The career of Liam Neeson is a testament to his ability to evolve and surprise audiences. Known for fan-favorite titles like Love Actually and Taken, the Irish actor got his start in theater and minor dramas before breaking into Hollywood. Early on, his intensity and physical presence hinted at action-hero potential — signs that Neeson was destined to become an action star long before Taken made it undeniable. The role of Bryan Mills, a skilled former operative with an intense resume, turned him into an unexpected daredevil at an age when many actors slow down.
Beyond action, Neeson has appeared in some of the highest-grossing movies of all time. The star’s towering presence and deep voice add gravitas to every film, whether he’s commanding the screen in heartfelt dramas or dominating the action genre. It’s this unique blend that keeps audiences coming back for more Liam Neeson, whether his career as an action star or dramatic actor, cementing his legacy as a cinematic powerhouse.
10 Taken (2008)
Worldwide Box Office – $226.8 million
Taken stars Liam Neeson as ex-Green Beret and ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills, who retired from his life of fighting in order to be there for his family. When his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) travels to Paris and is kidnapped by human traffickers, Mills launches into action, mounting a one-man rescue mission that sees him tear through gangs of European criminals with extreme prejudice in hopes of finding and rescuing Kim before it’s too late.
The first in line of the legendary action series, Pierre Morel’s Taken completely changed Liam Neeson’s career. In the 2008 film, Neeson plays Bryan Mills, a retired CIA agent with a unique set of skills that he uses to track down and rescue his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), after she is kidnapped by human traffickers in Paris.
Despite being the franchise’s lowest-grossing movie, earning $226.8 million on a $25 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), Neeson’s portrayal broke the boundaries of its time. Instead of a young, tough lead, the then-56-year-old star brought a sense of maturity, wisdom, and realism to the role, helping to redefine the modern action hero. Before Taken, which made him a household name in the action genre, Neeson was primarily known for his roles in more dramatic pieces, such as Schindler’s List and Kinsey.
9 Love Actually (2003)
Worldwide Box Office – $250.2 million
The 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually follows various couples as they explore their relationships throughout the Christmas season. With a star-studded cast composed of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually has since become a Christmas staple for rom-com lovers.
Before he was a beloved action star with one of the most quotable speeches of all time, Liam Neeson starred in Love Actually, now considered one of the best Christmas movies of all time. Directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually is a 2003 romantic comedy that intertwines multiple storylines about love during the holiday season. Neeson plays Daniel, a widowed father grieving the loss of his wife and trying to support his young stepson, Sam (Thomas Sangster), as he navigates his first crush.
Love Actually was a major box office success, earning $250.2 million worldwide on a $40 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), making it one of the top-grossing films of 2003. Although Neeson wasn’t the main star, his emotional portrayal of Daniel played a key role in the film’s success. His story, featuring the healing power of love after loss, gave the narrative emotional depth that resonated with both critics and audiences.
8 Wrath Of The Titans (2012)
Worldwide Box Office – $302 million
Decades after the events of Clash of the Titans; the gods’ immortality and their control on the captive titans is weakening. Perseus, the son of Zeus, must once again become the hero to save his father and the other gods, defeat the titans, and save mankind.
Two years after the 2010 release of Clash of the Titans, Liam Neeson delivered another great portrayal of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. Wrath of the Titans, directed by Jonathan Liebesman, saw the light of day in 2012, centering its story around the drama between gods and Titans, as well as the strained bonds between Zeus, his brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes), and his son Perseus (Sam Worthington).
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The mythological action picture earned just under $302 million at the worldwide box office, working on a $150 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Although there have been some less than stellar reviews of the fantasy picture, Wrath of the Titans remains as one of Neeson’s most appreciated works. His portrayal was a standout in the film, blending the majestic presence of a deity with the vulnerability of a father facing mortality.
7 Schindler’s List (1993)
Worldwide Box Office – $322.2 million
Schindler’s List is a historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, chronicling the efforts of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust. Starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes, the film vividly portrays the atrocities committed during World War II while highlighting Schindler’s transformation from a profit-driven industrialist to a humanitarian savior.
In Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg, Liam Neeson delivered a career-defining performance as the real historical figure Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who becomes an unlikely hero during the Holocaust. The film is based on the true story of Schindler, who saved the lives of over a thousand Polish Jews by employing them in his factories and thus protecting them from Nazi persecution.
“It’s almost unheard of for someone to make a movie about their oppressors and how they become better people than when the film started. It is a brave act that gives us a near-perfect masterpiece of filmmaking.” –
ScreenRant’s
Schindler’s List
review
Since its release in 1993, the critically acclaimed film has grossed $322.2 million worldwide against a comparably modest $22 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Surprisingly, this was Neeson’s first leading role — before Schindler’s List, the actor was primarily known for smaller and supporting roles. His portrayal earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Although he didn’t take home the Oscar, the iconic role cemented Neeson’s reputation as one of the most talented actors of his generation.
6 Taken 3 (2014)
Worldwide Box Office – $326.5 million
Liam Neeson returns as retired CIA operative Bryan Mills in Taken 3, an action-thriller film that concludes the trilogy. Bryan’s life is he’s falsely accused of a murder that hits far too close to home. As a savvy police inspector pursues him, Mills employs his “particular set of skills” to track the real killer, clear his name – and exact his own brand of justice.
In Taken 3, Liam Neeson reprised his role as Bryan Mills, the highly skilled ex-CIA operative with “a very particular set of skills.” Directed by Olivier Megaton, the film marked the final installment of the Taken trilogy, which solidified the actor as a global action star.
