Prisoners (2013)
Kernel Score: 88% · 12,813 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: 2013-09-19
Runtime: 153 minutes
Is Prisoners worth watching?
Must-watch. A dark, slow-burning thriller about a father who takes the law into his own hands after his daughter vanishes. It is long and grim, but the performances and tension keep you hooked, and the moral questions linger.
Watch it if you
- like bleak, slow-burn thrillers
- enjoy moral dilemmas with no easy answers
- want strong lead performances
Skip it if you
- dislike stories about child abduction
- want something light or fast
Best for: Late-night solo watch
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Prisoners
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street.
Prisoners parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Prisoners is an intense thriller about a father's desperate search for his kidnapped daughter.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes kidnapping, vigilante violence, and brutality consistent with its R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Prisoners
If you liked Prisoners, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Memories of Murder (2003) — 89%: Bleak police thriller about a crime that haunts everyone.
- Gone Baby Gone (2007) — 82%: Child abduction mystery with moral grey areas.
- Incendies (2010) — 90%: Another Villeneuve film where a dark secret unfolds slowly.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: A classic serial-killer thriller with tension and menace.
- Changeling (2008) — 85%: Heavy true-story drama about a missing child.
Director
Cast
- Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover
- Jake Gyllenhaal as Detective Loki
- Viola Davis as Nancy Birch
- Maria Bello as Grace Dover
- Terrence Howard as Franklin Birch
- Melissa Leo as Holly Jones
- Paul Dano as Alex Jones
- Dylan Minnette as Ralph Dover
- Zoë Soul as Eliza Birch
- Erin Gerasimovich as Anna Dover
Prisoners FAQ
Is Prisoners worth watching?
Must-watch. A dark, slow-burning thriller about a father who takes the law into his own hands after his daughter vanishes. It is long and grim, but the performances and tension keep you hooked, and the moral questions linger.
Where can I watch Prisoners?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Prisoners OK for kids?
Prisoners is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Prisoners is an intense thriller about a father's desperate search for his kidnapped daughter.
What movies are like Prisoners?
If you liked Prisoners, try Memories of Murder, Gone Baby Gone, Incendies and The Silence of the Lambs.