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Four decades have passed since Luc Besson found fame as an emerging 26-year-old director with thriller Subway starring Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert.

His feature credits since range from early stylized breakouts The Big Blue and Nikita; to sci-fi hits The Fifth Element and Lucy, and historic dramas The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc and The Lady, at the same time as building film company EuropaCorp and producing blockbuster franchises Taxi and Taken.

As the 40th anniversary of his big screen breakthrough approaches this fall, Besson is rolling out ultra-low budget romance June & John. Shot entirely with smartphones in L.A. during the Covid 19 pandemic with a 12-person crew, the guerilla-style production took Besson back to his early filmmaking years.

“It was very joyous. It was really two actors and a director because of the lockdown. From the time they were first in costume to the time we...

The clock is ticking as the team tracks down a bomb maker on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 17, “Acceptance.” Episode 17 will air on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“Acceptance” Plot: When Dante’s brother, James, seeks the team’s help to clear his client’s name in a shooting, they uncover a plot to bomb an international anti-terrorism conference. Meanwhile, Delilah gets ready for prom and learns she has been accepted to UCLA.

Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante and Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 17 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall,...

Bosch star Titus Welliver and Civil War‘s Juani Feliz guest star on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 16, “Sins of the Father.” Directed by Geoff Shotz, episode 16 will air on Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“Sins of the Father” Plot: McCall is contacted by Samantha Reed (Feliz), whose father, ex-CIA agent Elijah Reed (Welliver), is missing. While Samantha joins forces with the Equalizer team to track down the agency legend, she learns more about her family’s past in the Dominican Republic.

Juani Feliz as Samantha Reed and Titus Welliver as Elijah “Eli” Reed in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 18 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining...

If I were to ask what Liam Neeson has been up to lately, pretty much everyone would be able to answer, "He's been starring in the same movie for the last 20 years." The gruff, beleaguered badass dad is basically a creation of the actor himself at this point. Ever since the French gave Neeson the star an action movie makeover with "Taken" back in 2008, the Irish actor has been suspended in a time loop that has him playing the same aggrieved dad who's really good at shooting people over and over again.

"Unknown," "Non-Stop," "Run All Night," "Honest Thief," "The Commuter," "Cold Pursuit" — the "Taken" clones just kept coming, which wasn't necessarily all that bad. Neeson had long since proven his acting skills, and while his new action persona wasn't necessarily going to produce any of the best Liam Neeson movies, it did give us a new genre of...

Martial arts decide the fate, and the faith, of humanity in the first trailer for next month’s indie action thriller, Absolute Dominion. Combining action classics like Bloodsport, The Hunger Games, and Mortal Kombat, Absolute Dominion drops audiences in a dystopian future in which the world’s governments decide to end the ongoing holy wars that have devastated civilization by gambling everything on a martial arts tournament. Which, considering the state of the real world, is some political policy we could get seriously behind.

Directed by Lexi Alexander, who is best known for helming the likes of the Marvel movie Punisher: War Zone starring the late Ray Stevenson on the big screen, as well as Arrow, Limitless, Taken, and S.W.A.T. on the small screen, Absolute Dominion is all set to land on Digital and in select theaters on May 9, 2025. You can check out more about the movie, and the trailer,...

Rami Malek believes his character in “The Amateur” stands apart from the typical espionage thriller protagonist.

“He’s extremely different. Usually, we see someone who would be difficult to necessarily relate to personally for the majority of us, whereas I think we can see a lot of ourselves in Charlie,” Malek told Variety at the film’s New York premiere. “Many of us, just day to day, probably feel overlooked and underestimated at some point. I know I have in the past; I can imagine 99.9% of us have. That’s who Charlie is.”

Based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name, “The Amateur” follows Charles “Charlie” Heller (Malek), a CIA cryptographer who embarks on a personal mission to seek revenge on his wife’s (Rachel Brosnahan) killers. “He’s one of those guys who feels like he’s on the outskirts of society — an outcast,” Malek added. “I...

Jon Hamm returns to host Saturday Night Live this weekend after a 15-year break — so why is he focused on the Taken movies?

Hosting SNL takes "a specific set of skills, as Liam Neeson might say," Hamm told Gold Derby at the premiere of his new Apple TV+ series Your Friends and Neighbors. "But it's really fun, and it's unlike anything else in the business."

