Ransom (1996)
78%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 5 nominations
Ransom is a film that is both thrilling and frustrating, with a plot that is as convoluted as it is entertaining. While the many climaxes and false endings keep the audience on the edge of their seats, the lack of smarts and predictability in the script leave something to be desired. However, the performances of Mel Gibson and Rene Russo, who put an edgy 1990s spin on the roles originally played by Glenn Ford and Donna Reed, are a highlight of the film. Director Ron Howard directs with speed and force, but the excessive violence and silly plot holes may leave some viewers with a flat soda taste in their mouths. Overall, Ransom is a riveting ride that is worth the watch for fans of the genre.
Ransom is like a rollercoaster ride with so many twists and turns that you’ll feel like you’re in a Swedish blue movie. Mel Gibson’s character sells the story well, but you might have to leave your intelligence at the door like a warm, flat soda. The action scenes are top-notch, but the plot holes and nonsensical moments might make you scratch your head. Overall, it’s a seriously stellar thriller that’s worth the riveting 121-minute ride. Just don’t forget to buckle up!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Home Video
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bergen County, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for graphic, bloody violence and strong language
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 8, 2006
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber, Brawley Nolte, directed by Ron Howard, written by Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, Richard Price, Alexander Ignon, produced by Brian Grazer, Kip Hagopian, Scott Rudin, Mystery & Thriller, R rating, box office gross $136.5M, budget, reviewed by Gene Siskel, Desson Thomson, Steven Rea, Jay Boyar, John Hartl, Joe Morgenstern, Sheila Reid, PJ Nabarro, Zaki Hasan, David Nusair, Stephen Hunter, David Sterritt
Worldwide gross: $309,492,681
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $590,742,764
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 229
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 64,421,239
US/Canada gross: $136,492,681
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $260,529,791
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 239
US/Canada opening weekend: $34,216,088
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $65,309,804
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 153
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $80,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $152,699,640
Production budget ranking: 213
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $82,228,756
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $355,814,367
ROI to date (est.): 151%
ROI ranking: 765
Rene Russo – Kate Mullen
Gary Sinise – Det. Jimmy Shaker
Delroy Lindo – Agent Lonnie Hawkins
Lili Taylor – Maris Conner
Liev Schreiber – Clark Barnes
Director(s)
Ron Howard
Writer(s)
Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, Richard Price, Alexander Ignon
Producer(s)
Brian Grazer, Kip Hagopian, Scott Rudin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (18)
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.
January 22, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 22, 2014
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 22, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
With a mechanical movie like this, filmmakers — male or female — can’t take chances. Howard and company are hostages to their own conception.
January 22, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Mel Gibson and Rene Russo put an edgy 1990s spin on the roles originally played by Glenn Ford and Donna Reed.
January 22, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
By the time Tom Mullen has turned into an action superhero in a clumsy climax, Ransom has run out of ideas, and we’ve lost track of what we felt about a father’s frantic efforts to save his son.
January 22, 2014
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The result is a riveting 121 minute ride.
May 16, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
The sheer plethora of silly plot holes and nonsensical moments does sort of ebb away at one’s suspension of disbelief.
October 29, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Ransom represents the rare breed of Hollywood thriller, combining crackerjack thrills with an intelligent, plausible, and dramatic script.
February 4, 2019 | Rating: A
Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner
A seriously stellar thriller…
November 23, 2017 | Rating: 4/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Howard directs for speed and force. The movie moves so quickly it yanks you by too many niggling doubts and the action scenes are so good that you wonder why Opie hasn’t shown this much vicious pizazz before.
January 22, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Stephen Hunter
Baltimore Sun
Ron Howard has directed the action smoothly and efficiently, but be warned that there’s a great deal of hard-hitting violence.
January 22, 2014
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor…
Plot
Tom Mullen is a millionaire, he built his fortune by working hard. Along the way he learned how to play the game. He has a great family. One day his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the ransom but decides to call in the FBI, who manages to go into his home secretly. When he goes to make the drop something goes wrong. The kidnapper calls him again and reschedules it. On the way Mullen decides not to go and appears on TV saying that the ransom he was going to give to the kidnapper is now a bounty on the kidnapper.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Gary Sinise’s performance as the villainous Jimmy Shaker is praised by critics as one of the highlights of the film.
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