Taken (2008)

Kernel Score: 83% · 11,925 ratings · Rated PG-13

Genres: Action, Thriller

Released: 2008-02-18

Runtime: 94 minutes

Is Taken worth watching?

Worth watching. A lean, fast revenge thriller with Liam Neeson as a father hunting his kidnapped daughter. It is far-fetched and brutal, but tightly made and short enough that it never drags.

Watch it if you

  • love simple, fast action thrillers
  • enjoy a tough, determined lead
  • want a short film with no filler

Skip it if you

  • dislike violence or revenge stories
  • want realistic plot logic

Best for: Action night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Taken

  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-22.

Overview

Bryan Mills, a former government operative, is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter Kim. After reluctantly agreeing with his ex-wife to let Kim go to Paris on vacation with a friend, his worst nightmare comes true. While on the phone with his daughter shortly after she arrives in Paris, she and her friend are abducted by a gang of human traffickers. Working against the clock, Bryan relies on his extensive training and skills to track down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launch a one-man war to rescue his daughter.

Taken parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that Taken is an intense action-thriller centered on the kidnapping and attempted sex trafficking of a teenage girl, with sustained violence.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and a one-man rescue mission against armed traffickers.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — The plot involves abduction of teenage girls for sex trafficking and prostitution, implied rather than graphic.
  • Language: Some — Contains scattered strong language typical of a PG-13 action film.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Taken

If you liked Taken, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Nobody (2021) — 89%: Modern action with an unlikely hero out for justice.
  • Oldboy (2003) — 89%: A father-figure story of vengeance, far darker.
  • Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) — 88%: Revenge story with a fierce lead.
  • The Terminator (1984) — 90%: Relentless pursuit thriller from the 1980s.
  • The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) — 88%: Classic revenge story told as an adventure.

Director

Pierre Morel

Cast

  • Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills
  • Maggie Grace as Kim Mills
  • Famke Janssen as Lenore St. John
  • Olivier Rabourdin as Jean-Claude Pitrel
  • Leland Orser as Sam Gilroy
  • Jon Gries as Mark Casey
  • David Warshofsky as Bernie Harris
  • Holly Valance as Sheerah
  • Gérard Watkins as Patrice Saint-Clair
  • Arben Bajraktaraj as Marko Hoxha

Taken FAQ

Is Taken worth watching?

Worth watching. A lean, fast revenge thriller with Liam Neeson as a father hunting his kidnapped daughter. It is far-fetched and brutal, but tightly made and short enough that it never drags.

Where can I watch Taken?

In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Taken OK for kids?

Taken is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Taken is an intense action-thriller centered on the kidnapping and attempted sex trafficking of a teenage girl, with sustained violence.

What movies are like Taken?

If you liked Taken, try Nobody, Oldboy, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 and The Terminator.