Be honest, when most people hear Liam Neeson’s name, they instantly think of Taken and that legendary “particular set of skills” speech. But his career stretches far beyond kidnappings and revenge plots. Over the years, he’s taken on roles that dive into faith, grief, moral dilemmas, and even the occasional snowplow-fueled rampage-often bringing more depth and emotion than he’s typically credited for. So if you think you’ve already seen everything Neeson can do, it might be time for a second look. Let’s count down ten of his most underrated action films-the ones that deserve a little more recognition and a spot on your watchlist.
10. Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
Don’t expect any high-octane sequences. The adrenaline rush comes from the emotions, not from any explosions. In this film, Neeson’s character is a man from the UVF, a Loyalist paramilitary organization, who is haunted by a murder he committed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Eventually, he agrees to confront the brother of the man he murdered during a charged live television debate. While there are no car chases nor any shootouts, what makes this particular vehicle of this story work is Neeson’s performance, which, though low-key, has tremendous emotional depth.
9. Darkman (1990)
Years before superheroes and capes dominated screens, Neeson worked with the eccentric and mixed genre of Darkman, Raimi’s potpourri of scary movies, science fiction, and crazy action-adventure films. He portrays a scientist, Dr. Peyton Westlake, who, after suffering a hideous disfigurement, now uses synthetic skin to become a nocturnal vigilante, wielding a whole lot of repressed anger. Neeson goes all-out in the film, trying to find a level of balance between the tragic nature of his character and the unraveling of his sanity following the loss of individuality. The film is messy, cheesy, and totally captivating, a cult classic that demonstrated Neeson’s range even before Taken made him a real action star.
8. The Commuter (2018)
Think Taken on a train but with a brain to match its wisecracking looks. Neeson plays Michael MacCauley, a regular bloke caught up in an off-the-rails mystery on his way to work. While the train whisks him away at breakneck pace, he’s compelled to unravel a conspiracy before it’s too late. The premise could be a rerun, but Neeson’s performance half-man-in-the-street, half-reluctant hero is the anchor that keeps it anchored. The Commuter is tightly wound, gripping, and a lot more complex than critics credited.
7. Cold Pursuit (2019)
Imagine Fargo with Taken. Neeson stars as Nels Coxman, a snowplow operator whose life unravels when his son dies under suspicious circumstances. His fight for vengeance leads him deep into a strange, darkly comedic world of crime and anarchy. The tone veers between tragedy and absurdity, but Neeson handles it wonderfully with quiet sorrow, brutal determination, and just the right amount of deadpan humor. It’s strange, clever, and grossly under the radar.
6. The A-Team (2010)
Neeson as Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith is worth seeing this big, boisterous, and happily over-the-top reboot for. He brings back old-fashioned charisma and a cheeky bravado that makes each outlandish stunt pay off. The chemistry between the cast (Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson) is contagious, and Neeson’s authority holds it all together. It wasn’t a critical favorite, but it’s unadulterated, no-holds-barred fun.
5. Unknown (2011)
Waking up from a coma to discover that your whole life, your wife, your identity, everything, has been taken from you. That’s the terror confronting Neeson’s Dr. Martin Harris in Unknown. It’s a twisty, psychological thriller that has you guessing until the final scene. Neeson walks the fine line between confusion and determination perfectly, demonstrating again that he can support a mystery as handily as a shootout. Sleek, clever, and underappreciated.
4. The Marksman (2021)
In The Marksman, Neeson forsakes hectic action for something more subdued and poignant. He is Jim Hanson, an old rancher who becomes the guardian of a boy on the run from cartel killers. It’s half road movie, half redemption arc, and Neeson’s restrained performance lends it genuine heart. It’s a slow burn of second chances and ethical bravery that more people should have appreciated.
3. Run All Night (2015)
Here’s Neeson in grit mode. He plays Jimmy Conlon, a grizzled hitman who must keep his estranged son safe from a merciless mob leader. One intense, bloody, adrenaline-fueled night ensues, replete with heart and heartache. The father-son dynamic lends the film an unexpected emotional resonance, and Neeson invests each scene with worn-down intensity. If Taken is about revenge, Run All Night is about redemption.
2. The Grey (2011)
Few movies hit as hard emotionally or existentially as The Grey. Neeson plays Ottway, a man stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with a group of oil workers, all being hunted by wolves. But the film isn’t really about survival; it’s about grief, courage, and the will to keep fighting even when it feels pointless. Neeson’s performance is raw, stoic, and hauntingly human. If you’ve ever doubted his dramatic chops, this is the one that’ll change your mind.
1. Silence (2016)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Silence is quite possibly Neeson’s most profound role, and one that is frequently overlooked. He portrays Father Ferreira, a Jesuit missionary in Japan during the 17th century, who gives up on his religion after vicious persecution. Although Neeson is not the central figure, his role is powerful, representing moral dilemma and spiritual anguish. It’s a subdued, heartbreaking performance that demonstrates that he is much more than just an action hero.
From snow-covered revenge stories to philosophical epics, Liam Neeson’s filmography is filled with gems waiting to be rediscovered. Next time somebody dismisses him as being only the Taken guy, knock them over with this list, and perhaps introduce them to a few movies that demonstrate just how much depth and authority the man actually possesses.