Taken (also known as 96 Hours and The Hostage) is a 2008 French action-thriller film in English, written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel. The film stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Katie Cᴀssidy, Leland Orser, and Holly Valance. Liam Neeson takes on the role of Bryan Mills, a former CIA operative who embarks on a relentless mission to rescue his teenage daughter Kim (Grace) and her best friend Amanda (Cᴀssidy).
The two girls are abducted by an Albanian human trafficking ring while vacationing in France. The film premiered in France on February 27, 2008, through EuropaCorp, and later in the United States on January 30, 2009, via 20th Century Fox. Taken earned over $226 million worldwide. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film is widely regarded as a turning point in Liam Neeson’s career, cementing his status as an action star. As the first installment of the Taken franchise, the movie was followed by two sequels: Taken 2 in 2012 and Taken 3 in 2014.
A television series, which aired in 2017 on NBC, explored the origins of Bryan Mills, portrayed by Clive Standen. The story also delves into Bryan’s efforts to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter, Kim, who lives with her mother (Bryan’s ex-wife) Lenore and her wealthy stepfather Stuart. While providing security at a pop star Sheerah’s concert, Bryan saves her from an armed attacker.
Grateful for his intervention, Sheerah offers to help Kim pursue her dream of becoming a singer—a goal she previously dismissed when Bryan mentioned it. Before Bryan can share this opportunity with Kim, she asks for his permission to travel to Paris with her best friend Amanda. Initially hesitant due to safety concerns, Bryan eventually agrees. However, at the airport, he discovers Kim has lied—the girls’ true plan is to follow U2 on their European tour.
