Overview

• iHostage, released on April 18, 2025, has become a global sensation, ranking #1 in 80 countries and charting in 92 overall as of April 21.
• The film is based on the 2022 Amsterdam Apple Store hostage crisis, where gunman Abdel Rahman Akkad demanded €200 million in cryptocurrency during a five-hour standoff.
• While the movie retains core facts like the setting, ransom demand, and resolution, it introduces fictionalized characters and dialogue for dramatic depth.
• Director Bobby Boermans consulted police negotiators, store staff, and survivors to ground the film in reality while exploring psychological tension.
• Despite its streaming success, critical reception has been mixed, with some praising its realism and others critiquing its execution.