In what is said to be the final chapter of the 'Taken' series, Taken 3 has ruled the box –office after three weeks with an estimated $40.4M at the North American box office, the second best for movies debuting in January. Ride Along made its mark with $41.5 a year ago.

Though the amount is still a bit behind Taken 2 which grossed $49.5 M in 2012, it is still a far cry from the first installment which only netted $24.7 when it launched back in 2009.

Liam Neeson continues to make waves as one of the hottest action heroes of today, something unexpected yet rewarding. Taken 3 from 20^th Century Fox showed the way behind other films over the weekend, which surprisingly included The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies($9.4M), Selma ($11.2M) and Into the Woods ($9.8M).

In Taken 3, Bryan Mills is back as he makes use of his special set of skills after his reconciliation with wife Lenore (played by Famke Janssen) is cut short when she is murdered. He eventually get framed for a murder he did not commit, running to evade arrest while trying to track down the real killers responsible for his wife's death and protect the only possession important to him right now, his daughter Kim played by Maggie Grace.

With viewers expected to enjoy the fast-paced and thrilling action scenes that Taken 3 has in tow, itwill also highlight Mills fatherly side as far as protecting his family is concerned.

"What makes TAKEN 3 a quintessential Taken movie is that, at its heart, it's still about Bryan Mills doing everything in his power to save his family," says Neeson. "That's why these films resonate with a global audience, because at their core, they are about the love and sanctity of family and the lengths we'll go to protect that."

Check out the trailer below.