--- name: "Luc Besson" canonical: "https://film.one/person/luc-besson" fi1m_id: "luc-besson" imdb_id: "nm0000108" tmdb_id: 59 wikidata_id: "Q484779" roles: ["Writer","Director","Producer"] born: "18 March 1959" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 60 average_as: "writer" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-10-05T13:19:43.002600+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Luc Besson ## Identity Luc Besson - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/luc-besson - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** luc-besson - **IMDb ID:** nm0000108 - **TMDB ID:** 59 - **Wikidata ID:** Q484779 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Besson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q484779, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000108/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/59 Writer and director. Born 18 March 1959 in Paris, France. ## Details - **Work:** Writer, Director, Producer - **Born:** 18 March 1959, Paris, France - **Active:** 1983–present - **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 7 directing, 2 writing, 2 producing - **Frequently works with:** [Virginie Silla](https://film.one/person/virginie-besson-silla.md), [Gary Oldman](https://film.one/person/gary-oldman.md), [Jean Reno](https://film.one/person/jean-reno.md), [Patrice Ledoux](https://film.one/person/patrice-ledoux.md), [Robert Mark Kamen](https://film.one/person/robert-mark-kamen.md), [Caleb Landry Jones](https://film.one/person/caleb-landry-jones.md), [Famke Janssen](https://film.one/person/famke-janssen.md), [Liam Neeson](https://film.one/person/liam-neeson.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 60, as writer, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 74 (1), 1990s 78 (4), 2000s 66 (1), 2010s 65 (2), 2020s 55 (3) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Besson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q484779, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000108/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/59 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Léon: The Professional*](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md) (74), [*The Homesman*](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md) (72) - **Netflix:** [*The Fifth Element*](https://film.one/film/the-fifth-element.md) (73) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Luc Besson > Besson writes one story: a lonely, dangerous person who loves one other person too much. When the film moves, as *Nikita* and *Léon* do, the sentiment gets away with it. When it sits still, as *Dracula* does, we can see straight through it. Somewhere in every Luc Besson script there is a person who should not be trusted with a weapon and another person who trusts them anyway. Nikita and her gentle boyfriend. Léon and the child down the hall. Korben and Leeloo. A vampire in Paris and a woman with his dead wife's face. Besson has been writing the same pair for thirty-five years and he writes them with a straight face every time. He is not embarrassed by feeling, which is unusual in action cinema, and it is the reason his best films work. It is also why his worst ones do not. He came up without film school, through short films and *Le Dernier Combat* (1983), and with *Subway* (1985), *The Big Blue* (1988) and *Nikita* (1990) he was filed under the Cinéma du look. French critics have never entirely forgiven him for how much he liked Hollywood. *Nikita* is the one to start with: Anne Parillaud makes the violence uncomfortable rather than decorative, and the script's shortcuts matter less while she is on screen. *Léon: The Professional* (1994) gave Jean Reno a killer and a child to care for, and is gripping, tender and hard to accept in roughly equal parts. *The Fifth Element* (1997), written with Robert Mark Kamen, is a joy to look at and a chore to follow, and it announces the end of the world and then cuts to a joke about a fridge. After it he co-founded EuropaCorp in 2000 and spent most of two decades writing and producing franchises, *Taken* and *Transporter* among them, directing only now and then: *Lucy* (2014), *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets* (2017), *Dogman* (2023). The recurring trouble is on the page. Besson wants the romance to make the violence matter and tends to rely on our willingness to be moved rather than giving the feeling time. His collaborators cover for him more often than not. Thierry Arbogast gave *Nikita* and *Léon* a polish that makes cruelty hard to look away from; Éric Serra's music presses the tenderness the actors have already earned; Reno's reserve steadies whatever is happening around him. In *Nikita* we were more moved than we expected by the hurt under Parillaud's aggression, because she supplies what the writing leaves out. In *Dracula* (2025) the same idea, a widower hunting a woman with his wife's face, left us cold, and what we remember is Caleb Landry Jones describing a perfume to camera like an advertisement. We laughed and were not sure we were meant to. The flashbacks keep interrupting the one story we care about, and the supporting cast are handed exposition where they needed motives. Besson once said he would rather stop too soon than too late. *Dracula* runs 130 minutes. Start with *Nikita*, watch *Léon* with the reservation it deserves, and go to the later films for the sets and the actors rather than the script, because the script will be the one he has already written. ## Biography Luc Besson is a French filmmaker, screenwriter and director. He was born in Paris on 18 March 1959. Besson wrote and directed *La Femme Nikita* (1990) and *Léon: The Professional* (1994). He is also known for directing and co-writing *The Fifth Element* (1997) and *Lucy* (2014), and for writing credits on the *Taken* (2008–2014) and *Transporter* (2002–2008) film series. