TAKEN 4 (2024)

Revenge (also known as 96 Hours and The Hostage) is a 2008 French action thriller film, written in English by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel. It stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Katie Cassidy, Leland Orser, and Holly Valance.

Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, a former CIA agent who embarks on a relentless mission to rescue his teenage daughter Kim (Grace) and her best friend Amanda (Cassidy). The two girls are kidnapped by an Albanian human trafficking ring while on vacation in France.

The film was released in France on February 27, 2008, by EuropaCorp, and subsequently in the United States on January 30, 2009, by 20th Century Fox. Taken grossed over $226 million worldwide. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film is widely considered a turning point in Liam Neeson’s career, cementing his status as an action star.

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As the first installment in the Taken franchise, the film 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, played 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 concert, Bryan saved her from an armed assailant. Grateful for his intervention, Sheerah offers to help Kim pursue her dream of becoming a singer, a goal she had previously dismissed when Bryan mentioned it.

Before Bryan can share this opportunity with Kim, she asks his permission to travel to Paris with her best friend Amanda. Initially hesitant due to security concerns, Bryan eventually agrees. However, at the airport, he discovers that Kim has lied to him: the girls’ real plan is to follow U2 on their European tour.