IMDb > Léon: The Professional (1994)
Léon
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Léon: The Professional (1994) More at IMDbPro »Léon (original title)

Photos (See all 60 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5)
Léon: The Professional -- Professional assassin Leon reluctantly takes care of 12-year-old Mathilda, a neighbor whose parents are killed, and teaches her his trade.
Léon: The Professional -- Professional assassin Leon reluctantly takes care of 12-year-old Mathilda, a neighbor whose parents are killed, and teaches her his trade.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #31  (login to vote)
8.6/10   411,761 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Luc Besson
Writer:
Luc Besson
Contact:
View company contact information for Léon: The Professional on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 November 1994 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
If you want a job done well hire a professional. See more »
Plot:
A professional assassin rescues a teenage girl whose parents were killed in a police raid. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
3 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(1148 articles)
Exclusive Stills From Brit Action Flick Montana
 (From HeyUGuys. 21 May 2013, 9:00 AM, PDT)
Guess Who
 (From Huffington Post. 20 May 2013, 9:11 AM, PDT)
Agent of L.I.N.K.
 (From FilmExperience. 15 May 2013, 8:01 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Visceral and intelligent - Besson's masterpiece See more (719 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Jean Reno ... Léon

Gary Oldman ... Stansfield

Natalie Portman ... Mathilda

Danny Aiello ... Tony

Peter Appel ... Malky
Willi One Blood ... 1St Stansfield Man (as Willie One Blood)

Don Creech ... 2nd Stansfield man
Keith A. Glascoe ... 3rd Stansfield man (Benny)
Randolph Scott ... 4th Stansfield man

Michael Badalucco ... Mathilda's Father

Ellen Greene ... Mathilda's Mother

Elizabeth Regen ... Mathilda's Sister
Carl J. Matusovich ... Mathilda's Brother

Frank Senger ... Fatman
Lucius Wyatt Cherokee ... Tonto (as Lucius Wyatt 'Cherokee')
Eric Challier ... Bodyguard Chief
Luc Bernard ... Mickey

Maïwenn ... Blond Babe (as Ouin-Ouin)
Jessie Keosian ... Old Lady
George Martin ... Receptionist
Abdul Hassan Sharif ... Mathilda's Taxi driver
Stuart Rudin ... Leon's Taxi driver
Kent Broadhurst ... 1st Policeman
Tommy Hollis ... 2nd Policeman

Peter Linari ... 1st Security man
Johnny Limo ... 2nd Security man
Danny Peled ... Kid's Leader
Seth Jerome Walker ... Pauly
Michael Mundra ... Cigarette Kid
Alex Dezen ... Ball Kid
Betty Miller ... Orphanage Headmistress
Geoffrey Bateman ... Swat Chief
Arsène Jiroyan ... Swat Hostage
Peter Vizard ... Doctor
Joseph Malerba ... Stairway Swat
David W. Butler ... Important Jogger (as David Butler)

Robert LaSardo ... Client #1 (as Robert Lasardo)
Steve Gonnelo ... 3rd Security Guard
William James Stiggers Jr. ... Subway Rapper (as Willie Stiggers Jr.)
Anthony Ragland ... Uniformed Guard
Crystal Michelle Blake ... Girl
Sonny Zito ... DEA Security Guards
Rocky Hernandez ... Cop
Randy Pearlstein ... Security Guard
Trevor Walace ... Policeman
Keith S. Bullock ... Bodyguard
Jeff McBride ... Bodyguard
Fred Fischer ... Newspaperman
Peter Justinius ... Secret Service
Denis Bellocq ... Jogger
Thomas Delehanty ... CIA Agent
Ed Ventresca ... Fatman Bodyguard
Wallace Wong ... Chinatown Boss
Cary Wong ... Chinatown Boss' sidekick
Amimul Rolly ... Bellhop #1
Mohammed Rashid ... Bellhop #2

Adam Busch ... Manolo
Mario Todisco ... Tony's Barber
James Melissinos ... Girl Chaser

Jernard Burks ... Stansfield man (as Jernard Burkes)
Matt De Matt ... Stansfield man

