Ransom is a 1996 American action thriller film[5] directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Richard Price and Alexander Ignon.

The film stars Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor, Brawley Nolte, Liev Schreiber, Donnie Wahlberg and Evan Handler.

In 1956, it was adapted by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum into the feature film, Ransom!, starring Glenn Ford, Donna Reed, and Leslie Nielsen.

While millionaire airline magnate Tom Mullen and his wife Kate attend a science fair, their son Sean is kidnapped, having left their sight unexpectedly.

Sean is taken to an apartment by Maris Conner, a caterer working for the Mullens; brothers Clark and Cubby Barnes; and tech expert Miles Roberts.

Despite the kidnappers' instructions not to contact authorities, Tom calls the FBI, who operate from his New York City penthouse under Special Agent Lonnie Hawkins.

Shaker lures Kate to a meeting where he assaults her and presents Sean's blood-stained T-shirt as a warning to pay the ransom, but Tom responds by doubling the bounty to $4 million.

The website's consensus reads: "Directed with propulsive intensity by Ron Howard, Ransom is a fiery thriller packed with hot-blooded performances and jolting twists.

[8] Critic Roger Ebert gave the film three stars out of four and wrote, "Gibson gives an interesting performance, showing a man trying to think his way out of a crisis, and Sinise makes a good foil: Here are two smart men playing a game with deadly stakes.