Taken

Taken (also titled 96 Hours and The Hostage) is a 2008 English-language French vigilante action-thriller film directed by Pierre Morel from a story written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Katie Cassidy, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser and Holly Valance. In the film, Bryan Mills is an ex-CIA officer who sets to track down his teenage daughter Kim and her best friend Amanda after they are kidnapped by Albanian human traffickers while travelling in France during a vacation. Taken was released in France on 27 February 2008 by EuropaCorp and was internationally released by 20th Century Fox. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $226 million, though numerous media outlets cited the film as a turning point in Neeson's career that redefined and transformed him to an action star. It also launched the Taken franchise, and was followed by two sequels Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014) as well as a television series that premiered in 2017 on NBC with Clive Standen portraying as a younger Bryan Mills. Plot Bryan Mills is a former Green Beret and CIA officer who attempts to build a closer relationship with his 17-year-old daughter Kim, who lives with her mother (his ex-wife) Lenore and her wealthy stepfather Stuart. While overseeing security at a concert for pop star Sheerah, Bryan saves her from a knife-wielding attacker. Out of gratitude, Sheerah offers to have a vocal coach assess Kim as a singer. Before Bryan can tell her about the offer, Kim asks him for permission to travel to Paris with her best friend Amanda. Bryan initially refuses due to concern about her safety, but eventually accepts. At the airport, Bryan learns that Kim lied to him and that the girls are actually planning to follow U2 during their European tour.