Samy Naceri ... Swat 1
Christophe Gautier ... Swat 2
Junior Almeida ... Swat 3
David Gregg ... Swat 4
Michel Montanary ... Swat 5
Hervé Husson ... Swat 6
Didier Legros ... Swat 7
Marc Andréoni ... Swat 8 (as Marc Andreoni)
Gilles Kleber ... Swat 9
Junior John Levis ... Swat 10
Tony Sauraye ... Bodyguard 1
Thierry Maurio ... Bodyguard 2
James Fahrner ... Bodyguard 3
Daniel Schenmetzler ... Bodyguard 4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Jean-Hugues Anglade ... Cameo Appearance (long version) (uncredited)

Alyssia Dujmovich ... Student (uncredited)

Michael Wehrhahn ... Jimmy, SWAT Team Member (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Luc Besson 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Luc Besson 

Produced by
Claude Besson .... executive producer
John Garland .... line producer: New York
Bernard Grenet .... line producer
Luc Besson .... co-producer (uncredited)
Patrice Ledoux .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Eric Serra 
 
Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Sylvie Landra 
 
Casting by
Todd M. Thaler  (as Todd Thaler)
 
Production Design by
Dan Weil 
 
Art Direction by
Gerard Drolon  (as Gérard Drolon)
 
Set Decoration by
Françoise Benoît-Fresco  (as Françoise Benoît Fresco)
 
Costume Design by
Magali Guidasci 
 
Makeup Department
Peggy Besson .... makeup trainee
Peggy Nicholson .... hair stylist: New York
Geneviève Peyralade .... makeup artist
Gigi Williams .... makeup artist: New York
Emmanuel Zammit .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Thierry Guilmard .... unit manager
Sylvie Menard .... assistant unit manager
Cecilia Kate Roque .... production manager: New York
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Bradney .... second assistant director: New York
Pascal Chaumeil .... first assistant director
Françoise Gillard .... third assistant director: New York
Christophe Leprêtre .... trainee assistant director (as Christophe Lepretre)
Camille Lipmann .... second assistant director
Eric McGinty .... first assistant director: New York
 
Art Department
Andre Antona .... construction grip (as André Antona)
Valérie Arson .... assistant art director
Jean-Michel Bar .... trainee leadman
Mathieu Benoît .... assistant buyer (as Mathieu Benoit)
Claude Berry .... construction grip
Tom Boles .... construction coordinator: New York
Nathalie Buck .... assistant art director
Diana Burton .... assistant property master: New York
Rinco Carlo .... scenic
Carolyn Cartwright .... set decorator: New York
Jeremy Chapelet .... head construction grip (as Jérémie Chapelet)
Alain Darthou .... construction coordinator
Marcel Daudin .... buyer
Michel Dauphy .... art department grip
Guido DeCurtis .... leadman: New York (as Guido De Curtis)
Nicolas Denis .... head construction grip
Pascal Fasola .... scenic
Badou-Jean Faye .... construction grip
Rossana Fiore .... charge scenic: New York
Jerome Fortier .... foreman (as Jérôme Fortier)
Nancy Friedman .... buyer: New York
Sally Friedman .... stand-by scenic: New York
Richard Guille .... leadman
Madjid Hamzaoui .... carpenter (as Madjid Hamaoui)
Bruno Jaunay .... construction grip
Henri Jorand .... ager
Michel Karyo .... construction grip
Jacques Kazandian .... drapery man
Abdenabi Krouchi .... construction grip
Martin Lasowitz .... property master: New York
Bertrand Laval .... construction grip
Stéphane Le Lièvre .... landscape scenic artist (as Stéphane Le Lievre)
Loïc Le Moigne .... scenic
Wing Lee .... assistant art director: New York
Bruno Lefebvre .... carpenter (as Bruno Lefevre)
René Letteron .... art department head grip
Christophe Lunay .... art department grip
Serge Margiocchi .... carpenter
Pascal Masson .... art department grip
Patrick Milizia .... construction grip
Franck Miniconi .... ager (as Frank Miniconi)
Carol Nast .... art director: New York
Jennifer Alex Nickason .... art department assistant: New York (as Jenny Alex)
Jean-Michel Olivier .... dresser
René Paltrier .... construction grip
Laurent Perez .... shop helper
Cyrille Perron .... charge scenic
Frédéric Perron .... construction grip
Jean-Marc Picot .... construction grip
Jean Raveane .... art department grip
Nathalie Sarret .... charge ager
Georges Tissot .... construction grip
Guy Vanderplaetsen .... stand-by propman
Emmanuelle Vayva .... art department trainee
Thomas Vichy .... carpenter
Stéphane Vinciguerra .... scenic
Gérard Violas .... craft maker carpenter
Jacqueline Arnot .... set dresser (uncredited)
Byron K. Lovelace .... props (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Fabien Adelin .... adr engineer
Salim Amrani .... sound recordist
Michel Barlier .... adr engineer
Michel Barlier .... foley engineer
George Berndt .... adr supervisor
Thom Brennan .... assistant sound effects (as Thomas Brennan)
Fanchon Brulé .... dialogue editor (as Fanchon Brule)
Hervé Bénard .... foley recordist (as Hervé Benard)
Catherine Constant .... assistant sound editor
Serge Devesvre .... sound engineer
Pierre Excoffier .... sound engineer (as Pierre Excoffier)
Christian Gaudin .... sound recordist
Patricia Girard .... sound recordist
Xavier Griette .... boom operator
Patrice Grisolet .... sound editor
François Groult .... sound re-recording mixer
Katrina Heaulme .... dialogue editor
Gérard Lamps .... sound re-recording mixer
Anne Le Campion .... adr engineer
George Leong .... boom operator: New York
Marion Lorthioir .... adr supervisor
Alain Lévy .... adr assistant (as Alain Levy)
Jacques Lévy .... adr supervisor (as Jacques Levy)
Jérôme Lévy .... foley artist
Jean-Charles Martel .... sound recordist
Isabelle Martin .... assistant sound engineer
Françoise Maulny .... adr supervisor (as Françoise Maulny Levy)
Pascal Mazière .... assistant foley artist (as Pascal Maziere)
John Morris .... sound effects
Bruno Tarrière .... sound re-recording mixer
 
