Liam Neeson’s popularity stems from his physically demanding roles in projects such as Non-Stop, Unknown, the Taken franchise, and others. The 73-year-old actor never went out of style, and recently, he has blown every movie buff’s head with his portrayal of Frank Drebin Jr in The Naked Gun. So, it makes sense that fans want to explore the titles that he has worked on throughout his career. This post features some of Liam Neeson’s 10 best movies, which you should definitely check out.
10. Darkman
- Release Date: December 16, 1994
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, Larry Drake
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.4/80%
Darkman follows Peyton Westlake, a scientist who has dedicated his life to helping burn victims by developing synthetic skin. However, one day, when he is disfigured and left at the brink of death by crime boss Robert G. Durant and his armed thugs, he takes the moniker of Darkman. He becomes a vigilante who goes beyond his limit to exact revenge on those who wronged him.
Liam Neeson plays the character of the scientist and captivated every fan with his ability to transition from a dedicated scientist to a rage-fueled anti-hero.
9. Nell
- Release Date: December 16, 1994
- Director: Michael Apted
- Cast: Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.5/57%
Nell explores the story of a young woman named Nell Kellty, who, due to a sheltered upbringing in an isolated cabin in the North Carolina wilderness, faces difficulty connecting to the outside world after her mother’s death. Despite facing backlash for the execution, the film became a box-office hit, with fans praising Jodie Foster for her marvelous performance.
Liam Neeson portrays Jerry Lovell, the kind doctor whose warmth and grounded personality adds to the emotional depth of the story. The actor was also praised for being the emotional anchor for the storyline and bringing authenticity to the character.
8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
- Release Date: May 19, 1999
- Director: George Lucas
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Pernilla August, Frank Oz
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.5/54%
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace takes place 32 years before the original Star Wars films. The film revolves around Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his mentee Obi-Wan Kenobi, who must join forces to protect Queen Amidala of Naboo from a trade dispute. It also showcases the return of the secret Sith Lord, Darth Sidious.
Liam Neeson played the role of the principled leading figure, Qui-Gon Jinn, and made the character stand out in the film. His commanding presence and ability to convey even the complex roles made him a driving force that resonated throughout the prequel project.
7. The Grey
- Release Date: January 27, 2012
- Director: Joe Carnahan
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, James Badge Dale
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.7/80%
Directed by Joe Carnahan, The Grey revolves around a group of oil workers led by a sharpshooter named John Ottway. The group gets stuck in the icy wilderness of Alaska when their plane crashes. Seeing no other option left, Ottway decides to protect them from the aggressive wolves that eagerly look for an opportunity to feed on human flesh.
As John Ottway, Neeson becomes the emotionally vulnerable anchor of the film. The rawness he brings to the table adds depth to the film’s gritty narrative. In fact, although critics criticized the film for its pacing, they heavily praised Neeson for his commanding presence and fantastic performance.
6. Rob Roy
- Release Date: April 7, 1995
- Director: Michael Caton-Jones
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz, Brian Cox
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.9/73%
Rob Roy follows Robert Roy MacGregor, the leader of Clan MacGregor. He borrows £1,000 from a mighty lord of Montrose to help his people with their basic needs. After being betrayed by one of his own men and tricked by two notorious criminals, Cunningham and Killearn, he is accused of theft and becomes an outlaw. Following the tragic incident, he takes every measure to protect his family and clears his name.
Liam Neeson portrays the role of the rugged Scottish Clansman, and his performance was widely praised by global viewers. The actor was phenomenal throughout the film, particularly during the tough and emotionally charged scenes.
5. Michael Collins
- Release Date: 11 October 1996
- Director: Neil Jordan
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea, Alan Rickman, Julia Roberts
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.1/78%
The story of Michael Collins takes place in the early 20th Century and sheds light on the real-life events of the legendary Irish revolutionary, Michael Collins. The film shows the man’s struggle to free Ireland from British rule. After a failed attempt in 1916, Collins was determined and led the IRA in the fight against the British.
No one could have played the role of Michael Collins other than Liam Neeson, as it’s not easy to portray such a tough character without putting the heart and soul into it. And Neeson did exactly the same. Well, his hard work paid off, and the actor won the Best Actor Award in the 53rd Venice International Film Festival, with the film bagging a Golden Lion at the same event.
4. The Naked Gun
- Release Date: August 1, 2025
- Director: Akiva Schaffer
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.1/90%
The Naked Gun is a recent addition to Liam Neeson’s arsenal. It revolves around Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the legendary detective Frank Drebin. However, unlike his father, Frank Drebin Jr. is a clumsy cop who tries to walk in the footsteps of his father and save the Police squad from getting shut down. He does this by solving a bank robbery and taking charge of a murder mystery involving some of the dangerous people.
Neeson plays the role of Frank Drebin Jr. and makes the audience laugh by cracking the silliest jokes. The majority of the audience, as well as critics, considered him the highlight of the movie; the way he balanced the serious situations with the goofy ones earned him all the praise.
3. Taken
- Release Date: 27 February 2008
- Director: Pierre Morel
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, Famke Janssen
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.7/60%
While vacationing in France, the 17-year-old daughter and friend of a retired CIA officer named Bryan Mills gets kidnapped by the Albanian human traffickers. So, the officer must take all the measures to track them down and punish the wrongdoers. Liam Neeson plays the role of Bryan Mills, solidifying his reputation as a formidable action hero. With its intense action sequences and brutal confrontations, the film garnered heavy praise from global action fans.
The dialogue of the movie, ‘I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you,’ made Liam Neeson’s character a cultural phenomenon. Additionally, the film redefined the career of the then-55-year-old actor and launched the acclaimed franchise.
2. Batman Begins
- Release Date: June 15, 2005
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, Morgan Freeman
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8.2/85%
Batman Begins successfully laid the foundation for Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. The film allowed us to witness Bruce Wayne’s origin story, and gave us our beloved Christian Bale’s Batman; we see him grieving his parents’ death and then training to become Gotham’s protector in the guidance of Ra’s al Ghul, whom he later fights to stop from fulfilling his sinister plans.
Liam Neeson initially entered the game as Henri Ducard, but as the movie progressed, he emerged as Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows. Neeson’s commanding presence and his shift from a fatherly figure to a ruthless villain made the character one of the significant Batman villains. His on-screen chemistry with Christian Bale as a student and teacher made the final showdown way more impactful than any other confrontation in the Batman Saga.
1. Schindler’s List
- Release Date: December 15, 1993
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 9/98%
Based on Thomas Keneally’s novel Schindler’s Ark, the black-and-white film sheds light on the true events during World War II. It showcases how a profit-driven industrialist, Oskar Schindler, protected 1,100 Jews from Nazi persecution. The film earned positive reviews from critics and the audience alike, with many calling it a cinematic masterpiece and Steven Spielberg’s best work.
Liam Neeson portrays the role of Oskar Schindler, and was nominated for the Best Actor at the Academy Awards. The role not only won him a nomination but also made fans believe in him. His powerful presence and the ability to capture the charismatic role of the powerful character eventually anchored the film, leaving a mark on the hearts of those who watched it.
