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

When it comes to influential action movies, there’s definitely more than a few that pop into our heads. Die Hard, First Blood, Enter the Dragon, and Seven Samurai are just four that we can name off the cuff, as is a 2008 film that became an instant classic and gave birth to an entire franchise. Without it, we might never have seen the likes of John Wick or the sudden surge in Jason Statham vigilante thrillers, which – for better or worse – speaks to just how influential it’s become. Now, all three movies in this thrilling franchise are set to take over free streaming.

Starting with Taken in 2009, the Liam Neeson action thriller set a new standard for vigilante films that became commonplace throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s. In the movie, an ex-CIA officer sets out to retrieve his daughter after she is kidnapped by human traffickers, dishing out his own brand of bloody justice along the way. By the time its theatrical run was done, the film grossed over $228 million dollars against a budget of just $25 million.

Not only did Taken become a box office sensation, but it helped audiences see Neeson in a whole new light. Up until that point, the star was mostly known for prestige dramas like Rob Roy and Michael Collins, as well as lighthearted comedies such as Love Actually. In Taken, however, Neeson portrayed a cold and calculated action hero dad, which completely changed the trajectory of his career. The synopsis for the film reads:

“Retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Neeson) springs into action after his teenage daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped while traveling in Paris. Using his specialized skills and relentless determination, Bryan races against the clock to track down the human trafficking ring responsible, leaving a trail of destruction as he will stop at nothing to bring his daughter home.”

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

Starting February 1, 2026, all three movies in the Taken franchise will be available to stream for free on Tubi, but if you stopped watching the series after the first film, you wouldn’t be missing much. Sure, Taken 2 and Taken 3 were fun for what they were and, yes, they were box office hits, but director Oliver Megaton’s follow-ups were never able to capture the same magic as Pierre Morel’s modern classic. They felt more like cookie-cutter thrillers made as cash grabs rather than something new and fresh.

Still, without the financial success of the entire Taken franchise, Keanu Reeves as John Wick might have never become a thing, nor would we have seen Denzel Washington take on a slew of bad guys in The Equalizer series. Neeson and company helped popularize the “aging warrior” trope that’s become so prevalent these days, and for that we say thank you to everyone involved for starting a new trend that’s produced some pretty phenomenal action thrillers.

As for the chances of getting a fourth Taken movie? Don’t hold your breath, as Neeson has repeatedly said he’s done with the franchise. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert years ago, the actor jokingly said, “There’s only so many times your daughter can be taken.”

Release Date

February 18, 2008

Runtime

94 minutes

Director

Pierre Morel

Writers

Robert Mark Kamen

Producers

Luc Besson, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam