Netflix is preparing to launch its latest gripping true crime offering, a feature-length documentary focusing on one of America's most disturbing abduction cases. 'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart' will delve into the 2002 ordeal of a 14-year-old girl taken from her own bedroom, a case that held a nation in suspense for nine long months.
Release Date and Format
The wait for this harrowing documentary is nearly over. 'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart' will be available to stream globally on Netflix from Wednesday, 21 January 2026. Subscribers can expect a single, powerful documentary film rather than a multi-part series, meaning the entire story will be available to view in one sitting. The runtime is reported to be approximately ninety minutes, offering an in-depth look at the investigation and survival.
The Story of the Abduction
The documentary centres on the events of 5 June 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the dead of night, a man crept into the bedroom shared by 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart and her nine-year-old sister, Mary Katherine. The younger sister, who pretended to be asleep, was the sole witness. She later described the intruder's voice as 'familiar' but could not immediately place it.
Elizabeth was taken from her home, launching a massive, challenging manhunt. Her captor was later revealed to be Brian David Mitchell, a self-styled street preacher, who, with his wife Wanda Barzee, hid the teenager in a campsite in the nearby mountains. For nine months, Elizabeth was subjected to horrific conditions and psychological torment while authorities and her family desperately searched for her.
New Interviews and Never-Before-Seen Material
This Netflix special promises fresh insights into the well-known case. The official trailer, released in December 2025, features chilling recollections from Elizabeth's father, Ed Smart, and detectives who worked on the investigation with 'so little evidence to go on'.
Critically, the documentary will include a new interview with Elizabeth Smart herself, now an advocate for child safety. She confirms the film contains 'never-before-seen material', offering a profound perspective from the survivor. The trailer also highlights how Mary Katherine's memory eventually became the key to breaking the case, leading to Elizabeth's miraculous recovery on 12 March 2003.
As with its other successful true crime productions, Netflix is set to bring renewed attention to this story of trauma, resilience, and justice. 'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart' is poised to be a sobering yet essential watch for subscribers fascinated by real-life criminal investigations and human survival stories.
