Liam is unstoppable

MANILA, Philippines - There may be no stopping Liam Neeson. The veteran talented actor has evolved into one of moviegoers’ favorite action stars, thanks to the success of the Taken franchise, headlining several global hits ever since.

The reason why he keeps making action films isn’t just for the money. It helps him avoid “wallowing in sadness” after the death of his wife. “I’m not good without work,” the actor said in an interview “I just don’t — I just don’t wallow too much. You know? And I just didn’t want to — especially for my boys —  seem to be wallowing in sadness or depression.”

Neeson has made over 20 films since his late wife, actress Natasha Richardson, passed away in 2009 after a skiing accident. Taken, which came out just two months before Richardson’s death, transformed Neeson from an Academy Award-nominated dramatic actor to one of the highest paid action stars in Hollywood.

When Anderson Cooper asked Neeson what his wife would think of his career’s transformation, Neeson noted she would be “chuffed.” “Chuffed is a good thing,” Neeson explained, meaning she would be very pleased.

Now, he’s “taken” to the skies in Universal’s Non-Stop, opening today in theaters nationwide. The flick promises to give Neeson’s fans more of the pulse-pounding, thriller-driven action they’ve come to enjoy. In Non-Stop, he is back with “a particular set of skills” to take down his enemies.

Buzz on Twitter indicates as much. Non-Stop’s 9,283 tweets over the past week represent 100 percent more discussion activity than Taken.

The movie really shines over on Facebook where it boasts an impressive 240,501 fans through Feb. 11, which is higher than any Neeson films.

Flixster’s community buzz is similarly encouraging. 98 percent of nearly 14,000 voters are anticipating the film, already topping the final scores and vote totals of his previous outings.

Interest in Neeson’s latest offering has been steadily building. Strong online activity generated by its Super Bowl spot hasn’t proven to be a fluke, indicating that Non-Stop should exceed all expectations.

Industry tracker boxoffice.com predicts that Non-Stop will be the first real blockbuster of the year. So far openings for a lot of movies fell short of expectations this year.

Reviews say that the film is “ridiculously entertaining” and that the “thriller barely pauses for breath from the moment it leaves the runway.” Neeson himself admits, “When I first read the script, it was a non-stop read... It held me in its grip from start to finish.”