Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping true crime docu with violence, graphic details.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
KIDNAPPED: ELIZABETH SMART tells the story of how Smart was abducted at the age of 14 from her own bedroom, and then held captive by a couple in the woods. The male of the couple had delusions of himself as a sort of prophet and sexually abused her daily. The film interviews key players in the story, from Smart and her family, including her father, uncle, and younger sister, who heard the suspect's voice in their shared bedroom and ultimately helped identify him. Police officials and reporters who worked on or covered the widely publicized case are also interviewed, while home videos and photographs, as well as police recordings and reenactments, help piece together past events.
Is It Any Good?
A gripping entry to the growing body of true crime documentaries, this film's firsthand testimonies, archive footage, and memorable re-creations build a suspenseful tale. The well-known case is meticulously pieced together in Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart. The filmmakers make an astute decision to dangle Elizabeth as a witness at the start but push her first-person account to start around midway into the film. It builds tension and gives viewers enough information to make them anticipate her account with an added chill.
The final sequences of the film provide an especially satisfying closure as we see Elizabeth jogging to the top of a hill while we hear her, in voice-over, talk about realizing her own inner strength and overcoming shame and negative self-talk to help other survivors. After the 90-minute deep-dive into her (and her family's) horrific ordeal, it's a rewarding and uplifting closure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Elizabeth says she wanted to recount her story in Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, and why she speaks publicly about it. Some of her family members didn't want to participate in the film. What do you think of their various personal decisions?
How did each of the members of the Smart family profiled in this film demonstrate perseverance during the long ordeal of Elizabeth's kidnapping? How did Elizabeth show courage?
What did you think of the way this film was constructed? How did the filmmakers build suspense with a combination of interviews, footage, reenactments, firsthand testimonies, and music? If you already knew the details of the case, did you still find the film suspenseful? Why, or why not?
How does this documentary compare to other true crime stories you've seen or heard?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 21, 2026
- Cast : Elizabeth Smart , Mary Katherine Smart , Ed Smart
- Director : Benedict Sanderson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , Faith , Family Stories , History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 5, 2026
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