What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson · Book · 1980
If you loved Kidnapped, start with Kidnapped (Marco Bellocchio, 2023) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kidnapped across media.
What hooked you in Kidnapped was the way an innocent life is upended by a treacherous betrayal and a desperate quest for survival.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Kidnapped
Marco Bellocchio · Film · 2023
Films on the same thread
The Kid
Film · 1921
Explores: Paternal bond, Poverty, Social inequality.
Like David Balfour in Kidnapped, the young boy in this film must navigate a world defined by poverty and abandonment, relying on an unlikely paternal bond to survive his circumstances.
The Lion King
Film · 1994
Shares a thread with Kidnapped: Coming of age.
This story mirrors the betrayal found in Kidnapped, as a young protagonist must overcome a villainous uncle's scheme to steal his inheritance and reclaim his rightful place in the world.
Ransom
Ron Howard · Film · 1996
Explores: Parental Desperation, Vigilante Justice, Moral Ambiguity.
The intense desperation of a father fighting to retrieve his kidnapped son echoes the harrowing struggle for justice and survival that defines the central conflict of Kidnapped.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Peter Jackson · Film · 2001
Shares a thread with Kidnapped: Friendship.
Much like the inheritance issues David faces in Kidnapped, Frodo is thrust into a dangerous journey after inheriting a powerful object from his uncle that changes his life forever.
Series on the same thread
Black Sails
Robert Levine · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Kidnapped: Survival, Historical Adventure.
If the nautical adventure and survival themes of Kidnapped resonated with you, this series offers a gritty, immersive look at the dangerous power struggles inherent in pirate life.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Kidnapped: Friendship.
The sudden disappearance of a young boy drives this mystery, capturing the same sense of isolation and high-stakes survival that young David Balfour experiences throughout the pages of Kidnapped.
The Fugitive
Roy Huggins · Series · 1963
Explores: Manhunt, Injustice, False Accusation.
The protagonist of this series shares the wrongful accusation struggle of David Balfour in Kidnapped, forced to flee and search for the truth while being pursued by his enemies.
I Know My First Name Is Steven
Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Kidnapped: Survival.
This true crime drama explores the harrowing reality of abduction and the long-term survival of a boy stolen from his family, reflecting the kidnapping trauma depicted in Kidnapped.
Podcasts on the same thread
Acquired
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal · Podcast · 2026
Explores: entrepreneurial growth, market disruption, strategic decision-making.
If Kidnapped hit, Acquired shares the thread.
Ebook Intruder
Podcast
Explores: Literary Adaptations, Storytelling, Narrative Audio.
If Kidnapped hit, Ebook Intruder shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kidnapped based on a true story?
Kidnapped is a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1880. It follows the fictional story of David Balfour, an orphan who is cheated out of his inheritance by his uncle and sold into slavery after being kidnapped.
Should I watch the 2023 movie before reading Kidnapped?
You can choose to watch the 2023 movie adaptation or read the original book first. Both versions follow the narrative of David Balfour, whose uncle schemes to have him kidnapped and sold into slavery to steal his rightful inheritance.
What happens to David Balfour in Kidnapped?
In Kidnapped, David Balfour is an orphan whose uncle attempts to steal his inheritance. The uncle schemes to have David kidnapped and shanghaied, eventually resulting in the boy being sold into slavery.
How long is the story of Kidnapped?
The length of the story of Kidnapped depends on the format. The 1880 book by Robert Louis Stevenson details the struggle of David Balfour against his uncle, while the 2023 movie adaptation provides a visual interpretation of the same plot involving his kidnapping and forced slavery.