Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart

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Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart

2026

1h 31m

Documentary

Crime

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100%

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12 Reviews

80%

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50+ Ratings

In the early hours of June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, igniting one of the most intense and widely covered missing-person cases in American history. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a gripping documentary feature that takes viewers inside the real story — told in Elizabeth’s own words and through exclusive interviews with her family, investigators, and those closest to the case. Blending archival footage and never-before-seen material, the film traces the harrowing nine months of Elizabeth’s captivity at the hands of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. It explores the psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search for answers that recounts the indefatigable resolve to survive that kept Elizabeth alive, and her spirit strong — even 20 years later. The documentary not only revisits the events that shocked a nation but also spotlights Elizabeth’s journey of healing and her ongoing mission to inspire and protect others.

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Craig Mathieson

The Age (Australia)

2h

3.5/5

Benedict Sanderson’s feature-length report is conventionally structured, unfolding much how you would expect in this oversaturated genre. But in her interview, Smart speaks with remarkable clarity and emotional detail about what she experienced.

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Lucy Mangan

Guardian

Jan 21

3/5

It is striking and undeniably uplifting how firmly she explains herself, outlines her extraordinary suffering and the psychological effects of intense fear at the hands of a violent man, and puts the responsibility back on Mitchell.

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

Jan 21

Her resilience and frankly astonishing good humor come through as well. That her life since her ordeal has returned to normal — she’s now married, with children of her own — adds another dimension to her miracle.

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Jennifer Green

Common Sense Media

Jan 27

4/5

A gripping entry to the growing body of true crime documentaries, this film's firsthand testimonies, archive footage, and memorable recreations build a suspenseful tale.

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Barbara Ellen

Observer (UK)

Jan 26

This is a robust documentary... The miracle is not only that Elizabeth managed to survive her ordeal, but that she went on to become an impressive spokesperson for survivors of sexual violence.

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Jonathon Wilson

Ready Steady Cut

Jan 24

3.5/5

Her testimony is frank and unflinching, providing an intimate, deeply personal lens through which to view the heinous experiences she was subjected to.

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John H

@jfh1107 5h

An informative and gripping account of a bizarre kidnapping by a cult of two. It was very smart of the filmmakers to bring Elizabeth into the film in the last act rather than earlier. That she experienced all of this and is now a well-spoken advocate is also really impressive.

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marisol G.

@mxlaav 18h

the way she was able to explain herself in this documentary gave a lot of detail about her overall experience.

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Albert W

19h

Pretty good. Interesting. Enjoyed the documentary. 4 out of 5 stars.

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Marquis H.

@MWNumbers 1d

Well done, great interviews, but leaves a few questions unanswered.

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Irene C

@Mexico2023 1d

How could her parents be so stupid to invite strange, random and homeless men into their house with young daughters at the home? Why was the mother excluded from the big police welcome and being there to greet Elizabeth after being found? With all the searching in the mountains for months, how did the police not find the teepee and her? However, Elizabeth Smart herself showed bravery, honesty, integrity and hope in her experience and healing. She is an amazing woman and survivor.

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Drew M.

@Stonehands211 2d

Not the best directed or edited Netflix series but the story itself makes for a very worthy watch. Definitely not enough about the man’s wife or partner in crime.

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Benedict Sanderson

Director

Elizabeth Smart

Self

Claire Goodlass

Executive Producer

Morgan Matthews

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

In the early hours of June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, igniting one of the most intense and widely covered missing-person cases in American history. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a gripping documentary feature that takes viewers inside the real story — told in Elizabeth’s own words and through exclusive interviews with her family, investigators, and those closest to the case. Blending archival footage and never-before-seen material, the film traces the harrowing nine months of Elizabeth’s captivity at the hands of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. It explores the psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search for answers that recounts the indefatigable resolve to survive that kept Elizabeth alive, and her spirit strong — even 20 years later. The documentary not only revisits the events that shocked a nation but also spotlights Elizabeth’s journey of healing and her ongoing mission to inspire and protect others.

Director: Benedict Sanderson
Distributor: Netflix
Genre: Documentary, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2026
Runtime: 1h 31m

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