The “Most Influential” Action Franchise of the Century That Became “An Instant Classic” Takes Over Free Streaming

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As a huge action movie fan, a few films immediately come to mind when you talk about the most impactful ones. Classics like Die Hard, First Blood, Enter the Dragon, and even Seven Samurai are always at the top of the list. But there’s one from 2008 that really changed the game – it instantly became a classic and launched an entire franchise! Honestly, without it, we might not have gotten the John Wick movies or the recent wave of Jason Statham-style revenge thrillers. It’s become seriously influential, for better or worse. And now, all three films in this awesome franchise are going to be available for free streaming, which is fantastic news!

The 2009 film Taken, starring Liam Neeson, redefined the action-thriller genre and paved the way for many similar vigilante movies in the following decade and beyond. The story centers on a retired CIA operative who uses his skills to rescue his kidnapped daughter, delivering brutal justice to those responsible. Despite a small $25 million budget, Taken became a massive box office success, earning over $228 million worldwide.

The movie Taken was a huge success, and it dramatically changed how audiences viewed Liam Neeson. Before that, he was primarily known for serious dramatic roles in films like Rob Roy and Michael Collins, and lighter comedies like Love Actually. Taken showed a different side of Neeson – a tough, resourceful action hero – and launched a new phase of his career. Here’s what the movie is about:

When Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), a former CIA agent, learns his teenage daughter has been kidnapped in Paris, he immediately takes action. He uses his unique training and unwavering resolve to hunt down the criminals involved in human trafficking, determined to rescue his daughter no matter the cost.

‘Taken 2’ and ‘Taken 3’ Were Never Able to Capture the Magic of the First Movie


20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

Beginning February 1, 2026, all three Taken movies will be available to stream on Tubi at no cost. However, those who only watched the original Taken aren’t missing out on much. While Taken 2 and Taken 3 were successful and offered some entertainment, they didn’t live up to the quality of the first film. Director Oliver Megaton’s sequels lacked the originality and impact of Pierre Morel’s initial hit, feeling more like formulaic action movies made to profit from the franchise’s popularity.

Honestly, if the Taken movies hadn’t made so much money, I wonder if we’d even have John Wick! And it probably would have taken longer for someone to give Denzel Washington the chance to kick butt in The Equalizer. Liam Neeson and those films really started this whole trend of the ‘older action hero,’ and I, for one, am totally grateful. It’s led to some amazing action movies that I’ve really enjoyed, so thanks to everyone involved for starting something new!

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Don’t expect a fourth Taken movie anytime soon. Liam Neeson has made it clear he’s finished with the series. He famously joked on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that there’s a limit to how many times his character’s daughter can be kidnapped.

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2026-01-18 04:18