Hamm will star on the April 12 episode of NBC's sketch-comedy series, alongside musical guest Lizzo. "It's been 15 years since I hosted," Hamm said. "I think I forgot if I'm supposed to be nervous, and when. I'm looking forward to doing it again." Watch the video:

Jon Hamm is “very much looking forward” to hosting #SNL this weekend, where the musical guest is Lizzo. It’s been 15 years since he hosted! pic.twitter.com/vUPIBOqLpc

— Marcus James Dixon (@marcusdixon) April 10, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.

The feature directorial debut from Evan Ari Kelman just got an exciting new look. After working on a series of shorts starting in 2012, Kelman has been tapped to direct Barron’s Cove, the upcoming crime thriller starring Garrett Hedlund, Stephen Lang, and Brittany Snow. We’re happy to partner with Well Go USA as part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event to unveil a new look at the film, which also stars Hamish Linklater and Raúl Castillo. Barron’s Cove follows a father with a violent past who grieves over the sudden loss of his only child. Intent on finding answers, he kidnaps a young boy he believes is responsible, which sets off a manhunt and a media frenzy. The boy is the son of a local politician, and as the man grows closer to uncovering the truth, he wonders if the manhunt is to protect the boy or the secrets he knows.

Viola Davis turns into an action star in G20, as Hollywood grapples with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Here’s our review.

I am the worst possible reviewer for a film like G20. I look at it, and fully appreciate that in the 1990s the script would have gone to Nicolas Cage. In the 2000s, to The Statham, and by the late 2010s, it’s Gerard Butler’s. I’d watch each version of those, obviously.

In 2025, G20 accepts the trade-off that Viola Davis (deservedly) gets the lead role, but it’ll be bypassing cinemas and instead be a heavily-backed streaming release instead. It’s not the ideal quid pro quo, but still: G20 is thoroughly enjoyable bollocks. The casting of Viola Davis is, of course, inspired. She could kill Liam Neeson in the Taken films with a mild glance, and I’d recommend exploring spin-off films where she takes down traditional action stars.

NCIS: Los Angeles‘ Daniela Ruah directs CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 15 which involves a possible catfishing situation. Episode 15, “Deception,” will air on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“Deception” Plot: The team suspects Aunt Vi’s friend Evelyn is being taken advantage of by a con man. Meanwhile, McCall decides to take the day off equalizing and spend quality time with Delilah. The episode was written by Joe Gazzam and Rob Hanning.

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 15 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall,...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up North American rights to Jonny Campbell’s sci-fi comedy Cold Storage from production/sales group Studiocanal, the companies unveiled on Monday.

Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Georgina Campbell (Barbarian), and Sosie Bacon (Smile) star in the feature, alongside Vanessa Redgrave (Mission: Impossible), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), and Liam Neeson (Taken),

Campbell (Dracula) directed Cold Storage from a script by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible) based on his debut novel, with Koepp producing together with Zombieland and Panic Room producer Gavin Polone.

Keery and Campbell star as Teacake and Naomi, two young employees of a self-storage company built on the site of an old US military base, who experience their wildest night shift ever when a parasitic fungus escapes from the lowest sublevel of the base, where it was sealed by the government decades before. As the temperature rises underground, this highly contagious and rapidly...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to Studiocanal’s sci-fi comedy “Cold Storage.” The filmmakers have unveiled a first look.

The film toplines “Stranger Things” breakout Joe Keery alongside “Barbarian” standout Georgina Campbell and “Smile” star Sosie Bacon. The cast also includes screen veterans Vanessa Redgrave (“Mission: Impossible”), Lesley Manville (“Phantom Thread”) and Liam Neeson (“Taken”).

Jonny Campbell, whose credits include “Dracula,” directs from a screenplay by Hollywood veteran David Koepp, adapting from his own novel. Koepp’s scripting resume includes blockbusters “Jurassic Park,” “Mission: Impossible” and more recently, “Presence.” Gavin Polone, known for “Zombieland” and “Panic Room,” produces alongside Koepp.

The film follows Teacake (Keery) and Naomi (Campbell), two employees at a self-storage facility built atop a former military base, whose night shift transforms into a nightmare when a government-sealed parasitic fungus escapes from the underground levels. As temperatures rise, the microorganism unleashes its brain-controlling, body-bursting mayhem on anything in its path.

Liam Neeson James Bond ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Liam Neeson once revealed that a heartfelt ultimatum from his late wife, Natasha Richardson, was the only reason he never seriously sought for the James Bond role in GoldenEye (1995). Though, Neeson made it clear that he never received an official offer for the role. He did express interest when approached informally by the franchise’s producer, Barbara Broccoli, following his acclaimed performance in Schindler’s List.

