Netflix Unleashes Liam Neeson’s Deeply Divisive Action Thriller That Audiences Say Is “Well Worth a Watch”

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After kickstarting the trend of older action heroes with the 2008 film Taken, the Academy Award-nominated actor has become a major action star. However, not all of their films have been as successful as Taken. Some have even been quite controversial, and one particularly divisive example will soon be available to stream on .

Released in 2021, The Marksman is a film directed by Robert Lorenz starring Liam Neeson as a rancher and former Marine. Set in an Arizona border town, the story follows him as he confronts his own biases while helping a young migrant escape a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. The film also stars Katheryn Winnick, Juan Pablo Raba, and Teresa Ruiz. The Marksman will be available on Netflix starting November 14, 2025, and you can find a summary of the plot below.

Jim Hanson, a tough rancher in Arizona played by Liam Neeson, just wants to live peacefully on his land and avoid being forced off of it. His life is turned upside down when he sees 11-year-old Miguel and his mother, Rosa, running from dangerous criminals connected to a drug cartel, led by a cruel man named Mauricio. After a violent encounter, Rosa, who is badly hurt, asks Jim to protect Miguel and take him to his family in Chicago.

Despite his daughter Sarah being a police officer, Jim helps Miguel escape from a local border patrol station, and the two go on the run together, pursued by a dangerous group of killers. As Jim and Miguel travel, they start to put aside their differences and form an unexpected bond. Meanwhile, Mauricio and his assassins relentlessly chase them, leaving a trail of violence. The chase culminates in a deadly showdown on a farm in the Midwest, where Jim uses his military training and strong moral code to protect Miguel, whom he’s grown to care for deeply.

‘The Marksman’ Boasts a Winning Action Formula, According to Audiences


© Open Road Films /Courtesy Everett Collection

When The Marksman was released, it received very different reactions from general audiences and professional critics. Viewers gave it a low score of 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating they didn’t enjoy it much. However, critics were much more positive, giving it an 83% score on the Popcornmeter and appreciating the straightforward action story and Liam Neeson’s familiar tough-guy role.

Critics generally liked Liam Neeson’s acting in The Marksman, but they felt the movie relied too heavily on familiar action tropes and could have been more ambitious. However, audiences seemed to enjoy the straightforward action, finding it a worthwhile watch if you’re a fan of Liam Neeson in action roles.

Liam Neeson, who has jokingly talked about retiring from action movies several times recently, continues to star in them. Following his comedic turn in this year’s popular film The Naked Gun, he has several more action projects coming up, including the heist movie 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, and the thrillers Hotel Tehran and The Mongoose.

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2025-11-10 21:38