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (11) ### Directed (7) - *Dracula* (2025), Fi1m 55, Director, Producer, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/dracula-2025.md) - *Dogman* (2023), Fi1m 54, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/dogman-2023.md) - *Lucy* (2014), Fi1m 58, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/lucy.md) - *The Fifth Element* (1997), Fi1m 73, Screenplay, Story, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fifth-element.md) - *Léon: The Professional* (1994), Fi1m 74, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md) - *Nikita* (1990), Fi1m 76, Director, Co-Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/nikita.md) - *The Last Battle* (1983), Fi1m 74, Producer, Writer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-battle.md) ### Wrote (2) — the average rests on these - *Father Joe* (2026), Fi1m 55, Writer, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/father-joe.md) - *Taken* (2008), Fi1m 66, Producer, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/taken.md) ### Produced (2) - *The Homesman* (2014), Fi1m 72, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md) - *Nil by Mouth* (1997), Fi1m 87, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/nil-by-mouth.md) ## Complete filmography (116) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Father Joe* (2026), Writer, Producer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/father-joe.md) - *Down the Arm of God* (2026), Producer - *Playground* (2026), Idea - *Hell in Paradise* (2025), Producer - *Dracula* (2025), Director, Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/dracula-2025.md) - *June and John* (2025), Director, Screenplay - *Donald Trump, Dieu et les siens* (2024), Producer - *Weekend in Taipei* (2024), Producer, Writer - *Dogman* (2023), Director, Writer — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/dogman-2023.md) - *Arthur: Malediction* (2022), Writer, Producer - *Engagement* (2019), Executive Producer - *Anna* (2019), Writer, Director, Producer - *Kursk* (2018), Executive Producer - *Eva* (2018), Co-Producer - *Taxi 5* (2018), Producer, Production Director, Scenario Writer - *Renegades* (2017), Writer, Producer - *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets* (2017), Director, Writer, Producer - *Playground* (2017), series, Creator - *The Warriors Gate* (2016), Writer - *The Transporter Refueled* (2015), Screenplay, Characters, Producer - *Taken 3* (2014), Producer, Screenplay, Characters - *Lucy* (2014), Director, Writer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/lucy.md) - *The Homesman* (2014), Producer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md) - *Brick Mansions* (2014), Screenplay, Producer - *Taxi Brooklyn* (2014), series, Writer - *3 Days to Kill* (2014), Screenplay, Story, Producer - *The Family* (2013), Director, Screenplay, Producer - *Collision* (2013), Producer - *A Prince (almost) Charming* (2013), Writer - *Transporter: The Series* (2013), series, Creator - *No Limit* (2012), series, Writer, Creator - *Taken 2* (2012), Producer, Screenplay, Writer - *Lockout* (2012), Writer, Executive Producer, Thanks - *Blind Man* (2012), Original Story, Producer - *The Lady* (2011), Director, Producer - *The Source* (2011), Producer - *A Monster in Paris* (2011), Co-Producer - *Colombiana* (2011), Screenplay, Producer - *Halal State Security* (2011), Producer - *Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds* (2010), Director, Writer, Producer - *The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec* (2010), Director, Screenplay, Producer - *22 Bullets* (2010), Co-Producer - *From Paris with Love* (2010), Story - *I Love You Phillip Morris* (2010), Executive Producer - *Arthur, the 4D Adventure* (2009), Producer, Original Film Writer, Writer, Director - *Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard* (2009), Director, Writer, Producer, Characters - *Home* (2009), Producer - *Hallelujah!* (2009), Producer - *District 13: Ultimatum* (2009), Screenplay, Producer - *Staten Island* (2009), Producer - *Transporter 3* (2008), Screenplay, Characters, Producer - *Taken* (2008), Producer, Writer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/taken.md) - *The Secret* (2007), Producer - *Michou d'Auber* (2007), Executive Producer - *Taxi 4* (2007), Screenplay, Producer - *Arthur and the Invisibles* (2006), Director, Producer, Novel, Writer - *Love and Other Disasters* (2006), Executive Producer - *Bunker Paradise* (2006), Producer - *Bandidas* (2006), Writer, Producer - *Angel-A* (2005), Director, Screenplay, Producer - *Le court des grands* (2005), Director - *The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada* (2005), Producer - *Black Box* (2005), Executive Producer - *Colour Me Kubrick* (2005), Executive Producer - *Revolver* (2005), Adaptation - *Transporter 2* (2005), Characters, Producer, Writer - *Au suivant !