In a candid conversation with Rolling Stone published at the time, the then-70-year-old actor explained that Broccoli had contacted him a few times to gauge his interest in the coveted role. Neeson admitted he had been open to the idea, having just gained significant recognition in Hollywood. However, while filming Nell in the Carolinas, his then-girlfriend and soon-to-be wife Richardson made her stance unmistakably clear. She told him flat-out, “If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.

Though known for her devastating performances in “Fences” — for which she won an Academy Award — and 2011’s “The Help,” Viola Davis knows that longevity in the acting profession means mixing it up from time to time. That’s why for her most recent outing in “G20,” she decided to kick some ass. As a deadly American President taking on a group of terrorists who’ve laid siege to a summit of world leaders, Davis is embracing her Liam Neeson “Taken”-era, largely, she said in a recent interview with The Times of London, due to her need to have some fun.

“Training, speech, technique, critics — there’s a sense of torture that you almost have to make peace with,” she said of her career in acting. “But internally you’re always trying to get back to the fun.”

Adding later of how “G20” provided that, Davis said, “I needed some levity in my life.

Look, we all know Liam Neeson as the guy who’s going to find you and kill you if you kidnap his daughter, right? But here’s the thing – beneath that stern expression and those intimidating threats lies an actor with some seriously impressive comedy skills that don’t get nearly enough credit.

While he’s built his reputation on intense action roles and dramatic performances, our favorite Irish tough guy has actually been making us laugh for decades.

Liam Neeson | Credits: Karen Seto, Cc By 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From subtle, dry humor to surprisingly goofy cameos, Neeson’s comedic performances often come as a refreshing surprise when you’re used to seeing him chase bad guys across rooftops. So grab your popcorn because we’re about to dive into eight must-watch Liam Neeson comedy movies that show just how funny this action hero can be when he trades his gun for a punchline.

Liam Neeson is an actor with a very particular set of skills. In the last decade and a half, that has primarily been looking gruff, talking smack, and kicking ass in a slew of geriaction films, from the Taken franchise to The Grey to The Commuter and, most recently, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners. But in The Lonely Island alum Akiva Schaffer's long-gestating, finally-nearly-here reboot of The Naked Gun, Neeson is set to show off a new skill only previously hinted at in guest spots on the likes of Life’s Too Short and Derry Girls — comedy. And if the first trailer for the movie is anything to go by, then the only thing Neeson's Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. is going to be killing here is us... because we might just die laughing. Check it out below;

Okay, hands up: who had 'Liam Neeson shivving baddies with...

To kickstart their very Mission: Impossible focused CinemaCon presentation, Paramount first debuted the official trailer for their upcoming action-comedy The Naked Gun, a movie they are cheekily describing as "The single most important Naked Gun movie since the other Naked Gun movies."

It's a short teaser, featuring leading man Liam Neeson, as he intervenes during a bank heist, but you're going to have to just watch it to believe it. We also learn that he's playing Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen's Lt. Frank Drebin, who the film will honor and it seems like they'll do it in typical Naked Gun fashion.

The film will provide some much-needed humor to an action-packed summer, opening in the wake of Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps and opposite the animated sequel The Bad Guys 2 and the body horror film Together. It's likely Fantastic Four will repeat as the box office champ,...

CinemaCon has officially kicked off in Las Vegas and our own Chris Bumbray is on the scene. While strolling the halls, he caught the first teaser poster for Nobody 2 on display, the highly anticipated sequel to the surprisingly great action thriller starring Bob Odenkirk. You can check out the Nobody 2 poster below.

A clenched bloody fist, some bracelet charms, and a Hawaiian shirt. What is Hutch Mansell up to this time? In addition to Odenkirk, the sequel will also see the return of Connie Nielsen as Hutch’s wife, Becca, as well as Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father, a retired FBI agent. Sharon Stone is playing the main villain of the sequel, with Colin Hanks also onboard as a “corrupt sheriff with none-too-nice ambitions.”

Our own Chris Bumbray spoke with Nobody 2 director Timo Tjahjanto last year, who said that Odenkirk and Lloyd are forces to be reckoned with.

Action megastar Jason Statham still looks powerful for a man inching toward 60. And the older he gets, the more worn and lived-in his face becomes, like my therapist’s leather couch. So what if he doesn’t take off his shirt as much anymore? He’s built like a wrestler, but graceful, too, an experienced kickboxer with a trademark, face-smashing spinning back-kick. In A Working Man, the U.K.-born Statham stars as an all-American man’s man with a Cockney accent (he was a Royal Marine long ago, you...

