The Missing

Year: 2003

Runtime: 137 min

Language: English

Director: Ron Howard

AdventureThrillerWestern

A determined mother, Maggie Gilkeson, undertakes a dangerous search through the wilderness to rescue her daughter, who has been abducted by a ruthless adversary possessing mystical abilities. She reluctantly joins forces with her estranged father, confronting both external threats and her own personal struggles along the way. This gripping adventure thriller explores themes of family, resilience, and the fight against overwhelming darkness.

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The Missing (2003) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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Set against the backdrop of New Mexico in 1885, The Missing presents a gripping tale of estrangement and family ties. The story centers around Maggie Gilkeson, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, a tenacious prairie doctor striving to provide for her two daughters in a harsh, unforgiving landscape. Her world is upended when her estranged father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, unexpectedly reappears after two decades of living among the Indians—a choice he made long ago that left his family behind.

“You have to reunite with your family to save your life,” warns the medicine man after a dangerous rattlesnake incident that forces him to confront his past. Despite his desperate attempts to reconnect, Maggie harbors intense resentment towards him and promptly casts him out from her home.

However, chaos ensues when Maggie’s eldest daughter, Lilly, expertly brought to life by Evan Rachel Wood, is kidnapped by a ruthless group of renegade Indians. This band has already captured several young girls to sell into prostitution in Mexico. With no assistance from the sheriff and her heart broken with despair, Maggie realizes that she must reluctantly join forces with the very man she despises—her father. Together, they embark on a harrowing journey into the wilderness, united by the desperate need to rescue Lilly and heal the wounds of their fractured family.

Last Updated: October 28, 2024 at 08:27

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Wilderness Rescue Movies like The Missing

Desperate journeys through unforgiving landscapes to save a loved one.If you liked the intense, desperate search in The Missing, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar wilderness thrillers and survival stories where characters undertake perilous rescue missions against a brutal natural backdrop.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a linear, goal-oriented quest structure. A protagonist, often a family member, is forced into a dangerous pursuit through a hostile environment to save someone from a dire threat. The journey is a physical and emotional trial, testing the limits of endurance and resolve.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared premise of a desperate rescue, the imposing wilderness setting that heightens tension, and the sustained high-stakes intensity that creates a gripping, harrowing viewing experience.

Gritty Family Westerns similar to The Missing

Frontier stories where personal trauma and family conflict collide with violence.For viewers who appreciated the heavy family drama and gritty Western setting of The Missing, this list recommends similar movies. Discover other tense frontier stories that explore themes of parental sacrifice, estrangement, and survival amidst harsh conditions.

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Narrative Summary

The narratives typically involve a fractured family unit forced to reunite by an external, often violent, threat. The frontier landscape is not just a backdrop but a catalyst for conflict, forcing characters to confront their past traumas and moral choices while battling for survival.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their fusion of the Western genre with profound family drama, a consistently gritty and somber mood, and themes of survival that are as much emotional as they are physical.

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Don't stop at just watching — explore The Missing in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Missing is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Missing Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Missing

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The Missing Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Missing

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