In premise, yes: Ad Vitam has the kidnapped-wife, former-operative setup that invites comparison with Taken. But the available official descriptions frame Franck Lazarev’s search as a story about his GIGN past and a French state affair—not as a remake or confirmed adaptation of Taken.
Why the Taken comparison fits
In Ad Vitam, masked attackers storm former GIGN colleagues Franck and Léo’s home, demand information from Franck, and kidnap Léo, who is pregnant. Franck follows clues connected to his past and the death of his friend Nico. The central engine—an experienced former operative pursuing the people who abducted someone close to him—is the clear point of comparison with Taken.
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Netflix Tudum describes Franck as an ex-elite agent forced to confront his past after his pregnant wife is kidnapped. The comparison also appeared in a review: Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence wrote, “You could remake this movie tomorrow in English with Liam Neeson as the lead.” That is a critic’s analogy, not evidence of a production connection between the films. Rotten Tomatoes’ page carries the review excerpt.
What makes Ad Vitam its own story
Franck’s past matters to the plot
The story is not described only as a rescue mission. Netflix’s official logline says Franck escapes an attempted murder and must find Léo, while his history as a GIGN member draws him into a state affair. His personal search and the larger political stakes are therefore linked in the film’s official premise.
#1 Best Overall
It is a French thriller set in Paris
Ad Vitam is a 2025 French action thriller. Netflix Tudum identifies Paris as its setting, and Netflix lists French as the original audio. Those details support calling it a French counterpart in broad terms; they do not establish that every scene takes place in Paris.
The comparison is about setup, not a scene-by-scene match
The available descriptions support comparing the films’ rescue-thriller premise and former-operative lead. They do not establish a detailed stylistic or scene-by-scene equivalence. The fairest shorthand is that Ad Vitam has a Taken-like hook, while its official synopsis points toward a distinct story rooted in Franck’s history and a state affair.
Rank #2
- Ultimate Sci-Fi Collection - 3-Disc Set ( Immortal (Ad Vitam) (Immortel (ad vitam)) / Independence D
- Ultimate Sci-Fi Collection - 3-Disc Set
- Immortal (Ad Vitam) (Immortel (ad vitam)) / Independence Daysaster / Stranded
Who is in Ad Vitam?
Rodolphe Lauga directed the film. Guillaume Canet plays Franck, Stéphane Caillard plays Léo, and Nassim Lyes plays Ben. Netflix Tudum also lists Zita Hanrot, Alexis Manenti, and Johan Heldenbergh in supporting roles. Netflix Tudum’s guide provides the plot, cast, and setting details.
Where and when was it released?
Netflix lists Ad Vitam on its service, but availability, audio, subtitles, and ratings can vary by country. Check the title page for your own Netflix market rather than assuming the same options everywhere. AlloCiné lists January 10, 2025, as the film’s release date in France; that listing should not be treated as a worldwide release date. Netflix’s title page shows market-specific viewing details, while AlloCiné’s listing gives its French release information.
Rank #3
How long is Ad Vitam?
The listed runtime differs by source: Netflix Tudum’s 2025 guide gives 1 hour 38 minutes, while AlloCiné lists 1 hour 36 minutes (accessed in 2026). Check the runtime displayed in your local Netflix listing if the exact length matters.
What are reviewers and viewers saying?
Ratings are snapshots, not fixed verdicts, and the platforms use different scales and sample sizes. When accessed in 2026, Rotten Tomatoes displayed a 38% Tomatometer from 13 reviews and a 33% Popcornmeter from more than 100 ratings. AlloCiné displayed 2.3 from 7 press reviews and 2.7 from 2,449 audience ratings. These figures should be read as separate platform aggregates, not combined into one score; both can change as ratings and review counts update. Rotten Tomatoes and AlloCiné display the respective aggregates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is there a sequel?
Yes. In an announcement dated August 10, 2026, Netflix said production had officially begun on a sequel with the working title Ad Vitam Eternam, with Guillaume Canet returning as Franck. Netflix described Franck as surviving an assassination attempt after prison, hiding with his family, and receiving an offer for a covert mission from French intelligence. The announcement did not give a release date. Netflix also called the first film its number 9 most popular non-English movie in that announcement, but did not specify the ranking period or methodology, so that is a dated Netflix description rather than an enduring current rank. Netflix’s announcement contains those details.
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