complexities of the search for a missing child.
Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, John Ashton, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver, Michael Kenneth Williams, Edi Gathegi, Mark Margolis, Madeline O'Brien, George Carroll, Trudi Goodman, Matthew Maher, Jill Quigg, Sean Malone, Brian Scannell, Jay Giannone, William Lee, William Marlowe, Daniel DeMiller Jr., Kenneth Butler Jr., Stephen Curran, Michael T. Blythe, Bob J. Leary, Mike Pusateri, Paul Sullivan, John McColgam, Nicholas Donovan, Joseph Thomas-O'Brien, Jimmy LeBlanc, Mary Bounphasaysonh, Fanshen Cox, Kippy Goldfarb, Elizabeth Duff, Catherine Callanan, Cameron Henry, Bobby Curcuro, Kevin Molis, Robert Wahlberg, Tom Kemp, Matt Podolske, Joseph Flaherty, Carla Antonino, Peg Holzemer, Chelsea Ladd, Josh Marchette, Tom McNeeley, Paul Horn;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 114 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Gone Baby Gone” on the website imdb.com
“Flightplan”, 2005
Director: Robert Schwentke
Directed by Robert Schwentke, this psychological thriller follows a woman who is convinced that her daughter has gone missing on a transatlantic flight. As she desperately searches for her child, she begins to question her own sanity and reality.
Starring: Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean, Kate Beahan, Michael Irby, Assaf Cohen, Erika Christensen, Shane Edelman, Mary Gallagher, Haley Ramm, Forrest Landis, Jana Kolesárová, Brent Sexton, Marlene Lawston, Judith Scott, John Benjamin Hickey, Matt Bomer, Gavin Grazer, Chris Gartin, Bess Wohl, Kirk B.R. Woller, Stephanie Faracy, Christian Berkel, Cooper Thornton, Klaus Schindler, Eva Plackner, Amanda Brooks, Jesse Burch, Greta Scacchi, Drake Johnston, Lois Hall, Dana Kristen Vahle, Agnes Albright, Tarek Antonio Alin, Job Alonso, Robert Amstler, Ina Barrón, Spencer Conner, Latricia Cruz, Jonn Faircrest, David Farkas, Kei Hirayama, Cathy Immordino, Andray Johnson, Luis Juarez, Erica LaRose, Tonje Larsgaard, Robert Mammana, Julie McKinnon, Hasan Ali Mete;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: thriller, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Flightplan” on the website imdb.com
These films about missing children capture the anguish, suspense, and emotional turmoil that accompany such tragic circumstances. Each film provides a unique perspective on the impact of a child's disappearance on those involved, making for compelling and often heart-rending storytelling.
In the realm of cinema, films about missing children have always held a unique power to captivate audiences and evoke a range of emotions. These films delve into the depths of parental anguish, the relentless pursuit of justice, and the resilience of the human spirit. From heart-wrenching dramas that tug at our heartstrings to gripping thrillers that keep us on the edge of our seats, these movies explore the complexities of loss, hope, and the unwavering determination to bring a child back home. Through their thought-provoking narratives and compelling performances, films about missing children serve as a poignant reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of never giving up, even in the face of unimaginable adversity.
