Liam Neeson’s Underrated Box Office Flop Action Thriller ‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ Is a Streaming Hit on Netflix

by

A lesser-known thriller starring Liam Neeson is currently gaining popularity on Netflix. What’s special about this film is that Neeson gets to use his natural Irish accent, which fits the story perfectly! Neeson is a hugely recognizable action star, with roles in films like Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins, the Taken series, the A-Team remake, The Grey, and even the Star Wars prequels. But with so many films under his belt, some great ones can easily get overlooked. That’s what happened to In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which is now finally finding an audience three years after its initial release.

Okay, so I just stumbled across this movie on Netflix called In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and it’s seriously climbing the charts! As of today, it’s the fourth most popular movie on there, racking up over 5 million views. It’s been in the Top 10 for a couple of weeks now, which is cool, and it’s even the number one movie in over 20 countries! Though, just so you know, here in the US, The Investigation of Lucy Letby is still holding onto the top spot.

You might not be familiar with In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and that’s okay. It initially seemed like just another action movie starring Liam Neeson, similar to films like Taken and Non-Stop, and got overlooked. But it’s actually one of Neeson’s better movies, and it’s especially worth watching now that it’s gaining popularity on Netflix – plus, it’s one of his few films set in Ireland.

‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ Is a Genuinely Moving Thriller

While it shares similarities with films like Taken and A Walk Among the Tombstones, In the Land of Saints and Sinners stands on its own thanks to its authentic Irish setting and strong direction from Robert Lorenz. The cast, including Liam Neeson, Kerry Condon, Ciarán Hinds, Colm Meaney, and Jack Gleeson, all give outstanding performances. The film has been well-received by both critics and audiences, earning an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers giving it a 74% rating.

Unlike many of Liam Neeson’s films, this one wasn’t a big hit in theaters. In the Land of Saints and Sinners had a very limited release and quickly became available on Netflix. While it was playing in a few cinemas, it only earned a little over $3 million globally.

The film takes place in the 1970s and centers on Finbar Murphy, played by Neeson, an ex-IRA killer attempting to start a peaceful life in a secluded seaside town. But when a terrorist group arrives, disrupting his tranquility, Finbar is compelled to confront his violent history and decide whether to protect himself or the people he’s come to know.

Liam Neeson Has Retired (Kind Of)


Netflix

I just finished watching In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and honestly, I was hoping Liam Neeson would do a lot more action films like that one. Sadly, it seems like that might not happen. It’s something every actor talks about eventually – when they’ll retire. Harrison Ford recently shared his plans, and now it sounds like Liam Neeson is also thinking about stepping back, though with a little twist to his decision.

MovieWeb Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Immerse yourself in the cinematic universe with the latest movie news, reviews, and exclusive content from MovieWeb.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

I was a little sad to hear Liam Neeson say he’s stepping back from straight-up action roles – honestly, who doesn’t love seeing him in those movies? He’s explained it’s just getting too physically demanding for him at this point, and I totally get that. But the good news is he’s not completely abandoning the genre! He’s still doing movies that have some action elements, like the new Naked Gun film coming out next year, and I’m really excited about that.

Read More

2026-02-13 02:03