Not Without My Daughter

Not Without My Daughter is a drama about Betty Mahmoody, an American woman living in Michigan with her Iranian-born husband Moody and their young daughter Mahtob. When Moody insists the family travel to Tehran to visit his relatives, Betty agrees despite her misgivings about the political climate there. Once they arrive, Moody changes: he re-embraces the strict religious life he had left behind and tells Betty he will not allow her or their daughter to return to the United States. Trapped in a hostile household and expected to follow unfamiliar customs, Betty must find a way to escape the country with Mahtob. The film is based on Betty Mahmoody's account of her own experience.

Brian Gilbert directed, following his 1988 feature Vice Versa, with a screenplay by David W. Rintels. Sally Field plays Betty, Alfred Molina plays Moody, and Sheila Rosenthal plays Mahtob, among a credited cast of 28. The film runs 116 minutes.

Released in January 1991, the film earned about 15 million dollars worldwide, a modest figure for a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Pathé Entertainment production. On IMDb it holds a 6.4 out of 10 from more than 14,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.9 from a few hundred. A critics' rating of 5.3 from 17 reviews places professional response below the broader audience scores.