Critic Reviews

Ransom (1996) Movie Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Ransom (1996) a score of 2.8302 out of 4

based on (110) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(13)

Very Good

(79)

Good

(15)

Fair

(3)

Poor

(0)

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Reviews by Score:

See all (13) "Excellent" Reviews

The New York Times (Janet Maslin)

Mr. Howard has made Ransom in the same clean, swift, logical style that sent his "Apollo 13" into orbit, resulting in a spellbinding crime tale that delivers surprises right down to the wire....read the complete Ransom (1996) review at The New York Times (Janet Maslin)

See all (79) "Very Good" Reviews

Time (Richard Schickel)

Its major sin--a certain ineluctable improbability--is pretty much offset by the moments of winsome humanity Gibson finds for his freebooter; by the rich, nicely tuned portrayals of the other actors; and by director Ron Howard's smoothly professional...read the complete Ransom (1996) review at Time (Richard Schickel)

See all (15) "Good" Reviews

Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)

A persuasive thriller for most of its length, it stumbles in its attempt to become an upscale version of "Death Wish" and other vigilante dramas and ends up derailing with a soft thud....read the complete Ransom (1996) review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)

See all (3) "Fair" Reviews

San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)

Beneath the handsome production values, the steady motor of Ron Howard's direction and the solid acting of Mel Gibson as a flashy airline tycoon whose son is abducted in Central Park, Ransom is pure poison: the kind of hang-'em-high rouser that feeds off...read the complete Ransom (1996) review at San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)