6 Must-Watch Movies That Romanticise Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response in which a victim develops a sympathetic connection to their captor or abuser. This syndrome is basically a feeling where someone starts to care for or defend the person who is hurting them. According to the Cleveland Clinic, many medical professionals consider the victim’s positive feelings toward their abuser a psychological response, a coping mechanism, that they use to survive the days, weeks, or even years of trauma or abuse.

The term originated in 1973 in Sweden's capital, Stockholm, where two men held four bank employees hostage for almost six days following a bank robbery. After their release, the hostages defended their captors and refused to testify against them. Since then, Bollywood and Hollywood have used this phenomenon as a hook for audiences in several movies. Viewers often find it exciting and romantic when a kidnapped girl falls in love with her abductor, leaving a sense of curiosity until the very end.

Also Read: Kim Kardashian Admits Having Stockholm Syndrome With Ex-Husband Kanye West: Tips To Recognise Symptoms in Toxic Relationships

Movies That Romanticise the Stockholm Syndrome Theme

Filmmakers have been using this plot for years, and if this interests you, here are some movies based on the theme of Stockholm syndrome:

1: Highway (2014)

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, with Alia Bhatt (Veera) and Randeep Hooda (Mahabir) in the lead roles, Highway touched the audience's hearts for many reasons. The film weaves around Veera getting kidnapped and feeling safer with her kidnapper, Mahabir, than she did at home. Mahabir continually changes his location from the plains of North India to the beautiful landscapes of Himachal Pradesh,to avoid the police. This journey eventually leads Veera to see the world from an internal to an external perspective. In the end, she falls in love with Mahabir and even wishes to spend her life with him in the mountains.

2: Raavan (2010)

Directed by Mani Ratnam, Raavan took the film audience by storm, featuring Abhishek Bachchan (Beera) and Aishwarya Rai (Ragini Sharma) in the lead roles. In this action-thriller, Beera, a low-caste tribal leader, kidnaps Ragini Sharma, who is the wife of a Superintendent of Police (SP). Over time, when Ragini learns Beera's side of the story, she develops a soft corner for him, eventually falling in love and trying to protect him from the police.

3: Beauty and The Beast (1991/Adaptations)

Beauty and the Beast is a classic fairy tale about a young woman who falls in love with a monster (voiced by Robby Benson in the original animated version) who has imprisoned her to break his curse of being a monster. This intriguing tale has been adapted into several story forms, including the iconic film featuring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. This Disney tale endures as a prime example of the Stockholm syndrome subgenre and has been loved by audiences all over the world.

Also Read: The Psychology Behind Stockholm Syndrome: Insights From An Expert

4: 365 Days (2020)

Based on a novel trilogy by Blanka Lipinska, this Polish erotic thriller, directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, is widely considered to feature the theme of Stockholm syndrome. The plot follows a young woman named Laura (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who falls in love with Massimo (Michele Morrone), who imprisons her for 365 days with the expectation that she will fall in love with him during that time.

5: Kidnap (2008)

Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi, this action-thriller weaves around the same plot of a victim falling in love with their kidnapper. Led by Imran Khan (Kabir Sharma) and Minissha Lamba (Sonia Raina), the movie's plot is based in New York. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Malvade and shows how twists and turns lead to romance.

6: Out of Sight (1998)

Directed by three times Oscar awardee Steven Soderbergh, Out of Sight, tells the story of a bank robber named Jack Foley (George Clooney) who kidnaps a U.S. Marshal named Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) during a prison transport. The story, based on an iconic novel of the same name written by Elmore Leonard in 1996, combines action, romance, and drama, keeping the audience intrigued and hooked till the end.