The Liam Neeson Effect: Why some of Hollywood's best actors are starring in its worst action movies

Why some of Hollywood's best actors are starring in its worst action movies

(Image credit: (Illustration by Sarah Eberspacher | Photos courtesy Facebook.com))

If you're one of the moviegoers who turned the Liam Neeson–starring Taken 3 into a $39 million hit this weekend, you were treated to a special bonus: a trailer for Run All Night, the other Liam Neeson action flick bound for theaters in 2015.

What's the premise of Run All Night? What's the premise of any Liam Neeson action movie released since 2008? Some idiot who underestimates Liam Neeson's particular skills threatens Liam Neeson's family. Liam Neeson gets mad. Liam Neeson kills a bunch of people.

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Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.