Release: 2008-02-18
Runtime: 1h 34m (94 minutes)
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.
Watch this on:
Provided by JustWatch
Genres: Action, Thriller
Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, more
Liam Neeson
as Bryan Mills
Famke Janssen
as Lenore St. John
Maggie Grace
as Kim Mills
Katie Cassidy
as Amanda
Xander Berkeley
as Stuart St. John
Jon Gries
as Mark Casey
Holly Valance
as Sheerah
Olivier Rabourdin
as Jean-Claude Pitrel
Arben Bajraktaraj
as Marko Hoxha
David Warshofsky
as Bernie Harris
Leland Orser
as Sam Gilroy
Fani Kolarova
as Prostitute
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.
They took his daughter. He'll take their lives.
Taken is a gripping action-thriller film from 2008, directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. The film features a standout performance from Liam Neeson, alongside Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and Jon Gries, among others. The story follows Bryan Mills, a former CIA operative, as he desperately tries to rescue his teenage daughter, Kim Mills, who has been kidnapped by human traffickers during a trip to France.
The movie debuted in France on 27 February 2008 and later reached US audiences on 30 January 2009, distributed by 20th Century Fox. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Taken was a commercial hit, raking in approximately $226 million worldwide against a production budget of $25 million. This success marked a significant turning point in Neeson's career, transforming him into an action star and giving rise to a franchise that includes two sequels, Taken 2 and Taken 3, as well as a television series that premiered in 2017.
The plot unfolds as Mills attempts to connect with his daughter Kim, who is eager to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. Initially hesitant due to safety concerns, Mills ultimately agrees, only to discover that Kim has lied about their plans. Upon their arrival, the girls encounter a charming stranger, Peter, but soon find themselves caught in a kidnapping scheme orchestrated by Albanian traffickers. Mills’s fight to rescue his daughter intensifies when he receives a chilling phone call from the kidnappers, who inform him that Kim has been taken. With time running out, he uses his unique skills to track down the culprits, navigating a world filled with danger and deception.
The cast of Taken features:
Critically, the film garnered a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviewers praising Neeson's intense performance and the film's thrilling sequences, despite its occasional implausibility. Critics noted that while the film is a fun ride filled with action, it does not delve deeply into its plot. However, audiences responded favorably, giving it an average grade of "A−" according to CinemaScore.
In the years following its release, the film's iconic "Taken Speech" by Neeson's character became a popular meme, highlighting the film's impact on pop culture. Furthermore, it has led to discussions on serious topics like human trafficking, sparking reactions even from governments and organizations aiming to change negative perceptions associated with such issues.
Taken remains a significant film in the action genre, not just for its thrilling narrative but also for how it reshaped Neeson's career and established a successful franchise that continues to engage audiences today.
