Ransom (1996)

Multimillionaire, Tom Mullen, decides to take matters into his out hands, after his beloved son is kidnapped.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Cyril Hume (story), Richard Maibaum (story)

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Gary Sinise, Rene Russo

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

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.

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Plot Keywords:

ankle holster | ransom | bounty | millionaire | police corruption | 

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Taglines:

A Ron Howard film

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic, bloody violence and strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ransom

Filming Locations:

Bergen County, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,216,088, 10 November 1996

Gross USA:

$136,492,681

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$309,492,681

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Ransom Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 139 min (special edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (DuArt) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harrison Ford, Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid were considered for the role of Tom Mullen.

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Goofs

When Tom returns in his penthouse after the failed transfer of the ransom money, he hugs his wife. In 2 shots (alternated with Hawkins talking) Tom has his left AND right arm on his wife's back. The next shot (when you hear the other FBI-agent say "this is no high-tech mastermind") Tom has his left arm UNDER his wife's scarf. Next shot Tom's left arm is on the outside again.

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Quotes

Detective Jimmy Shaker: [beating Kate; whispering:] It's very simple.
[Kate moans from pain and through a choke-hold]
Detective Jimmy Shaker: I'm growing very, very tired of this bullshit.
Kate Mullen: Then could you...
[cut off by the choke-hold]
Detective Jimmy Shaker: It's up to you. Get him to take back the reward and pay me my money... or you're gonna find pieces of your little boy all over New York. I'm not gonna waste a bullet. I'm just gonna sharpen my knife.

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Crazy Credits

The opening Touchstone Pictures logo is in black and white.

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Alternate Versions

The laserdisc contains 18 minutes not seen in the theatres.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: Mac and Me (2018)

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Soundtracks

Squirrels
Written, Produced, and Performed by Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan appears courtesy Virgin Records USA

User Reviews

Great film.

Mel Gibson (Braveheart, Maverick) stars as the rich father of a kidnapped boy, played by Brawley Nolte (Nick Nolte's son). The kidnappers give a ransom of 2 million dollars. Rene Russo (Outbreak, Major League) plays his wife. Delroy Lindo (Clockers, Get Shorty) plays the head FBI agent on the case. Gary Sinise plays a New York cop. Gibson soon starts to doubt the chances of the ransom working, so he changes the ransom to a bounty on the kidnapper's head. The film is well-directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cocoon). The story line is gripping and well-written. Mel Gibson is excellent as the father. Rene Russo and Gary Sinise are good in their roles. Delroy Lindo delivers the best supporting performance, he plays the agent very convincingly. A suspenseful, entertaining, and overall great film. Rating R: (violence, language)