Emerging from the south of France in the 1980s, Luc Besson established himself as a cinematic enigma by bringing a fresh, bold, and highly original style of filmmaking. In some way, he revitalized European cinema and made essential films available for mainstream audiences to admire.
From the very start, Besson has thrilled audiences with dynamic stories blanketed in action, thrillers, crime, and beyond by mashing them together into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Not only is he a consummate storyteller and writer, but Besson is also a director who never rests on past success or failure. With each new project, he pushes boundaries and takes creative swings.
Internationally, Besson’s movies have been smashing hits at the box office and earned countless accolades. A pioneer of ambitious productions, he never seems to slow down in influencing pop culture through his unique voice and vision. With a filmography spanning over four decades and dozens of credits, narrowing down Luc Besson’s impressive works was a challenge. And while titles like The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Anna, and The Lady aren’t on the list, it goes without saying that they’re also a testament to Besson’s incredible storytelling skills. Here are his 10 most exceptional movies to date, ranked.
10 Atlantis (1991)
Atlantis
- Release Date
- 1992-11-00
- Runtime
- 78 Minutes
- Studio
- Gaumont, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, Les Films du Loup
Through Atlantis, director Luc Besson conveys his love for the ocean. An 80-minute French-Italian documentary film, Atlantis unfolds beneath the surface of the water. No talking heads, no dry land. Just the liquid embrace of the social as a trail of bubbles and a family of vibrant creatures, ranging from dugongs and dolphins to sharks and the most stunning emerald turtle you’ve ever seen. In a way, the film dances between reality and dream.
A Water Body Documentary Like No Other
Except for the final shot, the entire documentary takes place underwater. Atlantis was filmed over a two-year period by Besson himself. His idea of capturing the essence of our planet’s watery heart came to fruition with the help of Éric Serra’s haunting music, which is a genuinely remarkable piece of work. With no narration to pull you out of the trance, the documentary allows you to drown in the sheer experience of life and liberation.
9 Lucy (2014)
Lucy
- Release Date
- July 25, 2014
Arguably the most underrated performance by Scarlett Johansson, Lucy sees her as a carefree American student being tricked by her boyfriend to deliver a briefcase to someone. She is then captured and caught up in a dark deal, where her assailants surgically implant a synthetic drug into her system. But the drug grants Lucy superhuman abilities and incredible strength. Using them, she escapes and forges a plan to take revenge on those responsible.
Johansson’s Sharpest Sci-Fi Turn
Besson crafted this neo-noir film as a pulsing science fiction thriller that progresses at a flawless pace. Needless to say, Johansson excels as the cerebral heroine, showcasing her kickass fighting skills and signature charm. With a backdrop of a brilliant electronic score, Besson brought to life a future where humans had the potential to evolve. While the concept was considered nonsensical by critics, sci-fi fans were too engrossed into the cat-and-mouse narrative to notice. Additionally, Lucy emerged as Besson’s most commercially successful work at the time, earning 11 times more than the production budget. Rent on Apple TV
8 The Family (2013)
This extremely lighthearted crime comedy centers around the Manzoni family. After the patriarch/boss enrages a rival mafia boss by snitching on him, Giovanni Manzoni is relocated to a small time in Normandy, France under the witness protection program. Giovanni, his wife Maggie, son Warren and daughter Belle, take new names and identities and try to settle into life on the outskirts. Despite constantly being watched by the FBI, when the family finds small-town life boring, they resort to old racketeering habits.
Besson Blends Family Humor and Action
Not your usual French-town comedy and certainly not an action thriller, The Family boasts a fish-out-of-water premise that mines comic gold out of every other scene.
By strapping Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer as the bickering patriarch and matriarch inviting chaos to the countryside, Besson outdid even himself. Dianna Agron and John D’Leo play the witty and formulaic children. Although a box office bomb, The Family features a fresh dynamic, colorful ensemble, and an endearing story. Stream on Max.
7 Angel-A (2005)
Angel-A
- Release Date
- December 21, 2005
- Cast
- Jamel Debbouze , Rie Rasmussen , Gilbert Melki , Serge Riaboukine , Akim Chir , Eric Balliet
- Runtime
- 91
A fantasy romance set against the backdrop of a beautiful Paris, Angel-A follows a man with more debts than self-worth, who decides to give up on life by jumping into the river Seine, but stops in his tracks when he sees a mysterious blonde woman jump before him. He saves her life and his own by extension. The young woman, Angela, promises to solve all his problems, and in doing so, they form an unlikely connection.
A Poignant Sci-Fi Romance
After disappearing from the limelight for six years, Besson dropped Angel-A, a movie that would mirror his fascination with the romance genre as well as promise a visually stunning and sweeping fantasy. Jamel Debbouze and Rie Rasmussen bring to life two charming, relatable and driven characters caught in a never-ending dilemma about consciousness and identity.
Critics called the narrative shallow, but the movie is adored by fans because of Besson’s direction, poetic cinematography, tender storytelling, and the portrayal of humanity’s innate need for connection. Rent on Amazon Prime Video.
Somewhat of a comeback from Luc Besson, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec transports you to 1911 Paris and tells the misadventures that ensue after a pterodactyl accidentally comes to life through the eyes of the titular journalist and travel writer. Apparently, under the cover of enjoying her celebrity status, Adèle Blanc-Sec is looking for a cure for her comatose sister. She meets an eccentric processor and gets embroiled in his nefarious conspiracy, which may or may not be tied to lost Egyptian treasures.
