Nearly two decades after its release, Liam Neeson's iconic action thriller Taken returns to UK television screens tonight on ITV4 at 10:05pm. The 2008 blockbuster, which launched Neeson as a Hollywood action star, remains a firm favourite with audiences.
The film follows Bryan Mills, a former special forces operative and ex-CIA agent, who stops at nothing to rescue his kidnapped daughter during a trip to Paris. Deploying his specialist skills, Mills tracks the human traffickers across France in a desperate race against time to save her from being sold at an illegal auction.
Directed by Pierre Morel, Taken was a box office sensation, spawning two sequels and a spin-off TV series. Critics have praised its brisk pace and Neeson's intense performance, with one Rotten Tomatoes review calling it 'the film that propelled Liam Neeson into action stardom'.
Viewers have also hailed it as a 'modern-day classic', noting that none of the sequels or Neeson's later action films have recaptured its magic. The Irish actor reinvented himself in the role, bringing a focused and intense energy that defined his subsequent career.
After the success of the original, Taken 2 and Taken 3 followed, with the latter wrapping up the series in 2014. Neeson has since starred in other action films such as The Ice Road, The Naked Gun, and Non-Stop.
For those unable to watch tonight, Taken is also available to stream on Disney+ at any time.
