Liam Neeson might have dazzled fans with his comedic chops in The Naked Gun earlier this year, but he’s certainly no stranger to high-octane action hits that feature the star’s more serious demeanor. From battling human traffickers in Taken to surviving nature in The Grey, Neeson has seemingly done it all on his journey to becoming a global icon. Now, 11 years after its release, another of his forgotten action thrillers is captivating fans yet again thanks to streaming.
Hitting theaters in the United States on Feb. 28, 2014, Non-Stop sees Neeson portraying an alcoholic ex-NYPD officer turned Federal Air Marshal whose ordinary day at the office becomes a high-stakes crisis during a flight to London. When he receives a series of text messages demanding that he instruct the airline to transfer $150 million into an offshore account or a passenger will die every 20 minutes, Neeson kicks things into gear to find a killer and stop the insanity. It’s a fun, ticking-clock action thriller that was just one of nine movies starring Neeson that released in 2014, so you’d be forgiven if you somehow managed to miss it.
Also starring Julianne Moore and directed by the same person who helmed the Netflix hit Carry-On, Jaume Collet-Serra, Non-Stop was the second pairing of him and Neeson following 2011’s Unknown, but it wouldn’t be the last. They’d go on to make two more movies together, including Run All Night, and The Commuter. Earning a massive $222.8 million at the box office against a budget of around $50 million, Non-Stop finished first in its opening weekend, beating The Lego Movie to take the crown. Now, more than a decade later, it’s a streaming hit on Starz, where it’s been bouncing around the Top 10 the past little while and currently sits in last place. Fans looking to stream it better hurry, though, as it’s set to leave the service at the end of August.
‘Non-Stop’ Is One of Liam Neeson’s More Entertaining Action Thrillers
Liam Neeson as Bill Marks in Non-Stop.
Universal Pictures
Having appeared in over 100 movies in his career, Neeson is no stranger to having a few duds. Films like Gun Shy, Third Person, and The Other Man failed to connect with audiences, but when it comes to the many action movies he’s starred in, Non-Stop is definitely one of the most entertaining of the bunch. Its whodunit premise immediately sucks you into the story, and the pacing helps keep viewers engaged as the film never really slows down long enough for you to consider what you’re watching. Yes, the plot is a bit ridiculous, but if you’re looking to escape from your troubles for 106 minutes, this one is for you.
Critics and fans agree, as Non-Stop holds a fresh rating of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Popcornmeter score of 63%. Pretty much everyone was unanimous in their assessment, saying that while it’s not Neeson’s best work, it’s not his worst, either. It’s fun for what it is, and if you don’t think too hard, you’ll be entertained by its action, suspense, and his performance as a gritty ex-cop with a chip on his shoulder. It’s the kind of movie that Neeson can act out in his sleep, and the results are worth the ride.
Non-Stop is now streaming until the end of the month on Starz, and look for Neeson to appear next in a couple of movies next year so far, including the heist film 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, and the horror comedy Cold Storage.
Release Date
February 26, 2014
Runtime
106 Minutes
Writers
John W. Richardson, Christopher Roach, Ryan Engle
You can view the original article HERE.
