Critics don’t like Taken 2, but Liam Neeson’s action sequel proved twice as popular as the original movie was.
According to studio estimates on Sunday, Taken 2 led the box office with $50 million in the US over opening weekend. That’s double the haul for Neeson’s Taken, which took in $24.7 million in its US debut in early 2009.
Released by 20th Century Fox, Taken 2 gave a big boost to Hollywood revenues, which have lagged most weekends since late summer.
Neeson returns as a retired CIA agent using his expert espionage and killing skills to take on a gang of thugs out for revenge against him and his family.
While the first movie got respectable reviews, Taken 2 was panned by critics as a replay of the original.