* (2005), Co-Producer - *Unleashed* (2005), Producer, Author - *District B13* (2004), Producer, Screenplay - *Taxi* (2004), Producer, Original Film Writer - *The Story Of My Life* (2004), Producer - *In Your Image* (2004), Associate Producer - *Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse* (2004), Writer, Producer - *Michel Vaillant* (2003), Screenplay - *Fan-Fan the Tulip* (2003), Writer, Producer - *The Chops* (2003), Producer - *I, Cesar* (2003), Co-Producer - *Ong-Bak* (2003), Executive Producer - *Taxi 3* (2003), Screenplay, Producer - *The Truth About Charlie* (2002), Thanks - *The Transporter* (2002), Screenplay, Producer - *Blanche* (2002), Producer - *Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra* (2002), Additional Camera - *Wasabi* (2001), Screenplay, Producer - *Kiss of the Dragon* (2001), Screenplay, Producer - *Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & III* (2001), Director - *August 15th* (2001), Producer - *Yamakasi* (2001), Screenplay, Idea - *Exit* (2000), Associate Producer - *Bichhoo* (2000), Original Story - *The Dancer* (2000), Screenplay, Producer - *Taxi 2* (2000), as Boat Owner (uncredited) · Screenplay, Producer - *The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc* (1999), Screenplay, Producer, Director - *Taxi* (1998), Screenplay, Producer - *Nil by Mouth* (1997), Producer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/nil-by-mouth.md) - *The Fifth Element* (1997), Director, Screenplay, Story — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fifth-element.md) - *Léon: The Professional* (1994), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md) - *The Lion Child* (1993), Executive Producer - *Point of No Return* (1993), Original Story - *Arrête ton cinéma* (1992), Producer, Thanks - *Atlantis* (1991), Director, Editor, Cinematography - *Cold Moon* (1991), Producer - *Nikita* (1990), Director, Co-Producer, Writer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/nikita.md) - *The Big Blue Adventure* (1989), Idea - *Jeu de vilains* (1988), Producer - *The Big Blue* (1988), as Blond Diver (uncredited) · Director, Story, Screenplay, Co-Producer - *Kamikaze* (1986), Writer, Producer - *Subway* (1985), as Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited) · Director, Producer, Dialogue, Screenplay - *Isabelle Adjani: Pull Marine* (1983), Director - *The Last Battle* (1983), Director, Writer, Producer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-battle.md) - *Rookie Soldiers on Maneuvers* (1981), Casting - *The Penultimate* (1981), Director, Writer, Producer - *Titi l'extra-terrestre*, Screenplay - *Lucy 2*, Writer - *The Last Man*, Director, Screenplay - *Disorder*, Screenplay, Producer ## Gallery - ![Luc Besson](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-b1afe6280005.jpg) Luc Besson — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Luc_Besson-3729.jpg/1280px-Luc_Besson-3729.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Luc Besson at Wondercon 2014](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-2a50ec65e095.jpg) Luc Besson at Wondercon 2014 — Floatjon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/BessonWC14.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Cara Delevingne, Dane DeHaan and Luc Besson at the San Diego Comic-Con 2016 presentation of Valerian and the city of a Thousand Planets (at Camp Conival)](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-1cd732410385.jpg) Cara Delevingne, Dane DeHaan and Luc Besson at the San Diego Comic-Con 2016 presentation of Valerian and the city of a Thousand Planets (at Camp Conival) — Dominick D, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Cara_Delevingne%2C_Dane_DeHaan_and_Luc_Besson.jpg/1280px-Cara_Delevingne%2C_Dane_DeHaan_and_Luc_Besson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Gwiazda Luca Bessona na Alei Gwiazd w Krakowie na Bulwarze Czerwieńskim. (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-face2b7f80a1.jpg) Gwiazda Luca Bessona na Alei Gwiazd w Krakowie na Bulwarze Czerwieńskim. (2023) — Mach240390, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/GwiazdaLucaBessona-AlejaGwiazd-BulwaryWi%C5%9Blane-POL%2C_Krak%C3%B3w.jpg/1280px-GwiazdaLucaBessona-AlejaGwiazd-BulwaryWi%C5%9Blane-POL%2C_Krak%C3%B3w.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Luc Besson](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-b625d678d187.jpg) Luc Besson — Image via TMDB - ![Luc Besson](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-b552a9c7c425.jpg) Luc Besson — Image via TMDB - ![Luc Besson](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-eee103df5473.jpg) Luc Besson — Image via TMDB - ![Josh Horowitz, Luc Besson, Virginie Besson-Silla, Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHan speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Valerian and the C](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-14c13095d5a5.jpg) Josh Horowitz, Luc Besson, Virginie Besson-Silla, Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHan speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Valerian and the C — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Josh_Horowitz%2C_Luc_Besson%2C_Virginie_Besson-Silla%2C_Cara_Delevingne_%26_Dane_DeHaan_%2828439123242%29.jpg/1280px-Josh_Horowitz%2C_Luc_Besson%2C_Virginie_Besson-Silla%2C_Cara_Delevingne_%26_Dane_DeHaan_%2828439123242%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Kiss of the Dragon es una película francesa de acción y artes marciales del año 2001 con Chris Nahon como director, Jet Li como protagonista y Luc Besson como g (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/77640/gallery-5b0d5e46343d.jpg) Kiss of the Dragon es una película francesa de acción y artes marciales del año 2001 con Chris Nahon como director, Jet Li como protagonista y Luc Besson como g (2022) — Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Kiss_of_the_dragon.jpg/1280px-Kiss_of_the_dragon.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Other awards — 3 won, 3 nominated - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2018: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Valérian and the City of a Thousand Planets* - Inkpot Award 2016: Inkpot Award (won) - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2009: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Transporter 3* - César Award for Best Director 1998: César Award for Best Director (won), for *The Fifth Element* - European Film Award for Best Film 1997: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Fifth Element* - Sitges Film Festival Best Director award 1983: Sitges Film Festival Best Director award (won), for *Le Dernier Combat* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/luc-besson