Taken 2

Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative now trying to keep a low profile with his wife in Istanbul, finds himself suddenly pulled into danger when a vengeful father from Mills’s past abducts them. The cartel style capture drags them through a city that still hums with life while Mills fights against time and a ruthless pursuit squad determined to break him. With intimate knowledge of his captors and a lifetime of hard lessons, he organizes improvised defenses, shifts the odds, and keeps his wife close as the chase spirals through crowded streets, shadowy corridors, and teeming markets, testing every edge of his training. The battlefield is Istanbul itself and every corner might trap them.

Directed by Olivier Megaton, Taken 2 keeps the franchise alive with Liam Neeson returning as Bryan Mills. Based on Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen's characters, the 2012 thriller serves brisk, gritty, action driven sequences and bold shot selection that leans into Istanbul's maze like streets.

Box office performance was solid worldwide, reflecting continued audience interest in the series and its brisk chase sequences, though critics argued the film recycled earlier formula. It performed well abroad, with strong openings in several markets to international audiences worldwide.

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the tight pacing and action set pieces, but some reviewers noted a familiar rhythm and thinner emotional stakes. The film threads themes of devotion to family, resilience under pressure, the consequences of violence, and the way a public chase can expose private fears.

Taken 2 contributed to Liam Neeson's image as a reliable action lead and kept the franchise in the global spotlight with Istanbul as a cinematic playground. Its brisk pace and escalating chase sequences became a hallmark of mid 2010s action thrillers and travel driven thrillers around the world for fans.