BET+ has been at the forefront in churning out amazing low-budget scripted and real-life content lately, and one of its more fascinating recent projects is The Missing. In it, a pregnant woman manages to flee her abusive husband, only for her child to disappear a year later under mysterious circumstances. She thus does her best to uncover the mystery.

For those who’ve already watched The Missing and looking for more, there’s plenty of similar TV content to check out. These mostly involve mysterious and seemingly unsolvable abduction cases involving both children and adults.

Big Sky (2020 - )

Stream On Hulu

Based on The Highway series of novels by C. J. Box, the show revolves around disappearances in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. At the center of the events are an ex-cop and a private detective trying to solve the crimes.

There are many reasons to love Big Sky, as it not only has one of the best TV show pilots but also a cast that’s packed with big names such as Jensen Ackles and Katheryn Winnick. The show also has many intriguing subplots and instead of dragging out specific cases, the show has them solved in a couple of episodes before then moving on to fresh ones.

Cruel Summer (2021 - )

Stream On Hulu

After a popular teenage girl goes missing in Skylin, Texas, another takes over her life. Events alternate between the viewpoints of both girls.

Cruel Summer overflows with different events that might have been otherwise hard to follow, but the convincing twists and turns make a viewer unwilling to stop watching. The young stars give inspiring performances too. And the fact that it’s the most-watched series on Freeform says a lot about its overall quality.

Save Me (2018 - 2022)

Stream On Prime Video

A London womanizer is forced to act when a child he fathered 13 years earlier goes missing. And the challenges he faces while trying to get behind the crime almost cause him to lose his sanity.

Viewers will appreciate how this miniseries carefully analyzes sensitive themes like pedophilia, drug use, and sex work. Above all, the most satisfying thing is the redemption storyline. Watching a man who was previously an absent father grow to be a hero for his daughter is as heartwarming as it is applause-worthy.

Express (2022 - )

Stream On FuboTV

After surviving an express kidnapping, a criminal psychologist vows to stop such crimes, so she forms a special team.

Easily one of the best Spanish TV shows, Express brilliantly blends tension and comedy. And since express kidnappings are generally brief, the show gets to have numerous villains in such a short span of time, each with their own interesting personalities. Moreover, the chatty protagonist is very likable too.

Suspicion (2022)

Stream On Apple TV+

Four British citizens are accused of kidnapping an American tycoon’s son. Not willing to go down for the crime, they work hard to prove their innocence.

While the fast-paced nature of the series is its greatest strength, it also shines by providing commentary on social media and modern-day espionage. The dialogue is well-written too, leaving some quotes playing in the minds of viewers long after the final episode. The presence of one of the best ‘90s actresses, Uma Thurman, in a supporting role, is also a welcome bonus.

The Missing (2014 - 2016)

Stream On BBC iPlayer & Prime Video

Apart from the BET+ project, there exists a similarly titled BBC drama with a similar plot too. Each season focuses on different missing children.

Apart from the emotional bulkiness and the never-ending mayhem, the series largely benefits from the fact that it has one of the most skilled TV detectives, the no-nonsense, Julien Baptiste. It's thus no surprise that the character was granted his own spinoff. The accolades are proof of its brilliance too, notably the Emmy for “Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special.”

Kidnap And Ransom (2010 - 2012)

Stream On Tubi

Dominic King, a renowned hostage negotiator, has to work hard to solve kidnapping cases before it’s too late. While at it, he is forced to get his hands dirty.

This show’s addictive nature is all down to a solid script, which is penned by Patrick Harbinson (known for 24 and Law & Order). There are no generic kidnap villains either, Instead, there’s a very formidable one played by John Hannah, best known for his role as one of the most intriguing Spartacus characters, Quintus Batiatus. At only six episodes long, the series is also perfect for a quick binge.

Crisis (2014)

Stream On Prime Video

Students of a school attended by children of Washington’s elite get kidnapped during a school trip. With the President’s son among them, a newly recruited Secret Service agent steps up and works hard to save the boy.

Crisis also has an incredible pilot that forces viewers to invest in the show. From there on it's all mayhem, as major players such as the CIA director and a Silicon Valley CEO are pulled into the events. Regrettably, the show only has one season.

Thirteen (2016)

Stream On Prime Video

A 26-yeard-old woman escapes after being held captive for 13 years. But there’s a twist, as the police realize she’s keeping secrets.

Shows inspired by real-life events never struggle when it comes to serving an intriguing plot and such is the case with Thirteen, Inspired by the story of Jaycee Dugard, who spent 18 years in isolation after being kidnapped, the British thriller creates a perfect balance between borrowing from real-life and infusing fiction. And it’s not all gloom, as several love stories are interwoven into the plot too.

A Friend Of The Family (2022)

Stream On Peacock

Based on real-life events, the miniseries tells the story of a family whose daughter was kidnapped by one of their friends multiple times. Eventually, the kidnapper managed to turn the daughter against the family.

The events are so wild that they are hard to believe, but they are real. A strong performance from Anna Paquin makes the show unforgettable, and at the end of it all, several lessons are learned, with the most important one being that those who seem the most harmless can sometimes be the biggest threat.

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