The actor, who plays a tough snowplow driver in ‘Cold Pursuit,’ sparked an online controversy with remarks about seeking revenge after a friend was raped
Liam Neeson has had one of Hollywood’s most varied and prolific careers.
The Irish actor has starred in everything from quiet dramas and historical epics to animated adventures and superhero blockbusters.
Neeson has been gracing the silver screen for over four decades, making his debut in the 1978 religious allegory Pilgrim’s Progress.
He rose to prominence portraying Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s holocaust drama Schindler’s List, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination in the category of “Best Actor.”
Neeson has starred in over 90 films, collectively grossing over $11.6 billion at the box office.
That remarkable box office success puts him in rare company, and with a net worth estimated at $145 million, the charismatic actor is clearly doing something right.
Today, we’ll look at the highest-grossing Liam Neeson movies of all time, ranked by box office receipts.
10Taken 3 (2014)
Global Box Office, Taken 3 – $326,479,141
The Taken trilogy reaches its explosive conclusion, and things get personal.
Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the ex-CIA operative with a “particular set of skills.” This time, instead of rescuing loved ones, Mills is the target.
Framed for a brutal murder he did not commit, he’s on the run from relentless law enforcement (led by a determined Forest Whitaker).
Although critics found the plot less compelling than previous installments, action fans flocked to see Neeson dish out his unique brand of justice.
Taken 3 grossed $89.3 million in North America and $236.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $326.4 million against a budget of $48 million.
Estimated Budget
$48,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$39,201,657
Box Office (Domestic)
$89,256,424
Box Office (International)
$237,222,717
Box Office (Total)
$326,479,141
9Batman Begins (2005)
Global Box Office, Batman Begins – $375,325,692
Christopher Nolan’s gritty and realistic take on Batman’s origin story, Batman Begins, marked a turning point for superhero films.
Liam Neeson portrays the enigmatic Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows, a group of assassins who train Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) in the art of combat and vengeance.
Neeson’s Ra’s al Ghul served as a philosophical counterpoint to Bruce Wayne’s burgeoning heroism, forcing him to confront the darkness within himself.
Audiences and critics responded positively, praising the film’s dark atmosphere and complex characters.
Batman Begins raked in $206.8 million in North America and $168.4 million in other regions, for a global total of $375 million, exceeding its $150 million budget and breathing new life into the Batman franchise.
Estimated Budget
$150,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$48,745,440
Box Office (Domestic)
$206,863,479
Box Office (International)
$168,435,467
Box Office (Total)
$375,325,692
2:11
8Taken 2 (2012)
Global Box Office, Taken 2 – $376,152,455
Vengeance comes knocking in this high-octane sequel, and Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is once again the only hope for his family.
Neeson returned as ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills, but this time the tables were turned. In a terrifying twist, he and his ex-wife are kidnapped in Istanbul by vengeful gangsters linked to the events of the first film.
Neeson did many of his own stunts, giving the action sequences an extra dose of authenticity.
As reported by Box Office Mojo, Taken 2 grossed $139.9 million in North America and $236.3 million in other territories, which brings the film’s worldwide total to $376.1 million against a budget of $45 million.
Estimated Budget
$45,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$49,514,769
Box Office (Domestic)
$139,854,287
Box Office (International)
$236,298,168
Box Office (Total)
$376,152,455
7The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Global Box Office, The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian – $419,665,568
Bringing the fantastical world of Narnia back to the big screen, The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian continued the epic saga based on C.S. Lewis’ fantasy series.
Liam Neeson reprises his role as the mighty and wise Aslan, guiding the Pevensies and Narnia’s inhabitants in this thrilling adventure.
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian whisks the Pevensie siblings back to Narnia, where they find a desolate land under the tyrannical rule of King Miraz. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
Many praised the performances and visual effects; however, the film’s darker tone and mature themes drew polarizing opinions.
Prince Caspian proved to be a moderate success at the box office, grossing $55 million during its opening weekend and accumulating a total worldwide gross of $419.6 million.
Estimated Budget
$225,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$55,034,805
Box Office (Domestic)
$141,621,490
Box Office (International)
$278,044,078
Box Office (Total)
$419,665,568
2:04
6The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010)
Global Box Office, The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader – $415,686,217
The epic fantasy saga continues in The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, with Liam Neeson once again voicing the majestic Aslan.
This third installment follows Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their insufferable cousin Eustace, as they’re magically transported back to Narnia to rescue seven lost Narnian lords and confront a mysterious evil lurking on a dark and uncharted island.
Neeson’s powerful voice brings Aslan’s wisdom and guidance to life, even with limited screen time. The film offered breathtaking visuals but faced some criticism for a lighter tone compared to the previous entries.
