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Luc Besson

Luc Besson

Producer, writer and director, also cinematographer and editor · Born March 18, 1959 (67) · Paris, France

BAFTA Award winner · 2 other major award bodies

Luc Besson (born March 18, 1959) is a French director, writer, and producer, known for making highly visual thriller and action films.  Besson has received numerous awards and honors, and is often credited as inventing the so-called "Cinema du look" movement in French film. He is best known for directing the action films Léon: The Professional (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), and Lucy (2014), and also produced the Taken (2008–2014) and Transporter (2002–2015) franchises. Born in Paris, Besson spent his childhood traveling Europe with his parents and developing an enthusiasm for ocean diving, before an accident would push him toward the world of cinema. After taking odd jobs in the Parisian film scene of the time, Besson began writing stories that would eventually evolve into some of his greatest film successes: The Fifth Element and Le Grand Bleu.   In 1980 he founded his own production company, Les Films du Loup later Les Films du Dauphin, and later still EuropaCorp film company with his longtime collaborator, Pierre-Ange Le Poga.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 18, 1959 (67)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Producer, writer and director, also cinematographer and editor
Titles
92 on MovieCove · 124 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 16% in 30 days

What are Luc Besson's films like?

Across their 85 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action46 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Morality
23%
Self
17%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Society
8%
Ideas
2%
Justice20 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival18 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 83 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 37 · Serious 21 · Dark 25

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 47 · Heightened 21

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 35 · Intense 40

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 21 · Shifting 54 · Whiplash 8

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 41 · Some laughs 27 · Funny 15

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 39 · Relentless 26

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 36 · Engaged 40 · Full focus 7

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 40 · Affecting 25 · Heavy 18

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 69 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
51
Thrilling
41
Melancholic
24
Joyful
19
Absurd
16
Other
76

How their films linger

Fun36 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy39
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous14

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Luc Besson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 92 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (30).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Luc Besson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

124 credits, 92 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Father Joe(2026)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Down the Arm of God(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Playground(2024)

    Idea

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hell in Paradise(2025)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Dracula(2025)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • June and John(2025)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Donald Trump, Dieu et les siens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer

  • Weekend in Taipei(2024)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • DogMan(2023)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • LEGEND (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rainbow Warrior(2023)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Arthur, malédiction(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Engagement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Anna(2019)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Command(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Eva(2018)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Taxi 5(2018)

    Producer · Production Director · Scenario Writer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • American Renegades(2017)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets(2017)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Playground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show Creator

  • Arthur and the Minimoys(2017)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Enter the Warriors Gate(2016)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Transporter Refueled(2015)

    Characters · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Taken 3(2014)

    Characters · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Lucy(2014)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Homesman(2014)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Brick Mansions(2014)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Taxi Brooklyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · Writer

  • 3 Days to Kill(2014)

    Producer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Family(2013)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Collision(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Almost Charming(2013)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Transporter(2012)

    Show Creator

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • No Limit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 22 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • Taken 2(2012)

    Producer · Screenplay · Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Lockout(2012)

    Executive Producer · Thanks · Writer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Blind Man(2012)

    Original Story · Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Lady(2011)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Source(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • A Monster in Paris(2011)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Colombiana(2011)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Halal police d'État(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds(2010)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec(2010)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • 22 Bullets(2010)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • From Paris with Love(2010)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • I Love You Phillip Morris(2009)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Arthur, the 4D Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Original Film Writer · Producer · Writer

  • Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard(2009)

    Director · Characters · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Home(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Hallelujah! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Producer

  • District 13: Ultimatum(2009)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Little New York(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Transporter 3(2008)

    Characters · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Taken(2008)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Secret(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Michou d'Auber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer

  • Taxi 4(2007)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Frontier(s)(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • L'invité(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Time-Jam - Valérian & Laureline(2007)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Arthur and the Invisibles(2006)

