“Liam Neeson’s Action-Packed Filmography: A Ranking of His Best Roles”

There’s no mode of transportation this man won’t fight on.

Taken by Liam Neeson’s action films

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Released in 2009, Taken took Liam Neeson from working in theater and fronting Schindler’s List to becoming Hollywood’s go-to action star. Ever since, the Oscar-nominated actor has been busy killing bad guys on almost every possible vehicle, fighting wolves, and constantly saving his children.

As Neeson continues to crank out more action thrillers every year, we’re updating our ranking of his films from his last action-packed decade-plus. Let’s call it the pursuit of ranking Liam Neeson’s action movies. And, yes, they are in a very particular order.

19. Blacklight (2022)

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Liam Neeson might still be kicking ass, but his most recent films can’t say the same. Reuniting with director Mark Williams (the higher-ranked Honest Thief), Neeson stars in Blacklight as FBI fixer Travis Block, who finds himself entangled in a government conspiracy that also involves his longtime boss, an undercover agent, and a journalist.

A lacking supporting cast and thin script put too much on Neeson’s shoulders, making Blacklight a film that not even he can fix.

18. Memory (2022)

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The “unmemorable” jokes are almost too easy—emphasis on almost. The potential was there for Memory, with Casino Royale director Martin Campbell adapting a well-reviewed Belgian action-thriller and having two capable stars at the center in Neeson and Guy Pearce.

And yet, Memory is a confusing mess, with laugh-out-loud moments that aren’t supposed to be funny (sorry to the sex worker who died in a shootout all because she was trying to return Neeson’s pills to him). As Alex Lewis, a contract killer suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, Neeson is technically the lead of Memory, but the only saving grace is Pearce looking like a dirtbag while being the actual hero of the film.

17. Clash of the Titans (2010)

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Technically, this was Neeson’s first post-Taken action film, but Clash of the Titans can’t truly be classified as a Neeson flick. And, despite the gravitas of Neeson and his character Zeus, he’s barely in it, which might explain why it ended up being such a disappointment.

16. Battleship (2012)

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I think what we are learning early on here is that if you cast Liam Neeson, then let him be Liam Neeson. Don’t just sideline him in favor of younger actors whom Hollywood desperately wants to make movie stars (sorry, Riggins).

In maybe his only “girlfriend’s disapproving dad” role, Neeson basically disappears for most of the movie. But, honestly, not even he could have saved this sinking ship.

15. Wrath of the Titans (2012)

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For some reason, Clash of the Titans was deemed worthy of a sequel, and the sole faint praise I can give Wrath is that it’s a slight improvement on its predecessor.

The film does give us more Neeson but mostly just tied-up-and-powerless Neeson. Unsurprisingly, the high point of Wrath might be when, alongside Ralph Fiennes, he finally does get to kick some ass, just before Zeus dies. With no more Neeson, it’s no wonder that a planned third film was canceled.

14. The Ice Road (2021)

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“I’m 69!” Despite that declaration to EW about his age and surprise that he’s still making action movies, Neeson isn’t slowing down. Well, he kind of does in this Netflix thriller considering driving fast and furious isn’t smart on ice.

Written and directed by Armageddon scribe Jonathan Hensleigh, The Ice Road stars Neeson as ice truck driver Mike McCann, who must lead a team on an impossible rescue mission to save a group of trapped miners.

Do you really need more plot than that? Liam Neeson! Impossible mission! The titular ice road! Okay, maybe this one could have used more plot and more interesting supporting characters (Laurence Fishburne showed up for a few days and then said “Check, please!”). But we will take any vehicle featuring Neeson fighting bad guys on different modes of transportation while he still can.

13. The Marksman (2021)

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Not even a global pandemic can stop Neeson from taking down bad guys—or the box office competition. The action Western opened at No. 1, with audiences turning out to see Neeson as retired Marine Jim Hanson, a widower who finds purpose again when he comes across a young mother and her son crossing the Arizona-Mexico border as they flee a drug cartel.

What ensues is a quieter-than-expected road trip film, as the big action is saved for the final act, proving that Hanson is, in fact, a true marksman. Also, bonus points for this all-too-timely quote: “It would be fine if the government would get its s— together and figure that mess out.”

12. Honest Thief (2020)

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This time around, Neeson is the infamous “In-and-Out Bandit” (What a name!) who is ready to turn himself in and change his ways after meeting the woman of his dreams (Kate Walsh).

One problem: A couple of FBI agents (Hamilton‘s Anthony Ramos and Suicide Squad‘s Jai Courtney) decide this is their opportunity to turn bad, taking the aging thief’s money and framing him for murder. A strong cast (Robert Patrick and Jeffrey Donovan are also in the mix) and Neeson being Neeson help make this familiar formula and script an entertaining cable watch.

