The most famous Northern Irish actor in history is world-famous for the action-packed movies that he stars in. He’s also the main star in one of the most epic and tragic movies ever produced in the early 1990s.
The career of Liam Neeson started in the early 1980s and he played in numerous blockbusters that became classics in a wide variety of genres. His versatility as an actor is reflected in his extensive filmography.
In this article, you’ll discover some of the best movies with Liam Neeson.
1. Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List came out in 1993 and is the movie that skyrocketed the career of Liam Neeson. He portrays the Nazi industrial Oscar Shindler who achieved great things by employing Jews during WWII and effectively saving thousands of lives.
This true story directed by Steven Spielberg leaves nobody untouched. Apart from Neeson, you can also see Ralph Fiennes as evil SS officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Schindler’s Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern.
2. Taken
Taken is arguably one of the best action movies ever produced. This is not surprising considering the movie was written by Luc Besson, a French film director and screenwriter who also wrote the Taxi (French) and Transported movie franchises.
The movie was directed by another French director named Pierre Morel, a man who also directed the action-packed Banlieue 13 movie in 2004. Taken came out in 200 and firmly established Liam Neeson as one of the great action movie stars in the world.
3. Batman Begins
Batman Begins is one of the many masterpieces written and directed by famous English movie director Christopher Nolan. You can admire Christian Bayle who takes on the role of Bruce Wayne, the main star in the Batman movie franchise.
The movie tells the story of Wayne becoming Batman following the death of his parents. Neeson takes on the role of the leader of the League of Shadows, a man who appears to be one of the most complex villains of the Batman movies.
4. Love Actually
Love Actually is a British Romantic Comedy that came out in 2003 and featured a large number of famous British actors. That’s because the story revolves around the lives of 7 different couples around the Christmas period.
Neeson plays the role of Daniel, a man who just lost his wife and is burdened with raising his stepson. The part of the movie related to Neeson features two romantic stories, that of his and one of his stepson Sam.
5. Les Misérables
Les Misérables became world-famous for the musicals on Broadway that were adapted from the 1862 novel of Victor Hugo of the same name. This novel has also been adapted for the screen multiple times, including in 1998.
Neeson takes on the role of the leading character in the story, Jean Valjean, the ex-convict who was paroled after 19 years for the petty crime of stealing bread. He is harassed by police inspector Javert, magnificently portrayed by Geoffrey Rush.
6. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, is a Star Wars movie that came out in 1999. It’s the fourth film of the extremely popular trilogy that was written and directed by George Lucas and which started in the year 1977.
The movie wasn’t received all too well because it didn’t match the surprising effect of the first films that turned Star Wars into one of the most famous franchises ever produced. The movie also stars the young Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman. Liam Neeson plays the role of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.
7. The Next Three Days
The Next Three Days is one of the best Liam Neeson movies in which he doesn’t play the lead role. This honor is reserved for Russell Crowe who played the husband of a woman who is wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for murder.
With no chance of getting out after her conviction, John turns to Damon Pennington (Liam Neeson), an ex-convict, in an attempt to find a way to break her out of prison. The 2010 film is a remake of a French movie called “Pour Elle” or “For Her” which came out two years earlier.
8. Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven is arguably the most epic of all movies with Liam Neeson. The historical drama was directed and produced by Ridley Scott and follows the story of a blacksmith during the Crusades in the 12th century.
The main character is a historic figure named Balian of Ibelin and is played by Orlando Bloom. Liam Neeson takes on the role of Barisan of Ibelin, a man known as Godfrey who claims to be his father. The movie culminates in the epic Battle of Hattin which was fought between the Crusaders and the famous Muslim Sultan Saladin.
9. Rob Roy
Rob Roy is a 1995 movie that tells the story of Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734), a Scottish outlaw who became a cult hero in Scotland. The movie was directed by the Scottish film director Michael Caton-Jones.
It’s the romanticized version of the story and a remake of the 1953 film “Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue.” Liam Neeson portrays the hero of the story, a role he took on just a few years after his major success with Schindler’s List.
10. Michael Collins
Michale Collins is yet another biographical drama movie that came out just a year after Rob Roy in 1996. There was hardly a better choice to portray Michael Collins than Liam Neeson, a man who was born in Northern Ireland but who considers himself to be Irish.
Michael Collins (1890-1922) was an Irish Revolutionary, politician, and soldier who was a key figure in the fight for Irish Independence. He was eventually assassinated in an ambush during the Irish Civil War in which he was the commander-in-chief of the National Army.