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Although Taken 3 received mixed reviews from critics, it was a major commercial success, grossing $326.5 million worldwide on a $48 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). At the time of filming, Neeson was 62 years old, impressing audiences with his physical agility and determination to bring Mills to life for the last time. Beyond the demanding action sequences, the star was praised for the emotional depth he brought to the character. By the time the movie hit theaters, Neeson was already synonymous with intense action roles, yet he still delivered a performance that skillfully balanced intensity with the vulnerability fans had come to expect.
5 Batman Begins (2005)
Worldwide Box Office – $375.4 million
Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman’s origin story sees Christian Bale take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, reeling from the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante in order to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization intent on destroying Gotham with the help of the villainous Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.
In Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, Liam Neeson plays a key role as Henri Ducard, later revealed to be Ra’s al Ghul, the enigmatic leader of the League of Shadows. Neeson’s role is pivotal in the 2005 picture, as Ra’s al Ghul not only serves as the film’s primary antagonist but also as the architect of Bruce Wayne’s (Christian Bale) journey toward becoming Batman. His teachings leave a lasting impact on Bruce, setting the foundation for Batman’s ideology.
Batman Begins grossed $375.4 million worldwide with a $150 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), boosting the Batman franchise and setting the stage for Nolan’s critically acclaimed Dark Knight movie trilogy. Neeson’s performance as Ra’s al Ghul was praised for adding complexity to the role, making the character much more than just a typical villain. His portrayal stands out as one of the most memorable and impactful villains in both modern comic book films and the Batman series.
4 Taken 2 (2012)
Worldwide Box Office – $376.2 million
In Taken 2, after Liam Neeson’s retired CIA agent Bryan Mills saved his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) from kidnappers, one of the criminals’ father swears revenge and takes Bryan and his wife (Famke Janssen) hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul. The 2012 action movie is the second installment in a trilogy.
The massive success of the first Taken movie set the stage for its sequel, Taken 2, which was released in 2012. Directed by Olivier Megaton, the film saw Liam Neeson take on the role of Bryan Mills once again (still a former CIA agent with “a very particular set of skills”), much to the fans’ rejoice. This time around, Mills was forced to rescue his family once again, but now from the vengeful relatives of the criminals he eliminated in the first movie.
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Taken 2 earned $376.2 million at the worldwide box office (via Box Office Mojo), making it the second-highest-grossing segment of the Taken trilogy. The picture was produced on a budget of $45 million, which was $3 million less than its successor, Taken 3, got. Once again, Neeson’s mix of resistance and emotion appealed to both fans of the action scenes and those interested in the character’s personal side of the story.
3 Clash Of The Titans (2010)
Worldwide Box Office – $493.2 million
Clash of the Titans is the 2010 remake of the eponymous 1981 fantasy movie. It is based on the Greek myth of Perseus, a demigod who fights the dark forces of the Underworld, and it stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Alexa Davalos, and Jason Flemyng as Perseus, Zeus, Hades, Io, Andromeda, and Calibos, respectively.
In Clash of the Titans, Liam Neeson plays Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology. Directed by Louis Leterrier, this mythological action movie is a remake of the 1981 classic of the same name. The story follows Perseus (Sam Worthington), the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a dangerous journey to defeat the monstrous Kraken and save the city of Argos.
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While the film earned $493.2 million at the box office on a $125 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), it received mixed reviews from critics. Nonetheless, it attracted a large audience, especially those drawn to its impressive visual effects, action, and Neeson’s star power. The actor’s portrayal of Zeus was widely praised for adding depth to a character that could have easily been reduced to a one-dimensional power figure. His performance brought emotional layers to the film, contributing to a more engaging narrative.
2 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Worldwide Box Office – $1.05 billion
The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, directed by George Lucas, marked Liam Neeson’s debut in the iconic Star Wars universe, where he played Qui-Gon Jinn, a wise and independent Jedi Master. The film serves as the first chapter of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, set before the rise of Darth Vader, and follows the Jedi’s discovery of a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd).
The beloved classic was a huge box office success, grossing $1.05 billion worldwide on a $115 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). It was also the highest-grossing film of 1999, as well as one of the top-grossing films of all time at the time of its release. While The Phantom Menace did receive mixed critical reviews, its global appeal and connection to the legendary Star Wars franchise helped make it a major hit, boosting Neeson’s profile as part of the cultural phenomenon.
1 The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Worldwide Box Office – $1.11 billion
The Dark Knight Rises is the final chapter in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, with Christian Bale donning the cape and cowl once more to save Gotham City from certain destruction. Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Batman has left the public eye after taking the fall for the crimes committed by a twisted Harvey Dent. However, he is called back into action when a mysterious villain named Bane arrives to bring disorder to Gotham, forcing him to confront deeper, darker recesses of his past to be able to face a challenge he may not be ready for.
The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, following Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Liam Neeson reprised his role as Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows, first introduced in Batman Begins. His character’s return is significant to the plot, despite his apparent death in the earlier film. In the 2012 sequel, Ra’s al Ghul’s legacy looms large, especially with the introduction of the masked villain Bane (Tom Hardy), who is determined to destroy Gotham City.
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The Dark Knight Rises is, by far, Neeson’s highest-grossing film, amassing over $1.11 billion worldwide on a $250 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Though not the central antagonist, Neeson’s character played a key role in bringing Bane’s destructive vision to life. The star’s return as Ra’s al Ghul, no matter how small, added an extra layer of intrigue to the plot, connecting Nolan’s three Batman movies thematically and drawing even more people to see the final chapter. Clearly, Liam Neeson is a draw in whatever he’s in.