Let’s be real when someone mentions Liam Neeson, the average person immediately thinks of Taken and his now-classic “particular set of skills.” But Neeson’s body of work goes much deeper than that. Beneath the kidnappings and payback schemes, he’s dealt with everything from spiritual crises to snowplow rampage sprees, and frequently with more emotional resonance than he’s given credit for. So if you believe you’ve seen everything Neeson has to offer, reconsider. Let’s count down (because suspense makes it better), ten of his most underrated action flicks that definitely deserve your attention.
10. Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
No explosions to expect from her; the fireworks are of an emotional kind. Neeson is Alistair Little, an ex-UVF man tormented by the killing of a man he committed during Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Years on, he confronts the brother of the victim in a tense, live-television showdown. The film substitutes car chases for moral accounting, and Neeson gives a performance that is excruciatingly restrained yet profoundly affecting. It is a low-key but powerful examination of guilt, forgiveness, and the after-effects of violence.
9. Darkman (1990)
Long before superhero movies dominated the box office, Neeson starred in Darkman, Sam Raimi’s wild blend of horror, sci-fi, and pulp action. He plays Dr. Peyton Westlake, a scientist turned disfigured vigilante who hides behind synthetic skin and unfiltered rage. Neeson captures both the tragedy and the madness of a man literally losing his identity. It’s frenetic, cheesy, and utterly engrossing, a full-blown cult classic that demonstrated his versatility before Taken turned him into an action superstar.
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.