April 2025 is bringing plenty of exciting new shows, movies, and events to Peacock! Whether you’re into thrilling dramas, comedies, or family-friendly content, there’s something for everyone. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the fresh titles you can enjoy next month on the streaming service. Get ready for some great entertainment!

1. Girl You Know It’s True (April 4)

Girl You Know It’s True (2023) is a film that tells the story of dancers Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, who gained fame in the late 80s as the pop duo Milli Vanilli. Despite their success, the duo never actually sang on their songs or debut album.

When the truth about their lip-syncing was exposed, it led to one of the biggest scandals in music history. The film is directed and written by Simon Verhoeven and stars Tijan Njie, Elan Ben Ali, and Matthias Schweighöfer.

2. WrestleMania IX: Becoming a...

Liam Neeson has made the most of his time as an action hero since taking on a career-changing role in Taken, but the man himself was never quite sure whether he should really be getting into the world of violent revenge-driven action thrillers, and, as he once recalled, he was even made to feel a bit embarrassed by the amount of nasty deaths he caused in the movie.

Neeson has become everyone’s go-to guy on many streaming platforms as his 20-year legacy of action movies constantly switches around different streamers. Many find their way into various Top 10 charts, especially when they arrive on a free streaming service like Tubi, but it could have been all different if Neeson had bailed on the film that started it all.

Speaking to ScreenRant back in 2022, Neeson confessed that his driver had once made him feel bad about the things the script called for him to do.

Upon first glance, A Working Man appears to be cut from the same cloth that bore 2008’s Taken. But, whereas Pierre Morel’s film was more of a cathartic release for a parent wronged by kidnappers, A Working Man finds its heart in the soul of a man who is simply trying to protect the family that was there for him when no one else was.

The film begins with a brief introduction to the character of Levon Cade (Jason Statham) as he is seen working on a construction site as a foreman of sorts. His previous career within military black ops is hinted at during the opening credit montage and then suggested at further when a co-worker of his is accosted by gang members attempting to collect a debt and Cade thwarts their attempt. However, when the daughter of Cade’s boss (Michael Peña) is kidnapped to be sold into slavery,...

A Working Man may be the Jason Statham-iest film ever to Stath. With its man-on-a-mission, hunt-for-a-kidnapped-girl narrative, it borrows wholeheartedly from the likes of Commando and Taken, and effectively steals from John Wick in the “weapons sommelier” played by David Harbour. But this is first and foremost a Jason Statham film, boiled down to its essential ingredients — losing all flavour and substance in the process.

Statham ostensibly plays a character called Levon Cade, but in a very real, more accurate sense, he plays a character called ‘Jason Statham’: a tough guy with a mysterious military past and an unplaceable Essex-by-way-of-Beverly-Hills accent who dispatches a succession of forgettable goons in order to save the day. It is exactly the same type found in all his recent roles, often in films with similar job-title titles: The Mechanic, The Transporter, The Beekeeper.

The last — which featured the appalling line, “To bee or not to bee!

McCall turns to serial killer The Grave Digger for help on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 14. Directed by Marcus Stokes and written by Terence Paul Winter & Holly Harold, episode 14 will air on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“The Grave Digger” Plot: McCall visits “The Grave Digger,” a serial killer she put behind bars a year ago, to uncover who is behind a series of copycat murders. Meanwhile, Dee skips her Peer Ear meeting to go to a party with Cam. Michael Worden guest stars.

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Michael Worden as Kynard in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 14 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining of...

The Taliban’s sweep to power in Afghanistan in 2021 serves as the backdrop to “Kabul,” one of France’s most ambitious international thriller dramas to date.

The six-part geopolitical show, which is world premiering today at Series Mania in Lille, emerged from the first-hand experience of producer Fabienne Servan-Schreiber who played a direct role in the chaotic evacuation efforts.

While vacationing in Greece with her son (and fellow producer) Matthias Weber, Servan-Schreiber heard of the situation in Kabul and got fully involved in efforts to rescue multiple families of Afghan artists and doctors.

Speaking to Variety along with Weber on the eve of “Kabul”‘s presentation at Series Mania, Servan-Schreiber says she was initially contacted by Jean-Michel Frodon, a film historian and journalist, who was looking for help to raise funds to buy plane tickets for a group of Afghan artists.

“I sent the email to everyone in my address...

Liam Neeson has appeared in over 100 feature films since making his big-screen debut 47 years ago in an adaptation of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." He spent the 1980s making his bones via supporting performances in high-profile movies like "Excalibur," "The Bounty," "The Dead Pool," but it was his lively portrayal of a hell-raising hill person in the Patrick Swayze revenge vehicle "Next of Kin" that made Hollywood perk up and take notice. The following year, Sam Raimi cast Neeson as Peyton Westlake aka Darkman, but it wasn't until Steven Spielberg entrusted the Irish actor with the title role in "Schindler's List" that he was off and running as a movie star.

