24: Redemption is a 2008 American television film based on the series 24. Redemption takes place almost four years after the sixth season and two months before the seventh season in real time between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm (Sangala Time Zone) on Inauguration Day in the United States. The main setting is Sangala, a fictional African country, where ex-Counter Terrorist Unit Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) tries to find peace with himself, and works as a missionary with Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle), who built the Okavango school to aid war orphans. Bauer is served a subpoena to appear before the United States Senate regarding human rights violations, but refuses to go, and a shadow organization among the United States government aids General Benjamin Juma (Tony Todd) and his militia in a coup d'état. Juma's militia attempts to kidnap the children from the school and Jack has to decide whether or not to give himself up to American authorities in order to keep the children safe.

The film was written by executive producer Howard Gordon and was directed by Jon Cassar. The film's genesis originated with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which delayed the seventh season for a year thus leaving a gap in the series during 2008. It first aired on November 23, 2008, on Fox in the United States, and was released to DVD on November 25. Two versions of the film were released to DVD, the original broadcast version and an extended director's cut. The original airing was seen by just over 12 million Americans, and received widespread critical acclaim, and was praised for showing a more human side to Bauer. 24: Redemption was nominated for a Golden Globe as well as five Emmy Awards. The majority of Redemption was filmed on location outside Cape Town, South Africa since it was difficult to mimic authentic African scenery in America.

44 months after the events of Day Six, a young boy in the African nation of Sangala is kidnapped at night, indoctrinated, and drafted along with other boys into a rebel militia led by General Benjamin Juma (Tony Todd) so they could take part in a coup d'état, which is being funded by an American shadow organization led by Jonas Hodges (Jon Voight).

While ex-Counter Terrorist Unit Agent Jack Bauer performs missionary work at the Okavango school in Sangala owned by his old friend and fellow former CTU agent Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle), United States Embassy official Frank Trammel (Gil Bellows) serves him a subpoena to appear before the Senate regarding torture charges. Bauer refuses to go, but upon hearing the embassy will cut funding to Benton's school if it continues to protect him, he decides to leave.

Meanwhile, several children playing soccer are ambushed by Juma's rebel soldiers and kidnapped for conscription, and when two boys run away, the soldiers open fire, killing one. Benton learns that the rebels are planning to attack his school and calls Bauer, who hides the children in an underground shelter, and kills several rebels before getting captured and tortured. Benton is able to ambush the remaining soldiers, and Bauer kills the leader, Youssou Dubaku (Zolile Nokwe). His brother, Iké (Hakeem Kae-Kazim), hears of his death and plots revenge, while Bauer and Benton leave with the children to get to the American embassy in the capital before the final helicopter evacuates the country.

In Washington, D.C., stockbroker Chris Whitley (Kris Lemche) is ordered by the conspirators who fund Juma's militia to erase all information that would incriminate them, but instead, he calls his friend Roger Taylor (Eric Lively), the son of President Elect Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), for help. After Roger hears of the conspiracy, Whitley returns to his home to forward the files, only to be stopped by Hodges' men, Halcott and John Quinn (Sebastian Roché), who take the information, kill Whitley, and bury the body in concrete, staging his death as a suicide.

Benton, Bauer and the boys are spotted by Iké's helicopter. While they flee into the forest, Benton steps on a land mine, and with little time to disarm it, Benton urges Bauer to leave so he can buy time. When he is surrounded by Iké and his men, Benton takes his foot off the trigger and detonates the mine, killing himself and the rebels, though Iké survives. Bauer and the children continue to the capital, where he defeats another rebel ambush. At the gates of the embassy, Trammel denies the children's entry and political asylum due to their legal guardian, Benton, not being present, and blackmails Bauer into surrendering for the children's safety, and Bauer reluctantly accepts, thus sacrificing his freedom. While Taylor is inaugurated President, Bauer and the children evacuate, leaving chaotic Sangala behind.

While the majority of the characters are introduced, there are still a small number of original cast who appeared in the past, namely Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Jack Bauer and Bob Gunton, who plays Ethan Kanin from the sixth season and appears as the outgoing Secretary of Defense and new White House Chief of Staff. Powers Boothe continues to play Noah Daniels, the outgoing president. Peter MacNicol reprises his role as Tom Lennox from the sixth season also.