Special Effects by
Nick Allder .... special effects supervisor (as Nicky Allder)
Neil Corbould .... assistant special effects
Al Griswold .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Michael E. Phillips .... digital editing consultant
John Lafauce .... digital artist (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Peter Bucossi .... stunt coordinator (as Pete Bucossi)
Norman Douglass .... stunts
Roy Farfel .... stunts
Frank Ferrara .... stunts
Don Hewitt .... stunts
Gino Lucci .... stunts
Don Picard .... stunts
Michael Russo .... stunts
Manny Siverio .... stunts (as Manny Sivero)
Gregg Smrz .... stunts (as Greg Smrz)
Patrick Cauderlier .... stunt coordinator: France (uncredited)
Garry Pastore .... stunt driver (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Robby Baumgartner .... best boy electric: New York (as Rob Baumgartner)
James Boniece .... second grip: New York (as Jim Boniece)
Sarah Bouyain .... second assistant camera
Patrick Camboulive .... still photographer
Bernard Caroff .... generator operator
Peter S. Cassella .... grip truck: New York
James Clark .... camera truck: New York
John Clifford .... unit still photographer: New York
Mario d'Orio .... grip
Jean-Michel David .... Steadicam operator
Vincent Delaney .... third electrician: New York
Laurent Delpech .... second assistant camera
James A. Dolan .... fourth electrician: New York (as Peaches Dolan)
Luke Eder .... camera loader: New York
Robert K. Feldmann .... key grip: New York (as Robert Feldman)
Gilles Floquet .... grip
Pierre Garnier .... grip
Patrick Gasché .... gaffer (as Patrick Gasche)
Jonathan Lumley .... gaffer: New York
Rick Marroquin .... co-grip: New York
Jean-Pierre Mas .... key grip
Monique Mitchell .... co-grip: New York
Patrick B. O'Brien .... second assistant camera: New York
Robert Polonia .... generator operator
Bruno Privat .... Steadicam operator
Rick Raphael .... Steadicam operator: New York (as Frederick Raphael)
Jean-Claude Reux .... head gaffer
Janet Saetta .... electrician: New York
Gilbert Seybald .... gaffer
Yannick Seybald .... gaffer
Chris Silano .... assistant camera: Steadicam
Chris Skutch .... co-grip: New York (as Christopher Skutch)
Bernard Tissier .... first assistant camera
Timothy Healy .... electrician (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Nathalie Cheron .... casting: Paris
Judie Fixler .... extras casting: New York
Jill Tara Kushner .... extras casting assistant: New York (as Jill Kushner)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurence Glentzin .... wardrobe mistress
Lorraine Mathieu .... assistant costume designer: New York
Charlie Murphy .... wardrobe truck: New York (as Charles Murphy)
Marcia Patten .... wardrobe supervisor: New York
Heidi Shulman .... wardrobe supervisor: New York
 