When Neeson surprised moviegoers in 2008 by thriving as an action star in "Taken," he leaned heavily into the bit. Two sequels followed, as did "The A-Team," "Unknown," "Non-Stop," and "Run All Night." For more serious-minded fans of Neeson's work,...

If you grew up watching movies in the mid-2000s, chances are you think of Liam Neeson as some sort of perpetually grizzled action hero engaged in a never-ending quest for vengeance. It's no secret that the Irish star has spent the latter part of his career fronting a series of middling actioners that, if you removed the names and flimsy plots, would basically all be the same film. (We've even ranked the 10 best "old man Liam Neeson action films" right here.)

It all began with 2008's "Taken," which began Neeson's action star makeover and was actually a pretty good movie that set a precedent for similar films moving forward. But there was a time when Neeson was known for much more than being the permanently upset badass dad. Prior to 2008, the man had some seriously impressive accomplishments to his name, such as a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his...

McCall’s new case involves a potential Pentagon cover-up on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 13, “A Few Good Women.” Episode 13, directed by Terrence Laron Burke and written by Vanessa K. Herron, will air on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“A Few Good Women” Plot: After a soldier suddenly goes Awol while planning to expose an alleged secret military project, McCall and the team learn that her life is in danger. Meanwhile, Dante makes a career move to be closer to McCall and his family.

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 13 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a...

A largely forgotten prequel to Liam Neeson’s most beloved action franchise is finding success thanks to free streaming. Beginning back in 2017, the first season of Taken, which follows a younger version of Neeson’s unstoppable ex-Green Beret and CIA agent Bryan Mills, has audiences hooked as they flock to load up the series and delve into the early, but no-less action-packed career of one this fan-favorite action hero.

Exploring the origins of Bryan Mills, with Clive Standen cast in the Neeson role, the Taken series was developed by writer, producer, and former soldier Alexander Cary and ran for two seasons before being unceremoniously canceled in 2018. The Taken prequel series has now fought its way into the top 10 on the streaming platform Freevee, and you can check out the official synopsis below.

“Driven by personal tragedy, former Green Beret and CIA operative Bryan Mills specializes in deadly rescue missions --...

Netflix continues to fight the good fight for no-nonsense action movie magic, with the streaming giant having now revealed the release date for what could easily be their next action thriller smash hit. Now all set to be unleashed next month, Exterritorial sounds like it could be the next Taken, as a former Special Forces soldier is forced to resurrect her particular set of kills after her son mysteriously goes missing.

According to Netflix, the German action outing, which has been made in conjunction with Constantin Television (Dear Child), is due to be released on the streamer on April 30, 2025. Written and directed by Christian Zübert, Exterritorial promises to be as gripping as Liam Neeson’s action movie magnum opus, and you can check out the official synopsis for Exterritorial below.

“On a visit to the US consulate in Frankfurt, the young son of former Special Forces soldier Sara (Jeanne Goursaud) suddenly disappears without a trace.

Pierre Morel's "Taken" is far from an action classic, but the hook of sex traffickers inadvertently kidnapping the daughter of a ludicrously lethal CIA agent worked well enough to make the film a decent afternoon time-waster, particularly with an actor of Liam Neeson's caliber cast as the pissed-off papa bear. Moviegoers turned out in big numbers and got precisely what they paid to see (judging from the film's A- Cinemascore), so 20th Century Fox ordered up a sequel figuring undemanding action junkies wouldn't mind if Neeson's daughter got kidnapped again. They figured correctly (though this time his ex-wife was kidnapped), and scored an even bigger success. So they went back to the well a third time, and made roughly the same amount of dough without breaking the bank with the budget.

There was no "Taken 4" (if you don't count the one featuring Jimmy Kimmel), which flies in the...

So far, there is only one character who appears in every season of The White Lotus — Greg, who is now going by Gary in Season 3. We know Greg as the scheming and downright murderous former husband to the beloved Tanya McQuoid (the legendary Jennifer Coolidge). In Season 1, he weaseled his way into her heart. In Season 2, he bailed on her in Italy but secretly arranged for her murder. In Season 3, we find him living in Thailand at a house near the White Lotus resort, dating a "model" (the delightful Charlotte Le Bon). When another character from Season 1, Tanya's potential business partner Belinda (the hilarious Natasha Rothwell), shows up at the Thailand White Lotus resort and recognizes Greg, she begins to fear for her own life.

