Unknown

A scientist wakes up after a coma to find his life has been quietly stolen, his name claimed by another man and his identity denied at every turn. People he trusted, including his wife, insist the newcomer is the real Dr. Martin Harris, and the hospital records back them up. With proof hard to find and time slipping, he teams up with a guarded young woman who has her own reasons to distrust the official story. Together they chase clues through a city that feels increasingly hostile, trying to prove who he really is without tipping off those who might be watching.

Released in 2011, Unknown was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, with a screenplay by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell. The story draws on material associated with Didier van Cauwelaert and was positioned as a sleek, high-concept thriller built around Liam Neeson’s increasingly prominent action persona.

The film performed well enough at the box office to attract mainstream attention, driven more by its premise and Neeson’s presence than by awards season buzz. Audiences responded to the thriller elements and urban set pieces, keeping it visible in theaters and later on home platforms.

Unknown nudged the identity-thriller genre back into the spotlight, and it helped define a phase of Neeson’s career where he moved from supporting dramatic roles into lead action parts. Certain scenes, like tense confrontations and rooftop pursuits, stuck with viewers and often get mentioned when people compare similar films about mistaken or stolen identity.

Critical reception was mixed to fairly positive, reflected in an average user score around 6.7 out of 10 from several thousand votes. Reviewers praised the film’s tension and efficient plotting, while some criticized predictability and thin character motivation. Major themes include memory, trust, and institutional indifference, all presented through a steady pace that favors suspenseful momentum over deep backstory.