The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader grossed $415.7 million worldwide, including $104.4 million in North America and $311.3 million in other territories.
Estimated Budget
$155,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$24,005,069
Box Office (Domestic)
$104,386,950
Box Office (International)
$311,299,267
Box Office (Total)
$415,686,217
5The Lego Movie (2014)
Global Box Office, The Lego Movie – $470,759,687
Liam Neeson brings a hilarious duality to the role of Bad Cop/Good Cop, a mercurial police officer and henchman for the villainous President Business (Will Ferrell).
Neeson’s ability to switch between stern authoritarian and friendly ally at a moment’s notice is comedy gold.
Packed with eye-popping visuals, snappy jokes, and infectious energy, the film is a delightful romp through a world built entirely of imagination and creativity.
The Lego Movie grossed $257.8 million in the United States and Canada and $210.3 million in other territories, for a total of $468.1 million worldwide.
The Lego Movie made a net profit of $229 million, making it the third most profitable film of 2014.
Estimated Budget
$60,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$69,050,279
Box Office (Domestic)
$257,966,122
Box Office (International)
$212,793,565
Box Office (Total)
$470,759,687
2:31
4Clash Of The Titans (2010)
Global Box Office, Clash Of The Titans – $493,214,993
Liam Neeson stepped into the mighty shoes of Zeus, king of the gods, in the 2010 remake of the epic fantasy Clash Of The Titans.
With its blend of mythological grandeur and pulse-pounding action, the film tells the tale of Perseus, a demigod determined to avenge his family and defy the gods.
The film’s $125 million budget hinted at the spectacle. However, its critical reception was decidedly mixed.
Some praised the riveting set-pieces and Neeson’s gravitas, while others found the plot simplistic and the reliance on CGI overwhelming.
At the box office, Clash Of The Titans opened at number one, earning $61.2 million in its debut weekend in the United States and Canada.
The film went on to gross $163 million in North America and $330 million in other territories, bringing its total worldwide gross to $493 million.
Estimated Budget
$125,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$61,235,105
Box Office (Domestic)
$163,214,888
Box Office (International)
$330,000,105
Box Office (Total)
$493,214,993
3The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)
Global Box Office, The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – $745,013,115
In this magical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic novel, Liam Neeson’s distinct voice breathed life into Aslan, the noble lion and savior of Narnia.
The film follows the Pevensie siblings as they stumble through a wardrobe and discover the fantastical realm of Narnia, frozen in an eternal winter by the White Witch (Tilda Swinton).
Neeson brought a sense of power and authority to the role of Aslan.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office hit, grossing $745 million worldwide against a $180 million budget and becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 2005.
Estimated Budget
$180,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$65,556,312
Box Office (Domestic)
$291,710,957
Box Office (International)
$453,302,158
Box Office (Total)
$745,013,115
2:08
2Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Global Box Office, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,027,083,462
Liam Neeson portrays Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in George Lucas’ prequel, a film that dared to rewind the Star Wars saga to an era of political intrigue and fading grandeur.
Qui-Gon, a maverick Jedi guided by instinct and prophecy, finds himself drawn into a web of galactic conflict when he is tasked with protecting the resolute Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo.
Amid swirling political machinations, he stumbles upon Anakin Skywalker, a young slave on the desert planet Tatooine.
The Phantom Menace was a seismic event; its audacity in revisiting the successful universe polarized fans but sparked feverish excitement nonetheless.
The film proved to be a massive success at the box office, grossing a remarkable $745 million worldwide.
In North America, it earned $291.7 million, and $453.3 million from other territories.
Estimated Budget
$115,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$64,820,970
Box Office (Domestic)
$474,544,677
Box Office (International)
$552,538,030
Box Office (Total)
$1,027,083,462
1The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Global Box Office, The Dark Knight Rises – $1,085,289,416
The Academy Award-nominated actor returned as Ra’s al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film serves as the final chapter in his Dark Knight trilogy. Liam Neeson’s Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows, casts a long shadow over Bruce Wayne’s fate.
Eight years after the events of the previous film, Gotham City faces a new threat: the ruthless mercenary Bane.
The Dark Knight Rises received praise from critics for its action sequences, themes, and performances, deeming it a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
It earned $448.1 million in North America and $632.9 million in other countries, summing up to a worldwide total of $1.081 billion.
As such, The Dark Knight Rises is the second film in the Batman film series to earn $1 billion, the highest-grossing Batman film to date, and the highest-grossing Liam Neeson movie thus far.
Estimated Budget
$250,000,000
Opening Weekend (Domestic)
$160,887,295
Box Office (Domestic)
$448,149,584
Box Office (International)
$637,120,053
Box Office (Total)
$1,085,289,416
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