Greg/Gary is a scary jerk, probably the most explicitly villainous character in Mike White's show, but he's played by an extremely funny man — Jon Gries.

When the trailer for "Taken" first started making the rounds in 2008, no one thought it was terribly out of character for Liam Neeson to star in a straight-ahead action flick. With films like "Darkman," "Rob Roy" and "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" on his resume, the 1993 Best Actor nominee for "Schindler's List" certainly seemed comfortable making genre movies. The surprise was the five years that led up to it. After failing to snag a well-deserved second Best Actor nomination for "Kinsey" in 2004, he segued to supporting parts in "Kingdom of Heaven," "Batman Begins" and "Breakfast on Pluto," which suggested he was either getting passed over for lead roles, didn't fit the star type for whatever was being offered, or entering the character actor phase of his career.

After the moody Western "Seraphim Falls" failed to catch on with moviegoers (despite the intriguing pairing of Neeson and Pierce Brosnan), next up was "Taken.

Underworld star Kate Beckinsale and Mortal Kombat’sLewis Tan will join forces for a new “under-the-radar" action thriller from director James Nunn, the filmmaker behind the Scott Adkins action outings One Shot and One More Shot. Yes, it is pretty much everything you could hope for as an action movie fan. You're welcome. Titled Lioness, production is now underway in the United Kingdom, and the first details have now been revealed.

According to a report by Deadline, Capstone will finance the action movie, which will follow “an ex-black ops team who reunite to pull off a desperate heist to save the life of their leader’s (Beckinsale) eight-year-old daughter.” Which, frankly, sounds like the kind of pitch perfect, no-nonsense plot that action dreams are often made of.

Alongside Kate Beckinsale and Lewis Tan, the rest of the cast includes Rasmus Hardiker, Alice Krige, Bailey Patrick, Tom Bennett, Matt Willis, and Roxy Striar.

As much as actor Harrison Ford has cemented his career playing fantastical protagonists — Indiana Jones, Han Solo, Dr. Richard Kimble (to a lesser extent) — the man is no stranger to stepping into the shoes of darker and grittier characters. There is 1986’s The Mosquito Coast and 2000’s What Lies Beneath, which both have him play someone evolving into a twisted and evil person by the movie’s end. More prominently though, 1982’s Blade Runner saw him play a cold and detached police officer who kills androids because of an ignorant social bias. If Ford has already proven that he could play anywhere on the character trait chart, why did he surprisingly bow out of playing private detective Scudder in 2014’s A Walk Among the Tombstones?

In an interview with Daniel Robert Epstein (writing for The Suicide Girls), Scott Frank (the director of the aforementioned movie) says that the Star Wars actor “chickened out.

Directors Robert Olsen and Dan Berk are well known to horror fans for smart, scary, and sometimes quite funny thrillers like “Body,” “Villains,” and “Significant Other.” With their latest film, “Novocaine,” the precise and expressive visual style of those early films remains, but the genre is new: The story of a mild-mannered banker (Jack Quaid) on a quest to save his kidnapped new girlfriend (Amber Midthunder) is a full-on action movie packed with exhilarating set pieces.

For Berk and Olsen, getting the chance to play in Richard Donner and John McTiernan’s sandbox was a long-held dream finally realized.

“We’ve wanted to make an action movie for a very long time, but it’s really hard early in your career,” Berk told IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. “No one’s going to give you the 20-plus-million dollars you need to make an action movie for your first feature.”

While...

The team searches for buried treasure on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 12, “Trust No One.” Episode 12, directed by Bola Ogun and written by Holly Harold and Terence Paul Winter, will air on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“Trust No One” Plot: McCall and the team are on the hunt for buried treasure after a history professor obsessed with finding missing gold is killed. Meanwhile, Dante is reluctant to introduce his sons to McCall after she invites them over for dinner.

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 12 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic...

Liam Neeson is, if nothing else, a very candid interview subject. Sometimes he's candid to a problematic fault. Regardless of how you feel about the man, however, you cannot accuse him of giving canned answers, which is what renders too many interviews unworthy of a reader's time.

With a film acting career that spans over 40 years, stretching back to his portrayal of the knight Gawain in John Boorman's Arthurian "Excalibur," the Irish-born Neeson has put together a career that prompts many questions. He went Hollywood early, and seemed stuck in a rut acting in forgettable films like "Suspect," "Satisfaction," and "The Good Mother." I didn't really take measure of him as a performer until he played Patrick Swayze's vengeful, incredibly lethal hillbilly brother in "Next of Kin." His high-pitched voice and not-entirely-hidden Irish lilt is actually perfect for an Appalachian hill person, and even though the film is just a studio programmer,...

