LOS ANGELES (October 7, 2012)--According to studio estimates Sunday, Liam Neeson's action sequel "Taken 2" led the box office with $50 million domestically over opening weekend,. double the haul for Neeson's "Taken," which took in $24.7 million in its U.S. 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 and uses 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, critics panned “Taken 2” as a replay of the original.