Taken and Taken 2 are two action thriller movies centered on Bryan Mills, a former CIA operative played by Liam Neeson. The films combine kidnapping plots, international locations, hand to hand combat and fast paced action.
The original Taken was released in 2008 and follows Bryan as he travels to Paris after his daughter Kim is kidnapped while on a trip. Taken 2, released in 2012, changes the situation by putting Bryan and his former wife Lenore in danger in Istanbul.
The two movies form the first two installments of the Taken film series, which later continued with Taken 3 in 2015.
What Is Taken About?
Taken introduces Bryan Mills as a retired CIA operative with a particular set of skills. His daughter Kim travels to Paris with her friend Amanda, but the trip quickly becomes dangerous when the girls are kidnapped.
Bryan is informed about the kidnapping during a phone call and decides to travel to Paris to find his daughter.
The movie focuses heavily on his search through Paris as he follows clues, confronts criminals and attempts to rescue Kim.
The central idea is simple: Bryan has limited time and is willing to use his professional skills to find his daughter.
Taken Cast
The main cast of Taken includes:
- Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills
- Maggie Grace as Kim Mills
- Famke Janssen as Lenore
- Leland Orser as Sam
- Jon Gries as Casey
- David Warshofsky as Bernie
- Katie Cassidy as Amanda
Liam Neeson’s performance as Bryan Mills became closely associated with the character and helped establish the role as one of his most recognizable action characters.
Taken Story Explained
Bryan wants to stay close to his daughter even though he is no longer working as a CIA operative.
Kim travels to Paris with Amanda, but shortly after arriving, the girls are abducted.
Bryan uses information from a phone conversation to determine what happened and begins tracking the people responsible.
His investigation takes him into the criminal underworld of Paris. He uses surveillance, interrogation and combat skills to follow the trail.
The movie then becomes a race against time as Bryan attempts to locate Kim before she disappears permanently.
Why Is Taken So Popular?
One reason the original movie became widely recognized is its straightforward story.
Instead of giving Bryan an elaborate mission involving international politics, the movie gives him a personal goal: find his daughter.
That makes the action easy to follow. Each scene generally moves Bryan closer to his objective.
The movie also established the character’s signature approach to problem solving. Bryan is experienced, determined and highly familiar with dangerous situations.
What Is Taken 2 About?
Taken 2 continues Bryan Mills’ story several years after the events of the first movie.
This time, Bryan travels to Istanbul after completing a job. His former wife Lenore and daughter Kim eventually join him.
However, Bryan’s past catches up with him.
Murad, the father of one of the men Bryan killed during Kim’s rescue, wants revenge. Murad organizes a kidnapping operation that targets Bryan and Lenore.
The situation reverses the basic setup of the first movie.
In Taken, Bryan searches for his kidnapped daughter.
In Taken 2, Bryan himself becomes a hostage and must find a way to escape while protecting his family.
Taken 2 Cast
The major cast members include:
- Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills
- Maggie Grace as Kim Mills
- Famke Janssen as Lenore
- Rade Šerbedžija as Murad
- Leland Orser as Sam
- Jon Gries as Casey
- D. B. Sweeney as Bernie
- Luke Grimes as Jamie
Olivier Megaton directed the movie, while Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen wrote the screenplay.
Taken 2 Story Explained
The beginning of Taken 2 gives Bryan an opportunity to spend time with Lenore and Kim in Istanbul.
The family reunion does not last long.
Murad’s group captures Bryan and Lenore. Kim manages to avoid capture and becomes an important part of Bryan’s plan to escape.
While imprisoned, Bryan uses his knowledge of his surroundings and his professional experience to communicate with Kim.
Kim then has to help her father from outside the prison while Bryan works to escape and locate Lenore.
The movie moves between Bryan’s attempts to survive and Kim’s efforts to follow his instructions.
Taken vs Taken 2
Although the movies share the same characters and basic action style, their stories are structured differently.
| Feature | Taken | Taken 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2008 | 2012 |
| Main character | Bryan Mills | Bryan Mills |
| Actor | Liam Neeson | Liam Neeson |
| Main location | Paris | Istanbul |
| Main threat | Kidnappers | Murad and his group |
| Family member in danger | Kim | Bryan and Lenore |
| Director | Pierre Morel | Olivier Megaton |
| Writers | Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen | Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen |
| Genre | Action thriller | Action thriller |
| Runtime | Around 90 minutes | 1 hour 32 minutes |
Taken 2 keeps the basic action formula of the first movie but changes who is being hunted and who needs to escape.
The Role of Kim in Taken 2
Kim has a more active role in Taken 2 than she did at the beginning of the first movie.
In the original film, Bryan is the person conducting the rescue operation.
In the sequel, Kim becomes part of the rescue process.
Bryan communicates with her while he is being held captive, giving her instructions that help him determine his location.
This creates a different relationship between the two characters. Kim is no longer simply the person waiting to be rescued. She becomes involved in helping her father survive.
Where Was Taken 2 Set?
Taken 2 is primarily set in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Istanbul setting gives the sequel a different visual identity from the first movie’s Paris setting.
The production also filmed at locations in Istanbul, including the Grand Bazaar.
The city provides locations for chase sequences, fights, rooftops and underground areas that are important to the story.
Taken 2 Release Date
Taken 2 was released in the United States on October 5, 2012.
The movie has a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating in the United States.
How Long Is Taken 2?
The official 20th Century Studios listing gives Taken 2 a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes.
That makes it a relatively short action movie, with the story moving quickly from the family reunion into the kidnapping and escape plot.
Is Taken 2 a Sequel to Taken?
Yes.
Taken 2 is a direct sequel to the 2008 movie Taken. It continues the story of Bryan Mills, Kim and Lenore.
The events of the first movie are important because Murad’s motivation in the sequel comes from Bryan’s actions while rescuing Kim.
The franchise later continued with Taken 3, which was released in 2015.
Is Taken 2 Connected to Taken 3?
Yes. The three movies form the main Taken film trilogy.
The central character remains Bryan Mills, while several supporting characters return across the series.
The franchise’s main film sequence is:
- Taken — 2008
- Taken 2 — 2012
- Taken 3 — 2015
Watching the movies in release order is the simplest way to follow Bryan’s story.
Critical Reception of Taken 2
Taken 2 received mixed responses from critics.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists a 22% Tomatometer score from critics and a 52% Popcornmeter score from verified audience ratings.
The critical response was generally less positive than the movie’s commercial performance. The film nevertheless attracted a large audience and became a major box office release.
According to available box office data, Taken 2 earned approximately $376 million worldwide.
Why Watch Taken and Taken 2 Together?
Watching the two movies together makes the connection between Bryan’s actions and the consequences that follow easier to see.
Taken establishes Bryan’s relationship with Kim and demonstrates his abilities.
Taken 2 then uses those events as part of its central conflict.
The movies also offer two different versions of the same basic idea.
The first asks what Bryan will do to rescue his daughter.
The second asks what Bryan will do when he becomes the person who has been captured.
Final Thoughts
Taken and Taken 2 are connected action thrillers built around Liam Neeson’s character Bryan Mills.
The first movie follows Bryan as he searches for his kidnapped daughter in Paris. The second moves the story to Istanbul, where Bryan and Lenore are captured by people seeking revenge for the events of the first film.
For viewers who enjoy short, fast paced action movies with a strong family focused storyline, watching Taken before Taken 2 provides the clearest way to follow the story.
