When you think of Liam Neeson, the scene that most likely comes to mind is when he threatened ignorant criminals over the phone in Taken, or when he's apologizing that he couldn't save more people in Schindler's List, or even fighting some bad dudes in Darkman. The actor has built a legacy around some very iconic roles that he still revisits every now and then.
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In recent years, his name has become a synonym with high-octane action films. Nevertheless, throughout his career he's navigated through all genres, and contributed with a fair share of franchise roles that prove he's a high-value performer who can elevate a film above the expected results. These are the highest-grossing films starring Liam Neeson.
10 Schindler's List (1993) Production Budget: $22 Million - Box Office Gross: $322.2 Million Schindler's List (1993) R Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date December 15, 1993 Director Steven Spielberg Cast Liam Neeson , Ben Kingsley , Ralph Fiennes , Caroline Goodall , Jonathan Sagall Main Genre Drama
Schindler's List follows the events during World War II, as the Third Reich was invading Europe and "cleansing" the continent of all communities that weren't in line with Hitler's views. Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi party, realizes the Germans are committing genocide against Jews, so he decides to save them by hiring them to work in his factory.
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Steven Spielberg's epic drama is the best movie about the Holocaust ever made. Starring Neeson as Schindler, the film was the director's homage to his own religious values, and while many deem it too realistic, it's an essential document about war. Making over $300 million, the film was proof of Spielberg's skill at bringing people to theaters in the 1990s, as it was released the same year Jurassic Park became the highest-grossing film of all time.
9 Taken 3 (2014) Production Budget: $48 Million - Box Office Gross: $326.4 Million Taken 3 PG-13 Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date December 16, 2014 Director Olivier Megaton Cast Maggie Grace , Liam Neeson , Famke Janssen , Forest Whitaker , Dougray Scott , Jonny Weston Main Genre Action
In Taken 3, the retired CIA operative known as Bryan Mills faces a rather unpredictable threat. Mills tries to reconnect with his ex-wife, but he finds she has been killed, and he's been framed for her murder. The ruthless and clever hitman "activates" himself and tries to find the real killers and clear his name.
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Luc Besson and Olivier Megaton (seriously, a cool name for an action director) are behind Taken 3, or TAK3N as it was also known. The film wasn't exactly acclaimed by critics; it has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 13%. It saw its box office performance go down a bit from the second film, but it was a decent conclusion to a very successful action franchise.
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8 Batman Begins (2005) Production Budget: $150 Million - Box Office Gross: $373.7 Million Batman Begins PG-13 Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date June 15, 2005 Director Christopher Nolan Cast Ken Watanabe , Liam Neeson , Gary Oldman , Tom Wilkinson , Linus Roache , Christian Bale , Katie Holmes , Mark Boone Junior , Michael Caine , Rutger Hauer , Cillian Murphy , Morgan Freeman ✕ Remove Ads
Batman Begins follows Bruce Wayne, a wealthy young man who can't get past his parents' murder. He becomes a vigilante after a seeking training from a ruthless teacher. That same teacher, Ra's al Ghul (Neeson), becomes Gotham City's greatest threat along with Scarecrow, and Wayne is forced to act as the Batman to stop him.
Christopher Nolan's introduction to his Batman trilogy is an outstanding origin story that doesn't get enough credit simply because the sequel is better. Nevertheless, the film was a refreshing reboot that elevated DC's most grounded hero, and approached the original story from the perspective of action for adults. Upon release, it made almost $400 million, getting close to the Batman film at the top spot, Tim Burton's Batman of 1989.
7 Taken 2 (2012) Production Budget: $45 Million - Box Office Gross: $376.1 Million Taken 2 PG-13 Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date September 27, 2012 Director Olivier Megaton Cast Liam Neeson , Maggie Grace , Famke Janssen , Leland Orser , Jon Gries , D.B. Sweeney Main Genre Action ✕ Remove Ads
In Taken 2, the very handy ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills is enjoying some leisure time in Istanbul having just finished a gig as a private security advisor. His ex-wife and daughter surprise him, but soon after, Mills and his ex-wife Leonore are kidnapped. The father of one of the criminals he killed in the first film is out for blood and won't stop until killing Mills and his family.
While it was the most successful film in the Taken franchise, critics weren't very happy about it. Holding a 22% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was widely panned and accused of being a formulaic iteration of the same story. However, Neeson's role as Bryan Mills was much too appealing and audiences ran back to theaters. Famed critic Roger Ebert was one of the few who liked the film calling it "slick, professional action."
