Alpha Dog is a 2006 American crime drama film written and directed by Nick Cassavetes. It is based on the real-life kidnapping and murder of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000. The film stars Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Anton Yelchin, Ben Foster, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, and Sharon Stone.
The story is set in a Southern California suburb, where Johnny Truelove (played by Emile Hirsch), a young drug dealer and son of a fugitive crime boss, rules his neighborhood with an iron fist. When one of his clients, Jake Mazursky (played by Ben Foster), fails to pay for his drugs, Johnny and his crew kidnap Jake's teenage brother, Zack (played by Anton Yelchin), and hold him hostage.
As time passes, Zack develops a bond with his captors and becomes their party buddy. However, tensions rise between Johnny and his gang, particularly between him and his best friend, Frankie (played by Justin Timberlake). Meanwhile, Jake and his mother (played by Sharon Stone) turn to the police, but the investigation stalls due to lack of evidence.
As the days pass, Johnny realizes he cannot keep Zack forever, and he must make the difficult decision on what to do with him. The situation gets further complicated when a new member of Johnny's gang, Keith (played by Chris Marquette), decides to take matters into his own hands.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances of the cast, particularly that of Emile Hirsch and Justin Timberlake, while others criticized the film for glamorizing the real-life events. The movie performed moderately at the box office, grossing $32 million worldwide against a production budget of $15 million. Overall, Alpha Dog is a gripping crime drama that explores themes of power, loyalty, and regret.