Liam Neeson’s 2023 action thriller Retribution has emerged as a streaming success by entering Hulu’s Top 10 chart in the United States. Ranking at No. 4, Retribution appears alongside the recently released Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which holds the No. 5 spot. This achievement highlights Neeson’s growing presence in the streaming market in 2023.
The film’s sudden rise on Hulu comes shortly after another Neeson feature, Blacklight, joined Tubi’s Top 10 chart. Meanwhile, the actor’s latest comedic effort, the reboot of The Naked Gun, is also drawing viewers on Prime Video. This pattern solidifies Liam Neeson’s continued relevance in the streaming landscape with diverse genre roles.
Understanding the Plot and Production of Retribution
Retribution is an English-language adaptation of the 2015 Spanish–French film El desconocido. Directed by Nimród Antal, who is noted for his work on 2010’s Predators, the movie blends intense action with suspenseful storytelling. Screenwriter Chris Salmanpour crafted a screenplay described as a tense, ticking clock thriller.
The film stars Liam Neeson as Matt Turner, alongside actors Noma Dumezweni, Lilly Aspell, Jack Champion, Embeth Davidtz, and Matthew Modine. The central story follows Matt Turner as a mysterious voice informs him a bomb is hidden under his car seat, forcing him to comply with escalating demands during a high-speed pursuit across the city.
“When a mysterious caller puts a bomb under his car seat, Matt Turner (Neeson) begins a high-speed chase across the city to complete a specific series of tasks,”
explains the film’s synopsis.
“With his kids trapped in the back seat and a bomb that will explode if they get out of the car, a normal commute becomes a twisted game of life or death as Matt follows the stranger’s increasingly dangerous instructions in a race against time to save his family,”
the summary continues.
Neeson’s Career and Retribution’s Commercial Performance
Retribution was released 15 years after Taken catapulted Neeson to action star status, a role he sustained with films such as The A-Team (2010), The Grey (2011), and Non-Stop (2014). Despite this legacy, recent action movies from Neeson, including Retribution, have struggled at the box office.
The thriller failed to recoup its $20 million production budget, earning only $18.7 million worldwide. Critics were largely unfavorable toward the film, which holds a 30% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audience reception proved more positive, with a 67% approval rating, indicating a disconnect between critical and viewer opinions.
Additional Streaming Success and Upcoming Projects
While Retribution did not perform well theatrically, Neeson’s involvement in action and comedy films continues to find an audience in the streaming era. The Naked Gun reboot, for example, surpassed expectations with a global box office take of $102 million against a $42 million budget, further elevating Neeson’s profile within the streaming market.
Looking ahead, Neeson will take on a rare horror role in the comedy horror film Cold Storage. The cast includes Georgina Campbell, known for Barbarian, and Joe Keery from Stranger Things. Cold Storage is adapted from David Koepp’s novel of the same name and marks a new genre direction for the actor.
Fans can stream Retribution now on Hulu, where its blend of suspense and action is finding renewed interest among viewers.