✕ Remove Ads 6 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) Production Budget: $155 Million - Box Office Gross: $415.6 Million The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader PG Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date December 2, 2010 Director Michael Apted Cast Ben Barnes , Skandar Keynes , Georgie Henley , Will Poulter , Bill Nighy , Gary Sweet Main Genre Adventure
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader follows two of the four siblings, Edmund and Lucy, joined by their cousin Eustace, as they go back to the magical land of Narnia one last time. Unfortunately, things in the magical realm aren't exactly dandy, and they get separated while taking a trip aboard the Dawn Treader. At one point, the talking lion Aslan (Neeson in a voice-only performance) offers Lucy a big piece of advice and, in return, she helps to restore peace in Narnia.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third and final film in the Chronicles of Narnia franchise. Famed director Michael Apted takes on directing duties and makes a notable third entry in a franchise that had lost most of its steam. Nevertheless, it was still a very successful film with audiences.
✕ Remove Ads 5 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) Production Budget: $225 Million - Box Office Gross: $419.6 Million The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) PG Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date May 15, 2008 Director Andrew Adamson Cast Ben Barnes , Georgie Henley , Skandar Keynes , William Moseley , Anna Popplewell , Sergio Castellitto Main Genre Action
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian sends the siblings back through the wardrobe and straight to the land of magic where they spent the first movie. This time they must fight King Miraz who has usurped the throne from Prince Caspian. As usual, Lucy connects with Aslan, the talking lion, who provides advice.
The sequel to the original film was extremely expensive, but the first had made more than $700 million so producers didn't hesitate to open up their wallets. The reception by critics was actually good, and the film was able to cover its production budget. Neeson's voice performance is, as usual, quite remarkable.
✕ Remove Ads 4 The Lego Movie (2014) Production Budget: $265 Million - Box Office Gross: $470.7 Million The Lego Movie Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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In The Lego Movie, Emmet Brickowski is a random construction worker who finds out he has a purpose in life. He's a Lego figure living in a Lego world, and he must lead a resistance group to stand up against Lord Business, a businessman who's trying to glue everything in the Lego realm and achieve his tyrannical vision.
Neeson gives voice to a cop with split personality disorder who works for Lord Business and navigates between being a good and a bad cop. The film had a good effect on young audiences but also on adults who connected with the peculiar humor of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's exceptionally original movie. It was so successful it launched an entire franchise.
✕ Remove Ads 3 Clash of the Titans (2010) Production Budget: $125 Million - Box Office Gross: $493.2 Million Clash of the Titans PG-13 Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date April 2, 2010 Director Louis Leterrier
Clash of the Titans is a mythology-based adaptation that loosely tells the story of Perseus fighting Hades to stop him from conquering all realms. Hades is actually trying to win back what was taken from him after Zeus and Poseidon betrayed him. Perseus, Zeus' son, enters the match, and Hades uses this to his advantage.
The film was heavily criticized because of its complicated story that simply wasn't well-structured. However, audiences were completely in tune with the movie and the film made enough money to get a sequel approved. Neeson, who gives life to Zeus in the original film, also came back for Wrath of the Titans, but the film wasn't as successful as the first one.
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2 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) Production Budget: $180 Million - Box Office Gross: $745 Million The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe PG Where to Watch streamrentbuy
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*Availability in US Release Date December 9, 2005 Director Andrew Adamson Cast William Moseley , Anna Popplewell , Skandar Keynes , Georgie Henley , Tilda Swinton , James McAvoy , Jim Broadbent , Liam Neeson Main Genre Fantasy
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and young Lucy, as they travel to the magical realm of Narnia through a wardrobe and find it's been condemned to eternal winter. They meet Aslan, a talking lion, and they help him in defeating the White Witch, the ruler responsible for the curse that stops Christmas from ever arriving.
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The first film in the Narnia franchise is undoubtedly the best of them all. Neeson's voice performance is one of the highlights of the film, and will make you forget about some of the strange animation issues. The film won a single Academy Award and was likely Disney's reply to Warner Bros. fantasy production of the young wizard known as Harry Potter. The $745 million box office performance was the trigger that launched a franchise.
1 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) Production Budget: $115 Million - Box Office Gross: $1.07 Billion Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace PG
The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.
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*Availability in US Release Date May 19, 1999 Director George Lucas Cast Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace takes audiences to a galaxy far, far away as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and a then inexperienced Obi-Wan Kenobi find themselves escaping from a threat and meeting a boy named Anakin Skywalker. The film is the most important origin story of the Star Wars universe as it shows young Anakin before he even thought of joining the dark side of the Force.
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The Phantom Menace was a seminal movie event at the turn of the century that brought back attention to the franchise created by George Lucas in the 1970s. It was obviously the year's most successful blockbuster, and one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Neeson's Qui-Gon Jinn is one of several appealing characters in the franchise, but sadly, he would meet his demise in this film.