    Director · Novel · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Love and Other Disasters(2006)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Bunker Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • Bandidas(2006)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Angel-A(2005)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Le court des grands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Black Box(2005)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Color Me Kubrick(2005)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Revolver(2005)

    Adaptation · Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Transporter 2(2005)

    Characters · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Au suivant ! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Co-Producer

  • Unleashed(2005)

    Author · Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • District B13(2004)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Taxi(2004)

    Original Film Writer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Story Of My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Producer

  • In Your Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Associate Producer

  • Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse(2004)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Michel Vaillant(2003)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Fanfan(2003)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Chops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Producer

  • Moi César, 10 ans 1/2, 1m39(2003)

    Co-Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior(2003)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Taxi 3(2003)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Cheeky(2003)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Rire et châtiment(2003)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Truth About Charlie(2002)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Transporter(2002)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Blanche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Producer

  • Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra(2002)

    Additional Camera

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Wasabi(2001)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Kiss of the Dragon(2001)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Mylene Farmer: Music Videos II & III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • August 15th (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Producer

  • Yamakasi(2001)

    Idea · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Associate Producer

  • Bichhoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Original Story

  • The Dancer(2000)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Taxi 2(2000)

    Producer · Screenplay · as Boat Owner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc(1999)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Taxi(1998)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Nil by Mouth(1997)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Fifth Element(1997)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Léon: The Professional(1994)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Lion Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Executive Producer

  • Point of No Return(1993)

    Original Story

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Arrête ton cinéma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Producer · Thanks

  • Atlantis(1991)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Cold Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Producer

  • La Femme Nikita(1990)

    Director · Co-Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Big Blue Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Idea · as Self / Narrator

  • Jeu de vilains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Producer

  • The Big Blue(1988)

    Director · Co-Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Blond Diver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Kamikaze(1986)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Subway(1985)

    Director · Dialogue · Producer · Screenplay · as Le Conducteur de Metro (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Isabelle Adjani: Pull Marine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • The Last Battle(1983)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Rookie Soldiers on Maneuvers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Casting

  • The Penultimate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Disorder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Screenplay

  • Lucy 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

  • The Last Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Titi l'extra-terrestre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 117 titles, 113 of them dated from 1981 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Lucy (2014)

$469M worldwide

Highest rated

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Fifth Element (1997)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting4 of 117: 1 only acting, 3 with another roleDirecting27 of 117: 3 only directing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thWriting69 of 117: 13 only writing, 56 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thProducing87 of 117: 36 only producing, 51 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stCinematography1 of 117: 0 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing1 of 117: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew9 of 117: 5 only other crew, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score28th

117 titles, 59 with more than one role — producing and writing overlap on 49 of them.

By decade

1980s9 · 2 acting · 9 crew1990s11 · crew2000s48 · 1 acting · 48 crew2010s34 · crew2020s11 · 1 acting · 10 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 6 major nominations, 1986–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Venice award, won · Graffetta d'Oro for Best Film
    • Venice award, nominated · Best Film
    • Venice award, nominated
  2. 2006
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Feature
  3. 1998
    • BAFTA Award, won
  4. 1986
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Foreign Language Film

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Luc Besson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 89; across their 83 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Reach · how many have seen their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 83

Midcredits score across 92 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th33
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

40 of their 92 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser40
  • Broadly Agreed15
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · writer, producer

Father Joe (2026)

88th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 43/100 and the plot and story 37/100 in their films, across 76 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Luc Besson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 50 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore40 titles33–88 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity50 titles20–55 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity40 titles35–85 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs40 titles28–64 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense37 titles27–78 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Luc Besson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Luc Besson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Éric Serra shares the most, 19.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Éric Serra19 titles    See newest 12 of 19 shared titles with Éric Serra
  • Thierry Arbogast17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Thierry Arbogast
  • Julien Rey16 titles    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Julien Rey
  • Alexandre Azaria8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Alexandre Azaria

Producers

Mixed roles