Ransom

Plot

When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals.

Release Year: 1996

Rating: 6.6/10 (50,791 voted)

Critic's Score: 60/100

Director:
Ron Howard

Stars: Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Rene Russo

Storyline
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.

Writers: Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum

Cast:

Mel Gibson
–

Tom Mullen

Rene Russo
–

Kate Mullen

Brawley Nolte
–

Sean Mullen

Gary Sinise
–

Det. Jimmy Shaker

Delroy Lindo
–

Agent Lonnie Hawkins

Lili Taylor
–

Maris Conner

Liev Schreiber
–

Clark Barnes

Donnie Wahlberg
–

Cubby Barnes

Evan Handler
–

Miles Roberts

Nancy Ticotin
–

Agent Kimba Welch

Michael Gaston
–

Agent Jack Sickler

Kevin Neil McCready
–

Agent Paul Rhodes

Paul Guilfoyle
–

Wallace

Allen Bernstein
–

Bob Stone

José Zúñiga
–

David Torres

(as Jose Zuniga)

Taglines:
Someone is going to pay.

Release Date: 8 November 1996

Filming Locations: Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $80,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $34,216,088
(USA)
(10 November 1996)
(2676 Screens)

Gross: $136,448,821
(USA)
(13 April 1997)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min
 |
USA: 139 min
(laserdisc)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Production was delayed a few days when Mel Gibson needed an emergency appendectomy.

Goofs:

Errors in geography:
If you study a Bergen County, NJ map, you would notice that Route 4 does not have any major connecting highway to the tunnels to New York. Route 4 was flashed briefly has he exited to Saddle River Road. The quarry is on the Southnound side of I-287, near Wayne, NJ. Mel's character uses Route 4, which only leads to the George Washington Bridge.

Quotes:

Tom Mullen:
[to Cubby who's]
What is it? Come on, what is it? A name. I swear if you tell me, I'll make sure you get the best funeral there is.

User Review

Fasten your seat belts!

Rating: 8/10

This is definitely one of those films that grabs a hold of
you
and does not seem to want to let go.Ron Howard's excellent
direction and Mel Gibson giving perhaps the performance of
his
career make this film worth seeing.Those of us who have
children,
although many of us may not have the courage to push the
limits
as Gibson's character did here,may appreciate this movie more
so
than those who do not.In fact,I might have been more reserved
and
cautious,even though I love my son just as much.This is a
definite
thrill ride from start to finish,and if you have a strong
enough
heart to handle it,then this film is definitely for you.