Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart to Debut on Netflix January 21

Netflix has revealed the official trailer and premiere date for Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, which Benedict Sanderson directed. The documentary film will premiere globally on the streaming service on January 21, 2026.

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.

The film explores the psychological and emotional toll on Elizabeth and her family, the relentless media attention, and the community’s tireless search for answers, recounting the indefatigable resolve to survive that kept Elizabeth alive and her spirit strong — even 20 years later.

The Minnow Films 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. The executive producers include Claire Goodlass, Sophie Jones, and Morgan Matthews. Gabby Alexander is the producer.

“After I was rescued, when I first got home, I did not want to talk about what happened with anyone. And when the trial finally happened, I remember sitting up on the stand, giving these answers, and feeling like there was no context around them,” said Elizabeth Smart in a statement provided by Netflix.

“I remember thinking that if all of this was going to be out there anyway, I wanted it to have some meaning, and for it to serve a purpose. I wanted to have some ownership over my story. That helped me decide to share it.”

Smart added, “There will be victims and survivors who watch this, and hope they realize they’re not alone, and that they don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to them. And I hope that people who watch this can gain compassion and understanding for other families who are going through this.

“I also hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings — and that even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life.”