On Sunday March 9 2025, CBS broadcasts an episode of the series The Equalizer!

Taken Season 5 Episode 11 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Equalizer,” titled “Taken,” promises to be an intense and emotional ride. Set to air on CBS, this episode centers around the urgent disappearance of a little boy from a mall. The stakes are high as McCall and her team spring into action, determined to track down the missing child before it’s too late.

As the team delves into the investigation, they will face various challenges and unexpected twists. Viewers can expect suspenseful moments as McCall uses her skills and resources to uncover leads and piece together the mystery. The urgency of the situation adds an extra layer of tension, highlighting the dedication of McCall and her team to bring the child home safely.

In a subplot, Aunt Vi and Captain Curtis will address some unresolved issues from their recent ride along.

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Steven Spielberg knows a thing or two about sci-fi, especially extraterrestrials in fiction. While such stories about alien encounters often come in varying shades, the most enduring, nostalgia-laden film associated with the genre is Spielberg's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." A classic in almost every sense, "E.T." captures the anxieties of childhood along with its wonders, etching a journey about homecoming through the most endearing friendships. On the flip side, we have Spielberg's 1977 "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," a first-contact tale where an everyman's obsessive drive to de-mystify UFOs propels him to choose openness in the face of the unknown. Although "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is not as heartwarming or fantastical in tone as "E.T.," it wears a Spielberg-ian brand of tender hope that runs through (almost) all of the director's sci-fi undertakings.

Then there's 2005's "War of the Worlds,...

Action movie fans are in for a treat this month, as one of the most underrated examples of the genre (and one helmed by Taken director Pierre Morel no less) is all set to land on free streaming. Released more than two decades ago in 2004, District B13 boasts all manner of martial arts, shoot-outs, explosions, breathtaking parkour, and even social commentary as it drops audiences in the far-flung future of, erm, 2010 and one of the poor, crime-ridden suburbs of Paris: Banlieue 13, Aka B13.

Helmed by the creative team behind Liam Neeson’s action movie renaissance hit Taken, director Pierre Morel, and writer and producer Luc Besson, District B13 stars David Belle as main character Leïto, a rebel who lives within the confines of B13, with underrated martial arts actor Cyril Raffaelli as Damien Tomaso, an undercover officer who joins forces with Leïto after the pair are targeted by a merciless gangster,...

Robyn McCall is back, and this time, it’s personal. In this Sunday’s episode of “The Equalizer,” titled “Taken,” a child’s disappearance from a bustling mall sets McCall and her team on a frantic search. The clock is ticking, and every second counts as they race to find the missing boy. But the case isn’t the […]

The Equalizer: Taken...

Set your notifications. Cancel Wednesday night trivia. If you’re old like me, actually get out your red pen and mark your calendar. Seven movies are leaving Netflix this month, and you’ll want to be sure to watch them before they say farewell.

One of them is an Oscar-winning Best Picture. Another, in the eyes of many, should have been. One is a sheer guilty pleasure.

There’s cutting-edge satire, vitally important social commentary, and quite possibly the best film ever made in its particular sub-genre.

Seven movies to stream on Netflix before they leave in March

I will caution you about one thing: with a minor exception or two, these movies tend toward the violent, from the outright physical to the intensely emotional. There are some comic moments to be found and perhaps a tiny bit of offbeat romance, but these are generally high-octane, in-your-face adventures. However – and...

Every second counts as McCall’s team searches for a missing boy on CBS’s The Equalizer season five episode 11, “Taken.” Episode 11, directed by Tasha Smith and written by Vanessa K. Herron and Rob Hanning, is set to air on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, Tory Kittles is Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg is Harry Keshegian, and Liza Lapira is Melody “Mel” Bayani. Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Delilah and Lorraine Toussaint is Viola “Vi” Marsette.

“Taken” Plot: After a little boy disappears from a mall, McCall and the team track down the missing child. Meanwhile, Aunt Vi and Captain Curtis clear the air about what happened during their ride along.

Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante in ‘The Equalizer’ season 5 episode 11 The Equalizer Synopsis, Courtesy of CBS

“The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring...

Russell Croweturns to Taken and aged action icon Liam Neeson for advice in this underrated and divisive crime thriller, which is now streaming free. Released back in 2010, The Next Three Days finds Crowe taking the lead as an everyman who is forced to leap into action after his wife is wrongfully convicted of murder.

