2009 was a big year for the film industry. Avatar and Harry Potter were box office hits, while The Reader, Frost/Nixon, and Benjamin Button: A Strange Life received critical acclaim. There were no Marvel movies yet. So it was possible for an action film to suddenly become a worldwide phenomenon. That is where "Taken" came in.

In "Taken," former CIA agent Brian Mills (Liam Neeson) learns that his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) has been taken hostage in Europe. When a ransom demand is made, Mills makes it clear that he will find the kidnappers and kill them if they do not release his daughter. What follows is a violent adventure across the globe as Mills uses his special skills to track down his daughter's kidnappers.

"Taken" was a surprise hit that spawned two sequels and a prequel TV series. It also redefined Liam Neeson's career, turning the actor previously best known for thoughtful roles like Oscar Schindler into an action star. Although the "Taken" franchise seems to be over for now, there are many excellent films inspired or inspired by "Taken" that can be enjoyed on many streaming services.

One could argue that without "Die Hard," there would not have been room for films like "Taken." In "Die Hard," the genre-defining classic that made then-TV star Bruce Willis a star, the legendary Alan Rickman faces off against a German terrorist army led by the charismatic Hans Gruber, played in his debut film, and the out-of-this-world cop John McClane The iconic Nakatomi Plaza. Set in the iconic Nakatomi Plaza, McClane is a victim of circumstance, but never a superhuman, creating a tension that runs through the film.

"Die Hard" set the standard for action films and spawned the lucrative "Die Hard-on-a-X" genre in the 1990s. It also made Willis and Rickman household names. Although "Die Hard" spawned numerous sequels of varying quality, the original remains a masterpiece, especially for fans of the tense action of "Taken.

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"John Wick" swept the world in 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon. Keanu Reeves stars as Wick, a retired hitman who retired to live with his wife. Her death, a late-night robbery, and the death of his beloved dog draw Wick back into the criminal underworld and reignite the violent side of the hitman.

On the surface, "John Wick" may not seem similar to "Taken." However, the character of John Wick has a simmering, sinister side that echoes that of Brian Mills, but with a surprisingly everyman quality. Like "Taken," the success of the original "John Wick" spawned a franchise that includes numerous sequels. It has also been the basis for the spin-off film Ballerina and the television show Continental.

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Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall, a former Marine who now works as a hardware store clerk. He befriends a kidnapped teenage prostitute. McCall uses his military training to find and save her. In the process, McCall finds his true calling as a hired guard known as "The Equalizer." Washington re-teams with "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua for the film, which was a surprise hit and reinvigorated the "Equalizer" franchise, which had been dormant since the 1980s.

In many ways, "The Equalizer" feels like a direct response to "Taken." The similarities between Mills, played by Liam Neeson, and McCall, played by Washington, in their bloody revenge to protect those closest to them, reflect their cold, tactical natures. The global response to "The Equalizer" was strong, earning just under $200 million worldwide and generally well received by fans and critics alike. The film's success led Washington to return with 2018's The Equalizer II, the first time in his career that he has worked on a sequel to a film.

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Ten years before becoming Robert McCall, Denzel Washington was redefining the action thriller with his role as John Creasey in The Man on Fire. Creasy, a former CIA operative turned bodyguard, is charged with protecting a kidnapped girl, Pita. To save her, Creasy must rely on his training and calculated ruthlessness.

Directed by Tony Scott ("Top Gun," "Beverly Hills Cop II"), "Man on Fire" was a sensation when it was released in 2004. Fans praised Washington's performance in the film and loved the gritty, visceral action throughout the film. A.J. Quinnell, author of the original novel, praised Washington's handling of Creasy's depiction of violent scenes.

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Long before the MCU was created, Fox and Sony were quietly making movies starring Marvel characters. One such film, "The Punisher," was the second attempt to bring Marvel's anti-hero to the big screen. After a vengeful mobster murders Frank Castle's family, he dismantles the entire organization in a long, calculated plan for revenge.

The 2004 film was not an immediate hit with fans. While the comic book version of the Punisher was known for killing his enemies quickly, Thomas Jane's portrayal of the character was more methodical. In this film, instead of taking his time leading up to the final showdown, the Punisher manipulates his nemesis, Howard Saint (John Travolta, who played the famous scene brilliantly), into killing his closest allies and dismantling his own organization. Although the film was shunned by enthusiasts, it was a moderate success at the time of its release, and many people still recall it fondly today.

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Frank Martin, known by his call sign Transporter, is a mercenary known for hauling cargo for criminals. A former Special Operations soldier, Martin breaks his own code when he learns that he has been asked to transport women for a human trafficker. Frank gets the job done, but is mortally wounded by a bomb planted in the payment, and a tense confrontation ensues that tests Frank's Special Forces training.

This 2003 action film was a breakthrough for Jason Statham, best known for his roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Despite the middling response, it became the foundation of a remarkable franchise, thanks to Statham's brilliant performance and gritty action scenes. While subsequent sequels and television shows have never reached the same heights as the original, The Transporter remains an exciting series for fans of white-hot action.

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The ultimate form of "Die Hard on a XXX", "Air Force One" follows the President of the United States aboard Air Force One, which is hijacked by terrorists. Marshall, a war veteran, confronts the terrorists in order to retake the plane and save his family.

Harrison Ford as President Marshall feels like a publicity spectacle, but there is no denying how well he fits into the role. The film's action, snappy one-liners, and chemistry between Ford and Gary Oldman, who plays terrorist Egor Korshunov, made it a sensation when it was released in 1997. Even by today's standards, the film is a great action thriller with truly spectacular effects for its time. It beat out blockbusters like "Men in Black" and "The Lost World" to become the action movie milestone of 1997, but its legacy is still somewhat overshadowed by the success of "Titanic" later that year.

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