Stephen King Praises Critically Panned 2010 Action Film Takers

Horror master Stephen King has voiced his approval for the 2010 action film Takers, a movie largely forgotten by mainstream audiences and panned by critics. In a 2010 column for Entertainment Weekly, King defied the critical consensus, praising the film’s complex story and standout action.

King’s Controversial Endorsement

Directed by John Luessenhop, Takers features an ensemble cast including Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, and Hayden Christensen. The plot centers on a crew of criminals executing a high-stakes armored car heist, which brings them into conflict with both law enforcement and rival criminals. King specifically commended the “great performances” from Dillon, Elba, and Christensen, and called the armored car heist “the best action sequence I’ve seen this year.” While he admitted the climax “strains credulity,” he maintained that the characters felt real, making for a “satisfyingly complex cops-‘n’-robbers movie.”

Critical Reception vs. Audience Reaction

The critical reception for Takers was overwhelmingly negative, resulting in a 28% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus among critics was that despite some impressive action set pieces, the film suffered from a generic script and underdeveloped characters. This stands in direct contrast to King’s personal assessment.

Audiences, however, were more receptive. The film holds a 62% audience score on the same platform, suggesting a significant divide between professional critics and general viewers. This places the average viewer’s opinion somewhere between King’s strong praise and the critics’ dismissal, viewing Takers as a solid, if unremarkable, piece of action entertainment.

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