Editorial Department
Zoé Arthuis .... editor trainee
Hélène Auzet .... negative cutter
Mathieu Brossard .... editor trainee
Yann Hervé .... editor trainee (as Yann Herve)
Annie Marciniak .... assistant film editor
Paul Parsons .... assistant film editor
Bruno Patin .... color grader
Frédérique Recoque .... assistant film editor
Lillie Thom .... assistant film editor (as Lillie Nicole Kühar Thom)
Santiago Thévenet .... assistant film editor (as Santiago Thevenet)
 
Music Department
Niall Acott .... music: Assistant sound engineer
John Altman .... conductor
William Flageollet .... music mixer
Pierre Henriot .... music coordinator
Claude Serra .... executive music producer
Eric Serra .... music arranger
Eric Serra .... musician
Peter Davies .... musician (uncredited)
Serge Devesvre .... music engineer (uncredited)
Isobel Griffiths .... orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Isabelle Martin .... music engineer (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Thomas H. Beattie .... driver: hair/makeup combo, New York (as Thomas Beattie)
John Collins .... driver: set dressing truck, New York
Brendan P. Connolly .... driver: special effects truck, New York (as Brendan Connolly)
Michael Connolly .... driver: property truck
Michael Connolly .... transportation co-captain: New York
Bob Donavan .... honeywagon driver: New York (as Robert Donovan)
Robert Lansing .... electric truck driver: New York
 
Other crew
Sylvette Baudrot .... script supervisor
Helen Beadleston .... location assistant: New York
Brad Bergbom .... production assistant: New York
Cinnamon-Anne Booth .... office production assistant: New York
Joan G. Bostwick .... production assistant: New York
Nathalie Carles .... production coordinator
Nicole Cobac .... production accountant
Daniel Coss .... location manager: New York
Elizabeth de Tigny .... set intern
David Fulkerson .... production assistant: New York
Frédéric Garson .... production assistant
Jérôme Giroux .... locksmith
Xavier Grenet .... caterer
Louis Guerra .... production assistant: New York (as Louis J. Guerra)
Shell Hecht .... production coordinator: New York
Yann Hervé .... production assistant (as Yann Herve)
Lonnie Kandel .... production secretary: New York
Mathias Sami Kanse .... office maintenance
Peter Katz .... intern: New York
Seth Kaye .... parking coordinator
Kevin Keefe .... teamster captain: New York (as Kevin K. Keefe)
Isabelle Kostic Crosley .... location scout: New York (as Isabelle Kostic-Crosby)
Franck Lebreton .... production assistant (as Frank Lebreton)
Gabrielle Mairesse .... press-agent
Christophe Maratier .... armorer
Maggie Means .... assistant accountant: New York
Christian Michard .... caterer
Elsa Monsigny .... assistant script
John Moresco .... crew van: New York
Maud Muller .... caterer
Monique Pautas .... production accountant
Joanne Porzio .... assistant production coordinator: New York
Erin Quinn .... production accountant: New York
John Rivas .... craft service
Roger Saillard .... locksmith
Louis Saint Calbre .... assistant: B. Grenet
Allen Simon .... tutor: New York
Morgan Spurlock .... production assistant: New York
Olivier Vignon .... operator: HotHead
Ralph Volpe .... starcamper: New York
Cameron Watson .... coach
 