Written and directed by Paul Haggis, The Next Three Days is a remake of the 2008 French film Pour elle (Anything for Her) by filmmaker Fred Cavayé, and stars Elizabeth Banks, Brian Dennehy, Olivia Wilde, Lennie James, Ty Simpkins, and Liam Neeson alongside Russell Crowe. The Next Three Days is now streaming free on the popular platform, Tubi, and you can check out the official synopsis below.

RelatedMark Wahlberg’s Box Office Bomb Thriller Is Streaming Free...and It Deserves Another Chance

The neo-noir thriller follows a private detective seeking redemption for past sins.

“Life for John...

While Liam Neeson remains a compelling big-screen presence, Neeson’s action-hero persona has become increasingly derivative over the past decade. The standard Neeson action vehicle has Neeson playing a reluctant avenger or hero who employs a specific set of skills to neutralize his enemies and protect the people whom he cares about. Neeson has now acted within this formula for approximately 15 years, ever since the box-office success of the first Taken film changed the trajectory of Neeson’s career.

This formula is embodied most clearly in the 2021 action film The Marksman, in which Neeson plays a widowed Arizona rancher and former United States Marine Corps sniper who agrees to help a young boy escape a Mexican drug cartel. While The Marksman is mediocre and predictable in virtually every respect, the film is most distinguished in terms of how clearly Neeson’s character’s military sniper training is visible in Neeson’s performance,...

The Equalizer fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 5 Episode 11 episode titled Taken!

Find out everything you need to know about the Taken episode of The Equalizer, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

The Equalizer Taken Season 5 Episode 11 Preview

The upcoming episode of “The Equalizer,” titled “Taken,” promises to deliver an intense and emotional storyline that fans will not want to miss. Airing on CBS at 9:00 Pm on March 9, 2025, this episode centers around the urgent disappearance of a little boy from a mall. The stakes are high as McCall and her team spring into action to track down the missing child, showcasing their skills and determination in the face of a ticking clock.

Queen Latifah returns as Robyn McCall, the resourceful and fearless vigilante who will stop at nothing to ensure justice is served. Supporting...

Tubi has repeatedly shown itself as one of the best platforms for viewing movies in an era where streaming services are becoming increasingly popular. Whether it's a classic Western starring John Wayne or a high-voltage action thriller, the streaming platform has it all. Speaking of the latter, Tubi will add some of the genre's best films to its repertoire in February 2025.

From Liam Neeson's iconic Taken to the latest DC live-action feature of one of its most beloved characters, Blue Beetle, the previous month has been quite entertaining for Tubi users. Similarly, the streaming service has planned a number of intriguing action films, including arguably the greatest martial arts film starring Bruce Lee to Denzel Washington's newest entry from a lucrative franchise. So, without further ado, here's a list of every movie that will be available to stream for free on Tubi beginning March 2025.

'Transporter 3'...

The excitement builds as “The Equalizer” returns for Season 5, Episode 11, titled “Taken.” This gripping episode will air on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 9:00 Pm on CBS. Fans can expect a heart-pounding storyline that revolves around the urgent search for a missing child. When a little boy vanishes from a mall, McCall and her dedicated team spring into action. The stakes are high as they race against time to track down the child and bring him back safely.

As the team investigates, viewers will see McCall’s resourcefulness and determination shine through. The episode promises intense moments filled with suspense as they follow leads and uncover clues. The bond between the team members will also be on display, showcasing their collaboration and commitment to helping those in need.

In addition to the main storyline, Aunt Vi and Captain Curtis will have their own subplot. They will take the opportunity to clear the...

Quick Links'Suspect' Features Liam Neeson's Most Challenging Performance'Suspect' Launched Neeson to Hollywood Stardom'Suspect' Is an Underrated Courtroom Thriller That Warrants Multiple Viewings

Liam Neeson has become so closely identified with the action genre over the past 15 years that it’s easy to forget what an accomplished and interesting dramatic actor he was before the surprising box-office success of the first Taken film completely changed the trajectory of Neeson’s career, with increasingly diminishing returns.

Neeson proved his dramatic ability with his breakthrough Hollywood role in the 1987 legal mystery thriller film Suspect, in which he plays Carl Anderson, a deaf and mute homeless Vietnam War veteran who is arrested and prosecuted for the murder of a Justice Department legal typist. Suspect stars Cher as Kathleen Riley, a public defender who’s assigned to defend Anderson in the trial, which is connected to the highest corridors of Washington, D.C. power,...