Starting August 1, Liam Neeson’s 2008 action thriller Taken will be available for streaming on Hulu, offering fans the chance to experience the film that propelled Neeson into the spotlight as an action star. This French-produced film, penned by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel, follows the harrowing rescue mission of a father fighting to save his kidnapped daughter overseas.
The Story Behind Bryan Mills’ Relentless Pursuit
In Taken, Neeson portrays Bryan Mills, a retired government operative whose life takes a terrifying turn when his teenage daughter Kim is abducted shortly after arriving in Paris for a vacation. Despite his retirement, Mills must call upon his elite spy training and formidable skills to track down the human traffickers responsible and dismantle the sinister network behind the abduction. The film’s intense plot clocks Bryan as a man racing against time to save his daughter from a brutal gang.
“Bryan Mills, a former government operative, is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter Kim. After reluctantly agreeing with his ex-wife to let Kim go to Paris on vacation with a friend, his worst nightmare comes true. While on the phone with his daughter shortly after she arrives in Paris, she and her friend are abducted by a gang of human traffickers. Working against the clock, Bryan relies on his extensive training and skills to track down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launch a one-man war to rescue his daughter.”
—Letterboxd synopsis
How Taken Redefined Liam Neeson’s Career and Action Cinema
When Taken premiered in 2008, Liam Neeson was known primarily for dramatic and grounded roles, including his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List. Although he had appeared in major franchises as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars and Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins, Neeson was not widely regarded as an action hero. The release of Taken dramatically changed this perception, marking the debut of his career as a leading action star and spawning a new cinematic subgenre centered on relentless, skilled vigilantes.
The film’s success led to two sequels, with Neeson reprising Bryan Mills in Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014), further cementing his place in the action world. Alongside these, Neeson embraced other roles in thrillers such as The Grey, Non-Stop, Run All Night, and The Commuter, showcasing his versatility but always returning to his tough, determined persona. His recent projects, including The Ice Road, Retribution, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and Absolution, underscore his sustained presence as a credible action star.
Box Office Triumph Despite Mixed Critical Response
Taken was a major commercial success, earning more than $226 million globally against a modest production cost of $25 million. While critics offered mixed reviews, awarding it a 60% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences embraced the film enthusiastically, reflected by its strong 85% rating. Among the trilogy, the original Taken remains the highest regarded, largely due to its gripping storyline and Neeson’s compelling performance as Bryan Mills.
The Impact and Enduring Appeal of Taken
The release of Taken on Hulu gives both longtime fans and new viewers the opportunity to revisit or discover the film that transformed Liam Neeson into a household name within the action genre. Its tense plot and somber tone, reflective of the traumatic situation faced by Bryan Mills and his daughter Kim, continue to resonate with audiences. Moreover, Taken’s influence on action storytelling is evident in the wave of films that followed, featuring similarly skilled lone heroes combating shadowy criminal organizations.
As Liam Neeson’s career evolves with more recent action thrillers, the enduring popularity of Taken underscores its importance in cinema history and its role in shaping Neeson’s legacy. The film’s availability on Hulu ensures its legacy remains accessible, inviting viewers back into the pulse-pounding world of high-stakes rescue and relentless determination.