Thanks
Philippe Adrover .... many thanks
Ivona Belda .... many thanks
Martine Bernath .... many thanks
Anthony Bozanich .... many thanks (as Tony Bozanich)
Jimmy Honoré .... many thanks
Pierre Jouvet .... many thanks
Heidi Lester .... special thanks
Peter Nichols .... special thanks
Teruhiko Noguchi .... special thanks
Marc Pernelet .... many thanks
Joe Rosenberg .... special thanks
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Léon" - France (original title)
"Leon: The Professional" - Australia (imdb display title), New Zealand (English title) (imdb display title)
"The Professional" - USA (theatrical title)
"Leon" - Japan (English title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for scenes of strong graphic violence, and for language (original rating)
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
110 min | France:136 min (uncut version) | 133 min (International version) | Turkey:100 min (TV version)
Country:
France
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:18 | France:-12 (original version) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB (director's cut) | Israel:PG | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (original rating) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Brazil:14 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M (tv rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:T | Finland:K-15 (2009) (director's cut) (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) (2002) | South Korea:18 (director's cut) | UK:15 (DVD re-rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA (2010) (re-rating) | Finland:K-16 (1995) (VHS) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (1995)
Filming Locations:
1 Centre Street, New York City, New York, USASee more »
Company:
GaumontSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The potted plant Léon nurtures, and which Mathilda replants at the end of the movie, is an aglaonema, pronounced "ag-leon-ema".See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: During Malthilda's first "hit" with Leon, she placed her handbag on the drug-mill table. Later the handbag was still on the table when she poured some fuel on the drug. But after she lit it up, the handbag was missing.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tony:Allora, come stai, Leone?
Léon:Bene.
[Tony puts out his cigarette in an ashtray]
Tony:OK. OK. Let's talk business.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Tatort: Der Fremdwohner (#1.515)" (2002)See more »
Soundtrack:
Happy BirthdaySee more »

FAQ

Why does Leon save Mathilda's life?
What are the differences between the theatrical cut, the director's cut, and the extended version?
Why didn't Mathilda like the pink dress that Léon bought her?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
192 out of 220 people found the following review useful.
Visceral and intelligent - Besson's masterpiece, 19 January 2004
Author: Twinsen61

Leon is one of the most emotionally intense movies ever made. French director Luc Besson uses everything: actors, music, camera angles, lighting to create an unique experience - "It's not realism, it's not naturalism - it's heightened reality" as Gary Oldman very well put it.

In "The making of The Professional" Besson says "If I imagine somebody in the street try to knock on my daughter, I kill the guy, in five seconds. I kill him, and I think "It's in me, I'm a beast!" On this part we can't forget that a part of us, the genetic things inside are much, much older than The Ten Commandments". He certainly uses visceral scenes to create very strong emotion in the movie - the blood running from Mathilda's nose or Stansfield's unforgettable "EVERYONE!" are just a couple of examples. The music and the sound are excellent and are used in a masterly fashion - you can hear Fatman's heart beating desperately or a low claustrophobic sound when Stansfield turns to look at Mathilda's father.

However Leon does not work only on this primary level, it also has an intelligent story. It may seem to be almost a fairy-tale, but don't be fooled - just like his character Besson is serious. This movie has a message: without love we are dead, even if we don't see it. Only true love give meaning to our lives: "everything else reminds me a big yogurt: warm and rancid" as Mathilda says in the original script, which is available on the net under the name Leon Version 1. Is this true in "real life"? I don't know but this movie can make you wonder.

Then of course there's the sensuality. It's hypocritical to deny it, the camera interacts with Mathilda in a mesmerising fashion. It's not sick and it's not degrading: it's art, subtle and beautiful.

Leon is not perfect but it has so many great moments that all its flaws can be forgiven. It's a movie that really should not be missed, unless you are concerned with its amorality. And don't be - Leon is less violent than many action movies and the unusual relationship between the main characters is handled mostly with genuine feeling and tact.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (719 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Léon: The Professional (1994)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The 'dress up' scene was so wrong... Shoshobe
So what's the deal with Tony? bbqgoat
Question... mynameiscolby
Who killed Leon's girlfriend xoxo123
What did Norman Mean ' That's why I stopped' ? alexjx
Heath Ledger inspired by Gary Oldman jtdeclercq
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Professional: Golgo 13 The Departed Machete Scarface City of God
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Crime section
IMDb France section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.