Liam Neeson’s Action Film Streak Continues with ‘Retribution’
Liam Neeson’s latest action thriller, “Retribution,” is making headlines, but not for the reasons the filmmakers might have hoped. The film, a remake of the Spanish movie, has unfortunately followed a familiar pattern for Neeson, earning less-than-stellar reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. In “Retribution,” Neeson plays Carlos, a prominent Berlin banker whose life takes a dramatic turn while driving his children, Marcos and Sara, to school.
Neeson is no stranger to the action genre. In fact, his name has become synonymous with a particular brand of action film, a reputation that truly took off 15 years ago with the unexpected success of “Taken,” which spawned a franchise.
Since then, he’s attempted to replicate that triumph with a string of action movies, often centered around his character rescuing his family or thwarting some kind of attack. “Retribution” is the latest in this line, but its poor reception raises questions about Neeson’s continued reign as an action star.
‘Retribution’ Marks Sixth Consecutive Poorly Received Action Flick for Neeson
As of this writing, “Retribution” holds a critics’ score of just 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. This marks the sixth consecutive action film starring Neeson to receive largely negative reviews, a trend that began with 2020’s “Honest Thief.” It seems many of Neeson’s action films follow a similar formula, often involving a rescue mission of some kind.
It’s become something of a running joke that Neeson is constantly saving people on screen. Perhaps a future film should pair him with Matt Damon, who is famously always being rescued. Ben Affleck could direct, of course.
Why Does Neeson Keep Making These Action Flops?
The consistent stream of poorly reviewed action films starring Neeson begs the question: why do studios continue to finance these projects? The answer likely lies in the box office success of the “Taken” trilogy, which grossed over $930 million worldwide. This, coupled with Neeson’s subsequent action roles, solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars.
Neeson’s star power still draws in a significant audience, even if the films themselves are often low-budget and formulaic. The Rotten Tomatoes scores for films like “Retribution” suggest that a segment of viewers are still willing to watch Neeson battle bad guys as a form of mindless entertainment. The rise of streaming services also makes it easier for audiences to consume these types of action films from the comfort of their homes.