Netflix has released a new true crime kidnapping movie, which has quickly become a streaming sensation within days of its release. Netflix’s true crime offerings include a number of documentaries and docuseries, covering everything from disappearances to murders. Their diverse offerings allow for highlighting a number of crimes, with one of their newest being about a decades-old kidnapping case.

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart focuses on the abduction of Elizabeth Smart when she was 14 years old. She was held captive for nine months before she was saved by police officers. Smart went on to become a correspondent for ABC News, while also having shared her story at various events and in multiple documentaries over the years.

Now, FlixPatrol reports that Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart has become a worldwide sensation on Netflix, just days after its January 21, 2026 release. As of January 23, 2026, the documentary film sits at Number 2 on the streaming service globally. It’s also Number 1 in 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and Norway.

The true crime documentary sees Smart tell her story from her perspective, featuring her as the most prominent interviewee throughout the film. The movie also uses previously unseen footage and information to bolster her story. The documentary emphasizes the horrifying circumstances she had to endure, and how lucky she was to have escaped with her life.

It’s one of multiple projects that have been made about her story. This includes the two-part 2017 documentary Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography, which also included ample testimony from her. In addition, there have been two made-for-TV film depictions of her kidnapping: CBS’ The Elizabeth Smart Story from 2003, and Lifetime’s I Am Elizabeth Smart from 2017.

Netflix’s rendition of analyzing Smart’s case from her perspective has earned decent reviews from viewers: the documentary holds a 6.7 out of 10 based on 760 reviews on IMDb. Based on these reviews, it makes sense as to how the film has made such a global impact so quickly. Many around the world are flocking to learn of Smart’s story, hearing from her perspective.

With true crime often a success for Netflix, it’s not surprising Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart has become such a global hit. It will likely remain this way for quite some time, barring takeover from other releases that have come over the last few days. For now, it seems Smart’s story now has a major global audience, learning of everything she endured.