Close to 20 years on from its release, this action movie remains an absolute classic amongst film fans, and they can catch it once again on TV tonight.

It was a huge success when it hit cinemas for the first time in 2008, launching an entire franchise made up of two sequels and additional TV shows, and viewers seem to think it still holds up. Taken, starring Liam Neeson, birthed some iconic lines, ruffled a few feathers and offered a new action hero star to Hollywood.

As the star of the film, playing Bryan Mills, a retired special forces officer and former CIA operative, Liam Neeson gives a performance that lives on to be iconic. The father who does everything he can to get ahold of his abducted daughter using his incredible intelligence skills is a role that helped launch Neeson’s career on a whole new trajectory.

A review on Rotten Tomatoes says: “The film that propelled Liam Neeson into action stardom. Taken benefits from a brisk, effortless pace and a ticking clock that add a strong sense of urgency. Liam Neeson absolutely shines in the lead, and the film has some solid action.”

Meanwhile, another viewer added: “One of the most influential movies of the 21st century, and why not? It is not a coincidence that it is also one of the most enjoyable movies ever made; no matter how many problems you can detect within it, the “Parkinson-y” direction is the most notable, probably.”

Directed by Pierre Morel, the story follows a father who is trying to repair his relationship with his teenage daughter after his retirement from the CIA. On a trip to Paris, when she is suddenly abducted by human traffickers, Neeson’s character heads to the city to track every last step she took and find her.

Using his extensive set of unique skills, Mills follows these criminals around France and creates a dangerous plan to save his daughter. Meanwhile, she is set to be auctioned off in an illegal trade to carry out sex work after she and her friend were taken, and it’s a race against time to get her to safety.

One viewer wrote: “This is a modern-day classic. None of the sequels or many other Liam Neeson action films after this were ever able to recreate the magic of this movie.”

Meanwhile, others couldn’t help but give praise to Neeson’s performance, as the Irish actor took on a new role as an action hero. They wrote: “This film kicked off the Liam Neeson action movie genre, and it’s for a good reason.

“He brings an intense and focused performance, even through some of the few cheesy moments. Most of the cast do well enough to pass also. The action in the film may not be groundbreaking, but it’s more than enough to entertain, especially with Neeson in the lead.”

Following on from the 2008 hit, Taken went on to have two sequels, with Taken 3 finally signing off the franchise in 2014. The Irish actor has since gone on to star in numerous action-heavy roles in the likes of The Ice Road, The Naked Gun and Non-Stop.

To catch Neeson in this iconic role, you can watch Taken on ITV4 tonight at 10:05pm. Alternatively, the thriller can be streamed on Disney+ all year round.