Besson’s Playful Homage to Pulp Fantasy
A genuinely silly and chaotic fantasy adventure that brings Jacques Tardi’s comic book series of the same name to exuberant life, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is Luc Besson’s attempt to elevate the standards of family entertainment. With some elements of computer animation infused into its contemporary narrative, the movie is nothing if not a visual delight.
Louise Bourgoin won the hearts of many with her portrayal of a whip-smart lead whose infectious rapport with the supporting cast made a huge impact. If you’re looking for an absurd but compelling movie, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec is a go-to. Stream on Tubi TV.
5 Subway (1985)
Subway
- Release Date
- November 6, 1985
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
Starring Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert in the lead role, this French thriller follows Fred, a thief on the run from gangsters. He takes refuge in the labyrinthine world of the Paris Métro, hoping the underground system will keep him safe from the violence of the murderous gangs. Meanwhile, he tries to cut a deal with Héléna, his boss’ wife. Fred and Héléna develop feelings for each other. Eventually, Fred accomplishes his dream of starting a rock band.
Neo-Noir Breakthrough That Is Gritty and Realistic
A taut thriller laced with subtle humor, Subway announced Besson as a singular French auteur. Lambert stole the spotlight with his electrifying performance as he raced down the tunnels, the raw stunts and energetic cinematography elevating his narrative.
Speaking of which, Besson increased the stakes to an almost unbreakable level by exploring themes of morality, vigilantism, and existential dread. Subway was unlike any crime film before; it had energy, breakneck speed, stylized crime-fighting scenes, and gorgeous acting. Stream on Tubi TV.
4 The Big Blue (1988)
The Big Blue
- Release Date
- August 19, 1988
- Runtime
- 168 Minutes
Another Luc Besson movie shot in the French Cinéma du look visual style, where directors favor style over substance and spectacle over narrative, The Big Blue tells the story of two childhood friends, Enzo and Jacques, who grow up to become world-renowned free divers.
Passionate about the sport and known to push their limits under the sea, they are also bitter rivals who feel the need to compete against one another. One does it for the rush, another because of a tragic past. The movie also explores Jacques’ fictionalized relationship with his girlfriend Johana Baker.
Plays Out Like a Visual Poetry
A trademark in Besson’s movies is the cinematography. The way he captures his characters’ surroundings is enchanting and thought-provoking. The Big Blue lends him blue-tinted underwater to explore. So naturally, Besson doesn’t look at the brooding story of human nature and instead directs all the focus on the surrealism of free-diving and the meaning of life and death. Which really works because the movie became one of France’s most commercially successful films at the time.
3 La Femme Nikita (1990)
La Femme Nikita (1990)
- Release Date
- February 21, 1990
- Cast
- Anne Parillaud , Marc Duret , Patrick Fontana , Alain Lathière
- Runtime
- 117 Minutes
La Femme Nikita, also known as Nikita, revolves around a nihilistic teenager who robs a pharmacy and murders a police officer. After being sentenced to life imprisonment for committing the crime, the government officials handling her fake her death and give her a job in their anti-terrorist unit. With a new identity and freedom to kill, Nikita becomes an assassin, a weapon for the state. But the more conscious she grows of her actions, the more desperate she is to break free.
Revolutionized Action Genre with its Radical Female Lead
Starring a sensational Anne Parillaud in her breakthrough role, La Femme Nikita was so successful that it became a source material for several foreign language remakes as well as a three-part action thriller series that aired on The CW between 2010 and 2013. Under the sublime direction of Luc Besson, this neon-drenched thriller mesmerized the global box office.
Fans admired its radical female ant-hero’s descent into a shadowy underworld, and the pulse-pounding gunfights took their breath away. Rent on Amazon.
2 The Fifth Element (1997)
Co-written and directed by Besson is this futuristic sci-fi action thriller that takes place in the 23rd century. The protagonist is a taxi cab driver named Korben Dallas who inadvertently becomes the central figure in the search for a rare, once-in-5000-years-appearing, cosmic weapon that holds the key to protect the Earth from an impending attack. It consists of the four classical elements and a mysterious fifth element. When Leeloo falls into Korben’s cab, they join forces and hunt down the stones.
Truly Imaginative and Influential Piece of Sci-Fi
No film better demonstrated Besson’s limitless imagination and technical prowess than The Fifth Element. An incredibly beautiful production piece with the most fascinating costume design seen in the 1990s, the movie also builds a world that immerses viewers into a future far beyond their comprehension.
Along with Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman, there is the luminous Milla Jovovich who stole the show with her boundless screen presence. That said, The Fifth Element forever changed sci-fi and influenced future projects. Stream on Hulu.
1 Léon: The Professional (1994)
Léon: The Professional follows 12-year-old Mathilda Lando, whose dysfunctional family is murdered by corrupt DEA agent Stansfield when she is out buying groceries. Upon learning what has happened, she is traumatized and seeks refuge with strange neighbor Léon, a professional assassin. As their relationship evolves and Mathilda discovers Léon’s secrets, she begs him to train her and let her follow his path. Meanwhile, Stansfield’s manhunt disrupts their peace.
Besson Crafts an Unforgettable Masterpiece
Besson’s Léon: The Professional is an internationally beloved neo-noir masterpiece. His longtime collaborator Jean Reno and the veteran actor Gary Oldman delivered genuinely moving performances, but it was newcomer Natalie Portman whose intense and haunting embodiment of young Mathilda that left an indelible mark on critics and audiences alike. Undoubtedly Besson’s best movie ever, it also bridges the gap between innocence and tragedy against rain-slicked streets through a rare and unflinching vision. Stream on Netflix.
