History Trivia / Taken

* QuoteSource:
** PapaWolf
** RevengeMyopia

* FollowTheLeader: The film's success created what is almost its own genre, that of movies where an aging, middle-aged star, especially one in the search of career revitalization, plays a lone badass that kills and/or maims a lot of people to rescue a loved one or have revenge. This includes Creator/DenzelWashington's ''Film/TheEqualizer'', Creator/MelGibson's ''[[Film/EdgeOfDarkness2010 Edge of Darkness]]'', Creator/NicolasCage's ''Stolen'', Creator/SeanPenn's ''Film/TheGunman'', Creator/KevinCostner's ''Film/ThreeDaysToKill'', Creator/PierceBrosnan's ''Film/TheNovemberMan'', Creator/AntonioBanderas' ''[[Film/ActsOfVengeance2017 Acts of Vengeance]]'', and even Creator/KeanuReeves' ''Film/JohnWick''.

* MoneyDearBoy: Creator/LiamNeeson didn't really care about the first film and only took the job because he thought it was a DirectToVideo film and would be a quick paycheck. His fee went up considerably for the sequels when he realized he had a franchise on his hands and he was paid 20 million dollars to play Bryan again in ''Taken 3''.

* QuoteSource: ''Taken 2'': RevengeMyopia.

* QuoteSource:
** ''Taken 2'': RevengeMyopia

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In January 2003, the month after the miniseries aired, it was announced that Creator/StevenSpielberg was hoping to make a second season with Creator/DamianLewis in the lead role. However, nothing ever came of it.

** The ''{{Series/Arrow}}'' episode "Taken" has a similar premise as the film.

* FakeAmerican: Howard Bowen is played by the Canadian Jason Gray-Stanford.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Vancouver is used to represent many, many different American states over the course of more than half a century. Sometimes more successfully than others.

* RealLifeRelative: In the final scene of "Charlie and Lisa", the three-year-old Allie is played by Creator/DakotaFanning's younger sister Creator/ElleFanning.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In January 2003, the month after the miniseries aired, Creator/StevenSpielberg was hoping to make a second season with Creator/DamianLewis in the lead role. However, nothing ever came of it.

* ScienceMarchesOn: In-story example. As time passes, the doctors' reactions to the devices in the Keys' brains change.

* ScienceMarchesOn: In-story example. As time passes, the doctor's reactions to the devices in the Keys' brains change.

* ScienceMarchesOn: In-story example. As time passes, the doctor's reactions to the devices in the Keys' brains change.
* [[CaliforniaDoubling Vancouver Doubling]]: For many, many different American states. Sometimes more successfully than others.

'''Movie Franchise'''

* MoneyDearBoy: Creator/LiamNeeson didn't really care about the first film and only took the job because he thought it was a Direct-to-Video film and would be a quick paycheck. His fee went up considerably for the sequels when he realized he had a franchise on his hands and he was paid 20 million dollars to play Bryan again in Taken 3.

* RevisedEnding: Taken 2 originally had a different ending than the one that ended up in cinemas. In the original ending, Bryan rescues Lenore from Murad’s men before going to the Embassy and she is the one who gives Kim directions while Bryan shoots the cars chasing them. They crash into the Embassy, call Sam for help and cuddle as a family while they wait for the all clear. A representative comes to greet them and Bryan introduces Kim and Lenore with an awkward moment because he doesn’t know how to describe his and Lenore’s relationship. He decides to go after Murad and Lenore follows him, asking what he’s going to do. Bryan replies, “What I do best,” and turns to go. Lenore watches him leave before turning to comfort Kim. Bryan tracking and fighting Murad and his men is the same as the theatrical version only without Lenore’s scenes. After this, the ending continues as it did in the theatrical cut with Kim passing her driving test and them going out for milkshakes with a surprise appearance by Jamie. Olivier Megaton felt that Bryan going after Murad and his men after Lenore and Kim were safe put his actions into a morally grey area that he was uncomfortable with, so he prolonged Lenore’s rescue to make Bryan’s actions more justifiable.

'''Miniseries'''

* MoneyDearBoy: Creator/LiamNeeson didn't really care about the first film and only took the job because he thought it was a Direct-to-Video film and would be a quick paycheck and also because he was trying to keep busy in the wake of his wife's death. His fee went up considerably for the sequels when he realized he had a franchise on his hands and he was paid 20 million dollars to play Bryan again in Taken 3.

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: Creator/LiamNeeson himself never expected this movie to be very successful; not only was it a success, it cemented his image of a badass action star.

* ScienceMarchesOn: In-story example. As time passes, doctor's reactions to the devices in the Keys brains change.

'''Movie'''

'''Miniseries'''