11. Unknown (2011)

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Where do I start with what I don’t buy in Unknown? Let’s see: January Jones and Liam Neeson as a married couple; Liam Neeson as a botanist; Diane Kruger as a cab driver; and January Jones as an assassin. Other than that, Unknown is fine and features a solid third-act twist.

10. The Commuter (2018)

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As a fan of Non-Stop, I respect Neeson and director Jaume Collet-Serra running it back and just basically subbing in a train for a plane. Unfortunately, despite a juicy—but too small—role for Vera Farmiga, the film doesn’t differentiate itself enough.

Maybe the best part, though, is Neeson for once getting to play a businessman, only for them to be like, “Oh, but he’s also a retired detective!” Just let him be a man of the people!

9. The A-Team (2010)

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This should have been a slam dunk. The remake had Neeson riding his Taken high and Bradley Cooper fresh off of The Hangover, yet, the film managed to disappoint at the box office, fall short with the critics, and confuse Vanessa Redgrave.

The legendary actress’ bewilderment is understandable considering The A-Team is short on plot and long on big action set pieces. But Neeson hamming it up and Cooper coming armed with plenty of charm make it just fun enough.

8. Taken 3 (2015)

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The third installment in the franchise that launched Neeson’s action career doesn’t actually feel like a Taken film. First off, no one really gets taken (someone gets murdered, though, so they could have called it that instead). Also, the American locale doesn’t seem fitting for the series. And, I really hate to say it, but Neeson is showing his age a bit in this one, which is surprising since he’s still kicking ass years later.

7. Run All Night (2015)

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I haven’t done extensive research, but I’m pretty sure this is the only movie in which Neeson has dressed up as a drunk Santa. Also, he kind of plays a bad guy for one of the few times in this era of his career.

He’s still technically the protagonist, but he’s a former Mob enforcer who has killed a lot of people, so, a break from playing former cops and government agents. That difference, some well-done action sequences, and strong chemistry between Neeson and Ed Harris makes Run All Night the most underrated film on this list.

6. A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

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It’s debatable if this neo-noir crime film should be classified as an action film, but it opens with a shootout (and bad fake Neeson hair), so I’m counting it! The more story-focused Tombstones is an outlier in Neeson’s action filmography, but, acclaimed writer Scott Frank and a solid future supporting cast (David Harbour, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Stevens) make the slow burn mostly worth it.

5. Taken 2 (2012)

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Don’t let the 22 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes fool you, Taken 2 is an enjoyable movie. Unlike Taken 3, the second installment feels like a true extension of the original and puts a nice spin on Taken‘s plot by having Kim (Maggie Grace) get the call to save her parents. And the higher budget is evident onscreen with the action jumping up a level.

4. Non-Stop (2014)

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There are a lot of things to love about Non-Stop: an overqualified supporting cast (Lupita Nyong’o, Julianne Moore, Corey Stoll); Liam Neeson fighting/killing a dude in an airplane bathroom; a good mystery; and the information pointing to the hero as the bad guy. All of that makes this more than just Taken on an airplane.

3. The Grey (2012)

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Also known as Liam Neeson vs. wolves, The Grey has much more to offer than that. Yes, the wolves are hunting this group of plane crash survivors and the film ends with Neeson preparing for battle against them, but it’s often the quieter moments between the characters that make The Grey better than it probably should be. And, after this and Cold Pursuit, it’s clear that Neeson needs to keep throwing on a winter coat!

2. Cold Pursuit (2019)

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Not enough have seen this underrated gem, so I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that it’s not at all what you expect, and that is what makes it a must-see.

Here are just a few things to look forward to: Neeson plays Nels Coxman (incredible name), a snowplow driver seeking revenge against the drug dealers who killed his son; the bad guy is named Viking (incredible bad guy name); you will laugh, a lot; for once, Neeson plays a “f—ing amateur” at killing; Queen Laura Dern is Mrs. Coxman; and, there’s a ridiculously funny/unnecessary/offensive subplot that involves a motel and a $20 bill.

1. Taken (2009)

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Could it be anything else at No. 1? The film that launched (approximately) a thousand Liam Neeson action movies doesn’t just top the rankings for sentimental reasons—it’s entertaining and rewatchable as hell.

Talking to EW, Neeson admitted that he had no expectations for Taken and expected it to go straight-to-video, but instead, it became an all-time action film with two iconic sequences. The first is Kim running to hug Bryan early in the film (I laugh every time).

And secondly, and even more iconic, is Bryan talking Kim through her impending kidnapping and then telling the perpetrators that he’s coming for them. “What I do have is a very particular set of skills,” he warns. “I will look for you. I will find you. And I will kill you.” Goosebumps! And the rest was history.