Taken

Name: Taken
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: January 30, 2009
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 715 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 715 Ratings

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Taken

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: January 30, 2009 | Unrated

Starring: Famke Janssen, Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace

Summary: When his estranged daughter is kidnapped in Paris, a former spy sets out to find her at any cost. Relying on his special skills, he tracks down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launches a one-man war to bring them to justice and rescue his daughter. [20th Century Fox]

Director: Pierre Morel

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Premiere Patrick Parker

The beginning is a little slow, but after Neeson starts his hunt and does his best wrath-of-God impression, it doesn’t skip a beat. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Taken is nonsense, but it's terrifically entertaining nonsense. Read full review

David Edelstein

Taken--in the hands of director Pierre Morel (District B13), with Neeson in nearly every shot--works like gangbusters. The Frenchies have made the filet mignon of meathead vigilante movies. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

A brisk and violent action programmer that can't help being unintentionally silly at times. Read full review

Bernard Besserglik

Might do good business at home and abroad among audiences unconcerned with the finer points of characterization or psychological insight. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Neeson's better than this. You can't watch him here without thinking, Geez, every fight-choreography session could have funded "Love, Actually." This bash-the-door-down action scene likely took as long to film as "Kinsey." That gunfight required more stunts than all of "Schindler's List." Read full review

Kyle Smith

A Liam Neeson thriller so lacking in ambition they should have called it "Paycheck." Read full review

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User Reviews

Michaeli

Dec 3, 2009

Thought it was excellent! Especially 'i will find you scene'. Maybe you got to be a parent to understand it!

4 of 6 users found this helpful

JakeM.

Feb 17, 2009

The critics, once again, prove they have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. If you saw the ads for Taken, thought it was going to be nothing but an action movie, then you will not be disappointed. However, if you take a second to examine the plot, you realize that it is The critics, once again, prove they have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. If you saw the ads for Taken, thought it was going to be nothing but an action movie, then you will not be disappointed. However, if you take a second to examine the plot, you realize that it is inherently good and isn't as impossible as some plot elements in Bourne or Bond. Neeson plays the part wonderfully, and when he actually takes the time in between car chases, torture sequences, and firefights to display his character's personality, he goes all out. I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. Not nearly as hyped as Bourne or Bond, Taken will have you leave the theater forcibly, because you'll want to see it again and again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

billruller

Aug 31, 2012

I never saw this in theaters, or saw it when it first came out on DVD. My friend gave me a boot-leg of this, so I didn't have to spend I dime on it. I never bothered with it till I saw the trailer of a sequel to this movie in theaters, so I was thinking that I should just watch this movieI never saw this in theaters, or saw it when it first came out on DVD. My friend gave me a boot-leg of this, so I didn't have to spend I dime on it. I never bothered with it till I saw the trailer of a sequel to this movie in theaters, so I was thinking that I should just watch this movie and get it over with. I just watched it, and I am completely shocked about how well done this was. Liam Neeson is one of my favorite badass actors ever since he was Ra's Al Ghul in "Batman Begins". All I need to say is that he is one of the smartest action heroes I've ever seen in any action movie. Here's what I mean, in many action movies, the hero always takes his time to kill the boss or a henchmen. They just waits till the last minute to kill them or just leave them alive. But in this movie, Liam Neeson doesn't take his time or leave the enemies alive, he kills them all immediately! Even the final boss was simple to finish off. When the boss is holding a knife on somebody you've been trying to rescue, just shoot him in the head. He's not gonna kill her after he's gonna be dead by a simple shot, and that's exactly what Liam Neeson did. Smartest action hero EVER. Not only was the hero great, but the action and chase scenes were unbelievable. It keeps getting better and more exciting, I've been jumping and cheering Liam to survive and quickly save his daughter. It was awesome, and unexpecting to see something like this in an action movie. This movie deserves more positive reviews from critics, because this isn't one of those simple cliched action films. This is something different and well done, and needs to be seen by every action fan.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JonB.

Feb 11, 2009

I don't see why the critics are hating on the movie so much. It is an action flick, but without a lot of the ridiculous action scenes like you would see in a Bond movie. I thought Neeson's character was similar to a Jason Bourne in his 40s with a kidnapped teenage daughter. I I don't see why the critics are hating on the movie so much. It is an action flick, but without a lot of the ridiculous action scenes like you would see in a Bond movie. I thought Neeson's character was similar to a Jason Bourne in his 40s with a kidnapped teenage daughter. I would recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the Bourne series.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Daniel2651

Feb 10, 2014

If you thought the life of a retired spy was boring just wait until you see this amazing fast-paced action film.
In this film Liam Neeson plays a retired spy called Brian who lets his daughter, Kim, (Maggie Grace) and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) go on atrip to Paris. But shortly afterIf you thought the life of a retired spy was boring just wait until you see this amazing fast-paced action film.
In this film Liam Neeson plays a retired spy called Brian who lets his daughter, Kim, (Maggie Grace) and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) go on atrip to Paris. But shortly after arriving in Paris Kim and Amanda get kidnapped which makes Brian promise that he'll get his daughter back. Will her live up to his promise or will he die trying? The film keeps the viewer wondering whether or not Brian will live up to this promise by emphasising over and over again that he only has a few hours before his daughter disappears forever.
At the beginning of the film Brian is introduced as a man who loves his daughter, which shows that he will do anything to get her back. And when he arrives in Paris the viewer gets the impression that even though Brian is retired he hasn't forgotten the skills he learnt in hand to hand combat. I got this impression when Brian got ninvoled in a fight scene just moments after he arrived in Paris.
At the beginning the film ropes you in with some light comedy and a very brutal fight scene. And in order to make sure you don't get bored of the light comedy the film also adds some suspense as soon as Kim arrives in Paris, and after this the action doesn't stop.
My favourite scene in the movie has got to be when Brian tracks the man who took his daughter to a house in Paris.This is my favourite scene because even though it starts off calm it isn't long before Brian is involved in yet another gun-fight which also involves some brutal fighting which is sure to make the viewer say "Ouch that's gotta hurt!"
As well as a lot of action this film also has a lot of gore which is shown in the intense fight scenes and in one very horrific torture scene.
I would recommend this film to anyone who likes fast-paced action films and I would rate it 8/10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

akshatmahajan

Aug 28, 2020

This film was missing kick the crap out of everyone who gets in your way action. Many will say that it was not needed but I think that thing makes this type of movie much better. Liam Neeson's acting was nice, loved it. But there was a problem with the story, it was too simple. The storyThis film was missing kick the crap out of everyone who gets in your way action. Many will say that it was not needed but I think that thing makes this type of movie much better. Liam Neeson's acting was nice, loved it. But there was a problem with the story, it was too simple. The story needed to be more powerful. Also, the character development was also not done nicely. They should have done the character development seeing that the sequels are gonna come. Overall, you will enjoy the film but it's not for hard-core action fans.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

May 30, 2009

I don't even know where to begin...this movie is such a complete paint-by-numbers formula movie. Vacuous teen daughter played by a mid-twenties actress - CHECK; phony family situation where Dad has had life pass him by to only now realize it - CHECK; Director that uses shifty camera I don't even know where to begin...this movie is such a complete paint-by-numbers formula movie. Vacuous teen daughter played by a mid-twenties actress - CHECK; phony family situation where Dad has had life pass him by to only now realize it - CHECK; Director that uses shifty camera work to conceal poor chase and fight scenes - CHECK ; How sad and pathetic and what a complete waste of time. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME...run for your life..save yourselves.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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17	#17 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
5	#5 Most Shared Movie of 2009